Washington, Sept. 28 – RespectAbility, a nonprofit organization working to empower people with disabilities to achieve the American dream, has asked gubernatorial candidates on both sides of the aisle to fill out a questionnaire on disability issues. Mike Weinholtz, a Democrat challenging incumbent Gov. Gary Herbert to be the next governor of Utah, responded to the #PwDsVote Disability Campaign Questionnaire for Senate and Gubernatorial Candidates for people with disabilities.
RespectAbility is nonpartisan and does not endorse candidates. The questionnaire is purely for educational purposes.
42.5 percent of Utah’s more than 135,000 working-age people with disabilities are employed. While this number is higher than the national average, this lack of opportunity creates poverty, powerlessness and even can increase the likelihood of developing a mental health condition. Polls and studies show that people with disabilities want the opportunity to have the dignity and independence that jobs provide.