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Category: Governors

Clinton Set to Unveil Economic Plan for People with DisabilitiesHillary Clinton smiling with American flag backdrop

Clinton Set to Unveil Economic Plan for People with Disabilities

Published by Lauren Appelbaum on September 21, 2016

22 Senate and Gubernatorial Candidates, as well as Hillary Clinton, Respond to #PwDsVote Campaign Questionnaire

Orlando, Sept. 21 – Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton is devoting this afternoon’s rally to her plan on creating an economy that values people with disabilities. Per an aide, Clinton will propose an economy that “welcomes people with disabilities, values their work, rewards them fairly, and treats them with respect.”

Just yesterday, reality TV star Nyle DiMarco starred in an ad for Clinton that is completely in sign language with English captions. “We’re used to being ignored,” DiMarco says, before stating that there are a lot of people with disabilities without a voice.

“The voice of your vote is the greatest voice we have,” he concludes, urging all people to get out the vote for Hillary Clinton.

It’s important to note, however, that examples of disability outreach are on both sides of the aisle, especially when you look down ballot. Earlier this month, GOP Sen. Richard Burr‘s campaign produced a new statewide television ad in North Carolina highlighting his work in support of the bi-partisan Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) Act. This new law, which also was supported by Maryland Democratic Rep. Chris Van Hollen, creates new savings accounts for individuals with disabilities in order to pay for qualified disability expenses.

All of this comes at a time of multiple down ballot candidates responding to the #PwDsVote 2016 Senate & Gubernatorial Disability Questionnaire, devoting time and energy to addressing disability issues. Since the first release earlier this month, seven additional politicians have submitted their responses – making a total of 22 candidates for Senate or Governor to have provided detailed answers about their views on these issues for people with disabilities.

Continue readingClinton Set to Unveil Economic Plan for People with Disabilities
More Candidates Respond to Senate / Governor Disability Vote Campaign QuestionnaireText in image: #PwDsVote 2016 Senate and Gubernatorial Disability Questionnaire, mage in background - two individuals at voting booths, one in a wheelchair and one using a white cane

More Candidates Respond to Senate / Governor Disability Vote Campaign Questionnaire

Published by Lauren Appelbaum on September 19, 2016

Washington, Sept. 19 – Since the first release earlier this month, six additional politicians have submitted their responses for the #PwDsVote 2016 Senate & Gubernatorial Disability Questionnaire – making a total of 21 candidates for Senate or Governor to have provided detailed answers about their views on these issues for people with disabilities.

The more than 56 million people with disabilities in the U.S. have a long list of policy concerns for the candidates running for governor and the U.S. Senate in 2016: Employment. Stigma. Education. Criminal Justice. Independent Living. Sexual Assault. Housing. Transportation. Adaptive Technology.

RespectAbility, a nonprofit and nonpartisan organization advancing opportunities for people with disabilities, asked candidates on both sides of the aisle to complete a 16 (for gubernatorial) or 17 (for Senate) question survey. The questionnaire asked for their positions on a range of issues important to the disability community, a group that makes up fully one-in-five Americans. Their answers are posted verbatim and in full here on The RespectAbility Report, a publication that covers the intersection of disability and politics.

This is the first time down-ballot candidates have been asked to complete a questionnaire about disability-related issues on such a wide scale.

Continue readingMore Candidates Respond to Senate / Governor Disability Vote Campaign Questionnaire
Montana’s Greg Gianforte Responds to #PwDsVote Governor Campaign QuestionnaireGreg Gianforte standing outside in a blue collared shirt and jeans with mountains in the background

Montana’s Greg Gianforte Responds to #PwDsVote Governor Campaign Questionnaire

Published by Lauren Appelbaum on September 17, 2016
headshot of Greg Gianforte wearing a white collared shirt and brown blazer, outside with a tree in the background
Greg Gianforte

Washington, Sept. 17 – 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. Greg Gianforte, a Republican seeking the governorship of Montana, 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.

Montana currently has the twelfth highest percentage of employed people of disabilities (40.5 percent), compared with 77.7 percent of people without disabilities. View the rankings of all 50 states and compare.

Geographically, Montana is in an employment hotspot for people with disabilities. It is bordered by Wyoming and the Dakotas, three states who have some of the highest rates of employment in the country for people with disabilities. This gives Montana the opportunity to closely communicate and collaborate with its neighbors to identify and employ best practices and improve outcomes for people with disabilities.

Continue readingMontana’s Greg Gianforte Responds to #PwDsVote Governor Campaign Questionnaire

Vermont’s Sue Minter Completes #PwDsVote Governor Campaign QuestionnaireSue Minter standing in a white shirt and blue blazer with a field behind her

Vermont’s Sue Minter Completes #PwDsVote Governor Campaign Questionnaire

Published by Lauren Appelbaum on September 17, 2016
headshot of Sue Minter in a white shirt and blue blazer, outside with building behind her
Sue Minter

Washington, Sept. 17 – 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. Sec. Sue Minter, a Democratic candidate seeking the governorship in Vermont, along with Republican hopeful Lt. Gov. Phil Scott, has completed 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.

Only 33.3 percent of Vermont’s more than 41,500 working-age people with disabilities are employed. This lack of opportunity creates poverty, powerlessness and even can increase the likelihood of developing a mental health condition. Among those with disabilities, there is a poverty rate of 29.2 percent in Vermont.

Both Minter and Scott, as well as Democrat Sen. Patrick Leahy, incumbent running for re-election for the U.S. Senate seat in Vermont, submitted their responses to the questionnaire, ensuring that the voters of Vermont can make an informed decision.

We are presenting Minter’s answers in full below.

Continue readingVermont’s Sue Minter Completes #PwDsVote Governor Campaign Questionnaire
#PwDsVote Campaign Questionnaire: Call to ActionImage shows people in line waiting to vote. Majority are physically-able-bodied individuals standing in line. One man is in a power wheelchair.

#PwDsVote Campaign Questionnaire: Call to Action

Published by Lauren Appelbaum on September 7, 2016

Washington, Sept. 7 – With just 61 days until Election Day, RespectAbility is calling on all candidates for governor or Senate to complete the #PwDsVote Senate & Gubernatorial Disability Questionnaire.“PwDs” stands for “people with disabilities.” So far, Hillary Clinton and 15 candidates for Senate or Governor from both parties have done so. Now we’re calling on you to help to encourage the remainder. A number of candidates, including Donald Trump, have yet to fill out a nonpartisan candidate questionnaire on issues vital to America’s 56 million citizens with disabilities!

Call and tweet candidates and demand that they respond to the questionnaire. Tell them why it’s important to you!

This is the first time down-ballot candidates have been asked to complete a questionnaire about disability-related issues on such a wide scale. Why are we focusing on candidates for governor and U.S. Senate? The reason is simple. We hope that voters who care about disability issues will have the opportunity to compare how the candidates responded to the same questions in their own words.

The questionnaire itself has been written in a way that is acceptable for 501c3 nonprofits, is nonpartisan and is not electioneering. RespectAbility is nonpartisan and does not endorse candidates. The questionnaire is purely for educational purposes.

Continue reading#PwDsVote Campaign Questionnaire: Call to Action
First Ever Senate / Governor Disability Vote Campaign QuestionnaireText in image: #PwDsVote 2016 Senate and Gubernatorial Disability Questionnaire, mage in background - two individuals at voting booths, one in a wheelchair and one using a white cane

First Ever Senate / Governor Disability Vote Campaign Questionnaire

Published by Lauren Appelbaum on September 6, 2016

Washington, Sept. 6 – Employment. Stigma. Education. Criminal Justice. Independent Living. Sexual Assault. Housing. Transportation. Adaptive Technology. Fifteen candidates for Senate or Governor have given detailed answers about their views on these issues for people with disabilities.

The more than 56 million people with disabilities in the U.S. have a long list of policy concerns for the candidates running for governor and the U.S. Senate in 2016. Only one-in-three working-age Americans with a disability has a job, despite the fact that studies show that 70 percent want to work. Moreover, according to Disability & Criminal Justice Reform: Keys to Success, more than 750,000 people with disabilities are behind bars in our nation. Disability is the only minority group that people can join at any time due to accident, illness or aging.

RespectAbility, a nonprofit and nonpartisan organization advancing opportunities for people with disabilities, asked candidates on both sides of the aisle to complete a 16 (for gubernatorial) or 17 (for Senate) question survey. The questionnaire asked for their positions on a range of issues important to the disability community, a group that makes up fully one-in-five Americans. Their answers are posted verbatim and in full here on The RespectAbility Report, a publication that covers the intersection of disability and politics.

This is the first time down-ballot candidates have been asked to complete a questionnaire about disability-related issues on such a wide scale.

Continue readingFirst Ever Senate / Governor Disability Vote Campaign Questionnaire
Missouri’s Chris Koster Responds to #PwDsVote Governor Campaign QuestionnaireOfficial portrait of Chris Koster, outside with trees in background

Missouri’s Chris Koster Responds to #PwDsVote Governor Campaign Questionnaire

Published by Lauren Appelbaum on September 1, 2016
Official portrait of Chris Koster in a black suit, white shirt and yellow tie
Chris Koster

Washington, Sept. 1 – 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. Attorney General Chris Koster, a Democrat running to be Missouri’s next governor, 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.

Only 33 percent of Missouri’s more than 450,000 working-age people with disabilities are employed. This lack of opportunity creates poverty, powerlessness and even can increase the likelihood of developing a mental health condition.

While Koster did not answer each question individually, he sent a letter addressing several of the issues brought up in the questionnaire including ensuring websites are accessible for all, expanding access to healthcare and ensuring accessible housing for people with disabilities.

RespectAbility also has sent the questionnaire to the campaign of Republican Eric Greitens, who also is seeking the governorship in Missouri.

We are presenting Koster’s full letter below:

Continue readingMissouri’s Chris Koster Responds to #PwDsVote Governor Campaign Questionnaire

Vermont’s Phil Scott Completes #PwDsVote Governor Campaign QuestionnaireLt. Gov. Phil Scott speaking behind a podium wearing a suit and a red tie, lighting has green tinge

Vermont’s Phil Scott Completes #PwDsVote Governor Campaign Questionnaire

Published by Lauren Appelbaum on August 30, 2016
Headshot of Phil Scott smiline
Phil Scott

Washington, Aug. 30 – 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. Lt. Gov. Phil Scott, a Republican candidate seeking the governorship in Vermont, has completed 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.

RespectAbility is seeking answers from the campaign of Democrat Sue Minter, who also is seeking the governorship in Vermont.

We are presenting Scott’s answers in full below.

Continue readingVermont’s Phil Scott Completes #PwDsVote Governor Campaign Questionnaire
Calling All Disability Activists – Engage Your State’s Candidates to Complete #PwDsVote Questionnaire!Image shows people in line waiting to vote. Majority are physically-able-bodied individuals standing in line. One man is in a power wheelchair.

Calling All Disability Activists – Engage Your State’s Candidates to Complete #PwDsVote Questionnaire!

Published by Lauren Appelbaum on August 29, 2016
Image saying VOTE with O being an image of a person in a wheelchair
America has 56 million people with disabilities, comprising the largest minority group in America, and the only one that, due to an accident or illness, anyone can join at any time.

Washington, Aug. 29 – We’re calling all disability activists to join us in engaging candidates in open and competitive senate and gubernatorial races to complete the #PwDsVote Senate & Gubernatorial Disability Questionnaire!

Continue readingCalling All Disability Activists – Engage Your State’s Candidates to Complete #PwDsVote Questionnaire!
New Hampshire’s Derek Dextraze on the #PwDsVote Gubernatorial Campaign QuestionnaireHeadshot of Derek Dextraze

New Hampshire’s Derek Dextraze on the #PwDsVote Gubernatorial Campaign Questionnaire

Published by Lauren Appelbaum on August 28, 2016
Headshot of Derek Dextraze
Derek Dextraze

Washington, August 28 – The 2016 New Hampshire gubernatorial election will take place on November 8, 2016. The primaries will be held on September 13.

RespectAbility, a nonprofit organization working to empower people with disabilities to achieve the American dream, has asked candidates for New Hampshire’s governorship on both sides of the aisle to fill out a questionnaire on disability issues. Democrat Derek Dextraze is the first candidate from this race to respond 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.

“This is my first time running for any office of government and I don’t know all the things wrong or even good things,” Dextraze wrote to RespectAbility. “I believe if I do win, that working with the people and the people at RespectAbility, that we together can come up with something that works for us all. I feel bad I don’t know all the issues but I am willing to learn them and help all that I can. My goal as Governor is to HELP as many people as I can.”

While he did not respond to all of the questions, he added that he is “fighting for the rights of people with disabilities” to his issues page.

RespectAbility is seeking responses from the remainder of the candidates in the race and will publish those responses when they are received.

Dextraze did not respond to all of the questions. We are presenting his answers in full below.

Continue readingNew Hampshire’s Derek Dextraze on the #PwDsVote Gubernatorial Campaign Questionnaire
Delaware’s Colin Bonini First to Complete #PwDsVote Gubernatorial Campaign QuestionnaireImage of Colin Bonini smiling while being outside with a horse in the background

Delaware’s Colin Bonini First to Complete #PwDsVote Gubernatorial Campaign Questionnaire

Published by Lauren Appelbaum on August 28, 2016
State Sen. Colin Bonini standing, wearing a suit with a red tie, talking to a constituent
State Sen. Colin Bonini

Washington, Aug. 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. Colin Bonini, a Republican candidate seeking the governorship in Delaware, is the first to respond 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.

The State Senator sought out input from RespectAbility in completing his responses and spent more than an hour on a conference call with members of RespectAbility’s staff. This assistance is available to all candidates who are completing the questionnaire.

RespectAbility is seeking answers from the campaign of Democrat John Carney, former Lieutenant Governor of Delaware, and Republican Lacey Lafferty, retired state trooper, who also are seeking the governorship in Delaware.

We are presenting Bonini’s answers in full below.

Continue readingDelaware’s Colin Bonini First to Complete #PwDsVote Gubernatorial Campaign Questionnaire
RespectAbility Unveils #PwDsVote Disability Questionnaire for Senate and Gubernatorial CandidatesYoung girl holding small block letters: Vote

RespectAbility Unveils #PwDsVote Disability Questionnaire for Senate and Gubernatorial Candidates

Published by Lauren Appelbaum on August 7, 2016

Questions Focus on Issues Relating to Employment and Stigma

Image of two people voting - one blind and one in a wheelchair
America has 56 million people with disabilities, comprising the largest minority group in America, and the only one that, due to an accident or illness, anyone can join at any time.

Washington, Aug. 7 – Last winter, RespectAbility sent the #PwDsVote Presidential Campaign Questionnaire to all of the presidential candidates. Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton responded in full. While several Republican primary candidates did, Republican nominee Donald Trump’s campaign has yet to return any answers to the questionnaire.

Now RespectAbility has adapted the questionnaire for down-ballot races, focusing on open and competitive senate and gubernatorial races. This gives the disability community an opportunity to make a difference by contacting these candidates and urging them to complete the questionnaire. RespectAbility has provided the candidates’ email addresses and Twitter handles for people to do so. They are below.

Continue readingRespectAbility Unveils #PwDsVote Disability Questionnaire for Senate and Gubernatorial Candidates
Celebrating ADA on the Sidelines of the DNCCrowd shot showing people seated in chairs and wheelchairs around tables with speakers standing in front of them, with an ASL interpreter and a screen showing live captioning

Celebrating ADA on the Sidelines of the DNC

Published by Lauren Appelbaum on July 31, 2016
Gov. Jack Markell wearing a gray suit talking behind a podium with the text: #ABLE2WORK #ADA26
Gov. Jack Markell (D-DE) / Photo via AUCD

Philadelphia, July 31 – Gathered in the city of brotherly love, more than a hundred disability activists celebrated the twenty-sixth anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) on Tuesday.

Current and former officials touted the importance of the ADA and focused specifically on disability employment and economic empowerment for people with disabilities.

Delaware Gov. Jack Markell talked about making employment for people with disabilities his platform while leading the National Governors’ Association – something he said other governors questioned.

“But I knew something: that when we focus on the ability rather than the disability, it’s amazing what we can accomplish together,” the governor said. “I also knew that in a world where Democrats and Republicans so often cannot find common ground, that this was an issue where we would find a way to work together.”

Continue readingCelebrating ADA on the Sidelines of the DNC
Gov. Malloy Opens DNC by Owning his Own DisabilitiesShot from the side showing crowd behind Gov. Malloy speaking at DNC, standing behind podium, wearing black suit, white shirt and blue tie
Gov. Hassan: Son with Cerebral Palsy is Reason She’s Involved in Public ServiceSnapshot from Maggie Hassan's ad showing Hassan with her two children
Gov. Branstad Touts Jobs for Iowans with DisabilitiesImage of Jeff James in a white shirt and red tie holding a white cane standing next to Gov. Terry Branstad and Lt. Gov Kim Reynolds who are standing behind a podium.