Advocate & Prepare

Informed and Accessible Voting

A study by the U.S. Election Assistance Commission (EAC) and Rutgers University found that in 2020, disabled Americans were nearly 10% less likely than nondisabled people to participate after adjusting for age. Barriers to voting range from inaccessible polling places, transportation issues, inadequate voting accommodations, and much more.  This must change.

If you or someone you care about wants to vote in November, you simply must plan ahead. Registering to vote absentee, working with local voter registration offices to anticipate needs, and speaking up to secure appropriate support on election day are all key steps to success.

For voters who want to learn more about the candidates’ positions on key issues, it’s also helpful to visit candidate websites and attend local information sessions (in real life and virtually). In Connecticut, for example, a non-partisan forum with candidates (or their surrogates) for President, Vice-President, U.S. Senate and all five Congressional seats will be held on Wednesday, October 9^th at 2pm. Voters can attend in person or virtually, but must register here for both. Here’s a great resource for voters in Ohio who want to be better informed. Look for similar events where you live and share them far and wide. 

Make your voice heard. Make your vote count. Make a voting plan.

Safety Against Shooters

Our son was in high school on December 12, 2012, when the horrific mass shooting took place at Sandy Hook Elementary School. Words can’t express the fear and terror and heartbreak experienced that day by our community and so many others. Shortly after, we called for a meeting with Andrew’s school team to update his Individualized Education Plan (IEP) with a personal safety plan for him to follow in the event of an active shooter at his school. Standard protocols developed for neurotypical students and those without mobility impairments wouldn’t keep him safe. His plan was individualized to meet his needs and wheelchair, practiced repeatedly with staff and other students, and explained to him as sensitively as possible so as not to upset him any more than necessary.

This article offers great guidance and simple steps to take with your child’s school team now. In addition to more aggressive gun control laws, we simply must pay attention to this aspect of keeping our kids with disabilities safe. 

Free Covid Tests

Starting this week, the federal government is once again giving away four free covid tests to every U.S. household. Use this link to order yours and do your part to help keep everyone safe. People at heightened risk of covid need extra protection from the virus, which is still very life-threatening to many.