Looking for Partners to Address Issues Facing Voters with Disabilities

Thursday, December 04, 2008

The Center for Independent Living is working to address concerns of voters with disabilities, and is interested in hearing from others about problems experienced by voters with disabilities, initiatives to address concerns, and from individuals and organizations interested in partnering with us to address concerns.

Do you know of such efforts? Do you address voter protection/voter suppression issues in other contexts (racial, gender-based, other) and have an interest in expanding your efforts to address the concerns of voters with disabilities? We want to hear from you. Do you work for a Supervisor of Elections office, and want to improve services to voters with disabilities? We want to hear from you. Would you be interested in being interviewed about your experiences voting? We want to hear from you. Do you want to partner with us and write for our Blog (www.americanswithdisabilitiesvote.org)? We want to hear from you.

Do you want to work with us to address issues affecting voters with disabilities? For example:

Are polling places in your community accessible? Are the bathrooms at polling places accessible? Is there accessible parking? Is the path of travel accessible? Does the Supervisor of Elections in your community collaborate with the local Center for Independent Living and others, including partners from the mental health community and other members of the disability community? Is there a voter protection effort in your community, and does it address issues affecting voters with disabilities? What is the policy concerning voters with disabilities who are unable to stay in long lines, such as those on diuretics, or those with post traumatic stress disorder or other mental health disabilities? Does the Supervisor of Elections partner with the disability community to ensure compliance with the ADA when selecting polling sites? Are communities of faith involved, and what is their knowledge of disability issues? Are there disability advocates in your community working on voter protection issues? Would they be interested in working with us?

Please contact us at mdubin@pobox.com.
Please feel free to share this email with others.

Thank you.
Marc




Please visit www.AmericansWithDisabilitiesVote.org