Key actions and positions posted on the intersection of disability and education, jobs, immigration, climate crisis, criminal justice and more
Sacramento, CA, August 25 – Green Party candidate and small business owner Heather Collins has responded to a detailed candidate questionnaire on disability issues. The questionnaire is from RespectAbility, a nonpartisan nonprofit disability organization that does not endorse candidates. The questionnaire is purely for educational purposes. RespectAbility has reached out to candidates in California’s critical gubernatorial recall election. The full text of RespectAbility’s questions and Collins’ responses follows:
EDUCATION & SKILLS: What is your plan to ensure that all students with disabilities, including English Language Learners, receive an appropriate education to acquire critical and marketable skills?
I believe education is THE key to ending systemic poverty. I want all kids to be back in classrooms, they need the socialization just as much as instruction. We have historic funding for schools now and that should transform instruction. Education needs to be relevant to students with family encouragement and participation to help kids stay involved and complete their education. Life skills should be taught for students to be able to function in the world.
EMPLOYMENT & ENTREPRENEURSHIP: If elected, what will you do to advance opportunities for people with disabilities who want to work and earn an income, just like anyone else? How will you support employers, large and small, to recruit and hire workers with disabilities?
People with disabilities are great employees. As Governor, I would offer tax incentives to businesses to employ people with disabilities. Job training centers could be opened that also has an emphasis on entrepreneurship. Just like people without disabilities, each person has their preference in how they like to work, whether they like to work with others or do solo type work and there are so many job openings now that could be filled with people with disabilities.
ACCESS & INCLUSION: Whether or not you have a formal platform, what specific plans do you have to incorporate the voices of people with disabilities into your decision-making processes, if elected?
My campaign is very small. It is just me. If elected I would have all demographics of people to bounce ideas off and get input.
FIGHTING STIGMAS: If elected, what will be your plan to fight stigmas, highlight the disability community, and promote higher expectations for success?
Like I stated in question 1. I believe education is THE key to ending systemic poverty. This includes education for all to be inclusive to all diversities and disabilities and disadvantages. I have found disabled people to be very dependable, eager to work and enjoy being social. I would highlight that as Governor.
OTHER KEY ISSUES: What additional policies and priorities, other than those already discussed above, do you plan to focus on to improve the lives of people with disabilities?
The things I have mentioned above and I would like to have your group as consultants for improvements to be made for the disabled citizens of California.
Collins is one of many candidates who are competing in California’s special gubernatorial recall election. For a full list of candidates running in the September 14 recall election and to learn more about voting, please visit the California Secretary of State’s 2021 CA Gubernatorial Recall Election website at https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections.
RespectAbility is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that fights stigmas and advances opportunities so people with disabilities can fully participate in all aspects of their communities. RespectAbility does not rate or endorse candidates. View more coverage of California candidates on our website.
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