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Category: How-To

COVID-19 Economic Benefits How-To GuideThree closed mailboxes. Text: COVID-19 Economic Benefits How-To Guide

COVID-19 Economic Benefits How-To Guide

Published by Philip Pauli on April 17, 2020

Washington, D.C., April 17 – As more Americans with and without disabilities are caught up in the economic consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic, people are wondering where to find answers to life-or-death questions. In this How-To Guide, the RespectAbility team has compiled clear information about several key Economic Benefits to see you through these challenging times.

This guide includes the latest information and online resources about three key topics: accessing your CARES Act payment, accessing food resources and understanding unemployment insurance. 

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Elected Officials Need to Hear from Constituents with Disabilities – Here’s HowIcons for mail, phone, and email. Text: How to Contact Your Elected Officials

Elected Officials Need to Hear from Constituents with Disabilities – Here’s How

Published by Philip Pauli on March 27, 2020

Washington, D.C., March 27 – In these uncertain times, people with disabilities, their friends and their families are looking to elected officials at every level of government for answers. Often, however, people do not know how to connect to their members of Congress or how to send a message to their governor, state legislators or local officials. 

Thanks to technology, it has never been easier to reach out and make one’s voice heard. Every voice matters and leaders need to know that the disability community is an integral part of their voter base. 

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Eight Tips for Presidential Candidates: How to Connect with Voters with DisabilitiesFour accessibility symbols and the seal of the President of the United States. Text: Eight Tips for Presidential Candidates: Connecting with Voters with Disabilities

Eight Tips for Presidential Candidates: How to Connect with Voters with Disabilities

Published by Lauren Appelbaum on May 9, 2019

By Lauren Appelbaum and Hon. Steve Bartlett Washington, D.C., May 9 – For a presidential campaign to be fully inclusive of people with disabilities, it needs to meet the following requirements: (1) offer captioning with every video it shares or produces, (2) mention people with disabilities and their issues, (3) depict…

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Vital Disability Voter 2018 InfoImage of a male hand handing an "I Voted" sticker to another hand
Disability Voter Resource Guide 2018Young girl holding small block letters: Vote
Voters with Disabilities Matter – This Year and Every Year

Voters with Disabilities Matter – This Year and Every Year

Published by Philip Pauli on September 26, 2017

National Voter Registration Day logoWashington, Sept. 26 – RespectAbility is honored to participate in the sixth annual National Voter Registration Day (NVRD), a nonpartisan effort to encourage people to register to vote and make their voices heard in our nation’s political process. Today, organizations nationwide will register thousands of new voters.

However, if you read the news today, many people might feel discouraged, disconnected or unconvinced that their voices matter. Last year, it was clear that getting the vote out mattered with the high stakes of a presidential race and key Senate contests across the country. What about this year? Why should people get out, get registered and get out the voter in a quiet year like 2017? The reason is simple.

As the former Speaker of the United States House of Representatives Tip O’Neill famously said, “All politics is local.” Did you know that 59 of the 100 largest cities in America are holding elections this year? Did you know there are 36 mayoral races and more than 360 city council races in 2017 alone? In communities across the country, local, municipal and state elections are taking place this year.

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Act Now to Have Candidates Answer a Disability Rights Question in the Next Debate

Act Now to Have Candidates Answer a Disability Rights Question in the Next Debate

Published by Lauren Appelbaum on October 5, 2016

Logo with text: Open Debate CoalitionWashington, Oct. 5 – During this presidential campaign, the disability community has seen its issues discussed like never before – in policy proposals, party platforms, conventions and in the media.

But we haven’t yet witnessed presidential candidates answering a debate question about disability rights. People with disabilities – and those who care about them – can make a huge difference in changing that.

The “town hall” debate on Sunday, Oct. 9, will feature questions from the Internet. ABC and CNN moderators agreed to consider the top 30 questions voted up on the Open Debate Coalition site.

This gives us an incredible opportunity to demonstrate the size and strength of our whole community by voting in support of a disability debate question.

The question, “How would you value disability rights in your presidency?” is currently in the top 80 out of almost 10,000 questions that have been submitted!

If you want a question on disability rights to be asked during the next presidential debate, VOTE on this question for Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump to answer. Also, please share it widely with your networks.

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Call to Action: #PwDsVote Campaign QuestionnaireImage shows people in line waiting to vote. Majority are physically-able-bodied individuals standing in line. One man is in a power wheelchair.

Call to Action: #PwDsVote Campaign Questionnaire

Published by Lauren Appelbaum on September 30, 2016

Washington, Sept. 30 – With just 38 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 30 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!

The down-ballot responses received so far are from candidates on both sides of the aisle – with 18 from Democrats and 12 from Republicans, demonstrating how disability rights is a nonpartisan issue. The responses also are geographically-diverse, coming from states all around the country.

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. The answers to these questionnaires are being posted on The RespectAbility Report and will be used for individualized state voter guides.

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#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.

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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!

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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.

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Become A Citizen JournalistYoung girl holding small block letters: Vote
Beyond Just Celebrating the Day – Caring for All VeteransMarine combat veteran Todd Nicely and Xerxes on the deck of his home at the Lake of the Ozarks.
Become A Citizen JournalistYoung girl holding small block letters: Vote
Presidential Candidates: Don’t Forget People with DisabilitiesYoung girl holding small block letters: Vote

Presidential Candidates: Don’t Forget People with Disabilities

Published by Lauren Appelbaum on October 13, 2015

Las Vegas, Oct. 13 – Tonight the Democratic candidates for president will debate each other for the first time this season. While many minority groups are sure to be discussed, America’s largest minority group, people with disabilies (PwDs) is an important group to pay attention to. America has 56 million…

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Calling All Citizen JournalistsFormer Texas Gov. Rick Perry speaking with RespectAbility Fellow James Trout at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C. on July 2, 2015.

RespectAbilityUSA Resource for Voters with Disabilities

Published by Lauren Appelbaum on August 25, 2015

Important Dates: Elections, Debates & Expos September 10, 2015 Illinois – CD-18 Special General Election Louisiana – Filing Deadline September 16, 2015 CNN Republican Primary Debate Location: Reagan Library in Simi Valley, CA Sponsors: Reagan Library Foundation, CNN, Salem Media Group Moderator(s): Jake Tapper September 18-20, 2015 Abilities Expo Location:…

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Presidential Candidates: Web Accessibility is Easier Than You ThinkWeb Accessibility is Easier Than You Think
Making YouTube Videos More Accessible: Add CaptionsAdd Closed Captions to YouTube Videos