Key actions and positions posted on the intersection of disability and education, jobs, immigration, climate crisis, criminal justice and more
by Stephanie Santo
Helena, MT, Sept. 25 – In the run up to the 2020 general election in Montana, the nonpartisan disability rights nonprofit RespectAbility has released its latest Montana State Voter Guide. According to the Annual Disability Statistics Compendium, there are 140,690 Montanans with disabilities and they make up 13.4 percent of the state’s total population.
2018 employment data shows that there are 67,140 working-age (ages 18-64) people with disabilities living in Montana. In the economic expansion prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, 31,719 working-age Montanans with disabilities had jobs and the Treasure State had a disability employment rate of 47.2 percent.
The nonpartisan disability group RespectAbility has asked Democratic and Republican candidates for President, Governor and the U.S. Senate the same seven key questions about issues affecting people with disabilities, including employment, education, criminal justice and accessibility. RespectAbility has sent multiple emails and placed many phone calls to the campaigns in order to solicit responses to the questionnaire. Below you can read responses from candidates on the ballot in Montana who have already taken the time to address the concerns of voters with disabilities.
President
Donald Trump (R)
Has not yet completed questionnaire
Governor
Greg Gianforte (R)
Has not yet completed questionnaire
Senate
“The disability community is unique,” added Philip Kahn-Pauli, associate editor of The RespectAbility Report. “It is the only minority group that anyone can join at any time due to illness, injury, or aging. What that means is that there are people with disabilities in every state, and that the community’s interests intersect with so many issues, including race, gender, poverty, criminal justice and inequality.”
According to a Rutgers University study, 14.3 million citizens with disabilities voted in 2018. Those voters will be crucial as candidates vie for the presidency, as well as state-wide and local elections.
RespectAbility is still accepting responses to the candidate questionnaire from campaigns, so if a candidate has not answered the questions, please invite them to do so. We hope that this information will enable you to make informed decisions in this election. You can find full, detailed converge online at https://therespectabilityreport.org.
RespectAbility is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that fights stigmas and advances opportunities so that people with disabilities can fully participate in all aspects of their communities. RespectAbility does not rate or endorse candidates. The questionnaire is purely for educational purposes as voters go to the polls. View all 2020 general election state voter guides: https://therespectabilityreport.org/2020/09/22/2020-voter-guide/