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The RespectAbility Report Posts

Republican Presidential Candidates Debate Legality of Medical Marijuana for Epilepsy

Washington, Sept. 18 – In a conversation over state versus federal rates legislating the legality of marijuana, several Republican presidential candidates brought up the issue of cannabis oil for children living with epilepsy, a neurological disorder characterized by recurrent seizures. Sen. Rand Paul claimed both former Gov. Jeb Bush and Gov.…

Trump: Too Many Vaccines At Once Cause Autism

  Washington, Sept. 17 – While there have been countless debates over the cause of autism and whether vaccines could be to blame, Republican frontrunner Donald Trump repeated claims that vaccines administered according to the recommended schedule cause autism. “Autism has become an epidemic,” Trump said during the CNN Republican Debate Wednesday…

Disability Groups to Host Presidential Town Hall Meetings

Washington, Sept. 17 – The RespectAbility Report and RespectAbility USA, along with a growing list of nonprofit disability partner organizations (listed below), will host Online Presidential Candidate Town Halls on People with Disabilities, Jobs, and the American Dream.  These town halls will be national, nonpartisan events that will connect the disability community…

Sponsorship Opportunities: Online Presidential Candidate Town Halls

Washington, Sept. 17 – The RespectAbility Report and RespectAbility USA, along with a growing list of nonprofit disability partner organizations (listed below), will host Online Presidential Candidate Town Halls on People with Disabilities, Jobs, and the American Dream.  These town halls will be national, nonpartisan events that will connect the disability community with…

Clinton Campaign Website Adds Page Dedicated to Disability Rights

Washington, Sept. 13 – Hillary Clinton is the first Democratic candidate to include a page on her website dedicated to people with disabilities. Highlighting disability rights as one of the campaign’s issues, the site says, “We must continue to expand opportunities for all Americans.” Making websites accessible for all people is…

Grassroots Disability Activists Create Facebook Pages for Clinton and Sanders

Washington, Sept. 10 – Social media is not a new tool for grassroots activists to galvanize supporters for their desired candidate. Three Facebook pages – two for Hillary Clinton and one for Bernie Sanders – highlight the presidential hopefuls’ stances on a variety of disability issues. There are two competing…

Bush: Taking Care of Developmentally Disabled is Core Value

Washington, Sept. 9 – In an appearance on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, former Gov. Jeb Bush talked about bringing people together and building up the economy. When asked how he differs politically from his brother, the presidential hopeful criticized George W. Bush’s failure to reign in government spending, saying,…

Trump: Gun Violence Not Gun Problem; It’s a Mental Problem

Washington, August 28 – The shooting of two journalists on live television renewed conversations on two hot button topics – gun control and mental illness. Republican frontrunner Donald Trump has come on the record against tightening gun laws, saying he is “a very strong Second Amendment person,” and instead doubled down on…

RespectAbilityUSA Resource for Voters with Disabilities

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:…

Sununu on Kasich’s “Message of Inclusiveness”

Cleveland, August 8 – Representing Gov. John Kasich following the Fox News debate in Cleveland on Thursday evening, Sen. John Sununu discussed Kasich’s “message of inclusiveness.” Kasich would “build our economy up so we have the resources to make sure that people are not left behind,” Sununu added. Read his…

Mike DuHaime: Christie’s “Trying to Get People Back into the Workforce”

Cleveland, August 8 – Republican presidential hopeful Chris Christie is “trying to get people back into the workforce,” Mike DuHaime, the governor’s chief political strategist, said to The RespectAbility Report following the Fox News Debate Thursday evening. Read his entire interview: Q: For the one in five Americans with a disability, what…

Fiorina’s National Co-Chair on Carly’s “Message of Inclusion”

Cleveland, August 7 – Charlie Gerow, Carly Fiorina’s National Co-Chair, shares his thoughts on the candidate’s “message of inclusion” for people with disabilities: Q: What is Carly Fiorina’s plan to help people with disabilities enter the workforce? Carly Fiorina’s entire campaign has been built around the theme of unlocking human…

Executive Orders Can Create Jobs for People with Disabilities

Washington, August 7 – Yesterday during the Fox News “Happy Hour” Debate, several presidential candidates promised to revoke all executive orders signed by President Obama. Multiple candidates including former Virginia Gov. Gilmore, former New York Gov. George Pataki, former Texas Gov. Rick Perry, Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal, and former Sen.…

GOP Debate: Give Americans a Hand Up, Not a Handout

Cleveland, August 7 – During Thursday’s earlier Fox News Debate, Martha MacCallum asked the Republican presidential hopefuls about a top issue among not just people with disabilities but many voters – economy and jobs – for people who are receiving government assistance because of economic or disability needs. “Eighty-two million Americans over…

Carson: Privately Fund Employment Programs for People with Disabilities

Cleveland, August 7 – Privately funded organizations, not the government, are the way to help people with disabilities obtain jobs, Republican presidential hopeful Ben Carson told The RespectAbility Report following the Fox News debate Thursday evening. “Most of our social problems can be taken care of by business, industry, academia, Wall Street, churches…