WASHINGTON, DC — Thousands of Americans with disabilities from across the country will join together at The National Forum on Disability Issues, a non-partisan presidential forum organized by the Ohio Disability Vote Coalition (ODVC) and the American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD) from 12:30 to 3:30 p.m. Saturday, July 26, in Columbus, Ohio.
AAPD is the largest cross-disability membership organization in the country. ODVC, a political advocacy collaborative, includes nearly 30 organizations from throughout Ohio that represent the interests of people with disabilities.
The forum will feature time slots for presidential candidates Barack Obama and John McCain to present their visions for the future of disability policy in America to this influential voting bloc - more than 40 million people with disabilities are eligible to vote in the U.S. Questions will be posed to the candidates by the forum moderator, news anchor and journalist Judy Woodruff ("The News Hour with Jim Lehrer.”)
The presidential candidates are invited to address their disability policy positions on employment, healthcare, long-term services and supports, housing, transportation, technology and education – all vital issues to people with disabilities.
"People with disabilities and our family members represent a huge percentage of the voting population and we respond to candidates who address our issues," said Andrew Imparato, President and CEO of the American Association of People with Disabilities. "This forum is a golden opportunity for Senators McCain and Obama to speak directly to an important segment of the electorate that can make a difference for either candidate in November."
More than 70 national, regional and state disability-related organizations, veterans groups and individuals are co-sponsoring the forum and will be represented at the forum. A full list of sponsors is available on the AAPD website at www.aapd.com.
The forum, the premier disability event of this election cycle, will also be simulcast on the web by Disaboom.com to tens of thousands across the country, many of whom plan to hold viewing parties in their communities. People with disabilities in Ohio unable to attend the forum and without Internet access will be able to participate via a live audio broadcast by Ohio radio reading services.
The forum is also a celebration of the 18th anniversary of the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), landmark civil rights legislation that has helped to transform the lives of the more than 50 million Americans who have disabilities. The forum comes on the heels of the historic June 25 House passage of the ADA Amendments Act of 2008 (H.R. 3195), which will overturn four Supreme Court decisions that have inappropriately narrowed the protections of the ADA.
There is no charge to attend The National Forum on Disability Issues on July 26 and it is open to the public, but registration is required. To register, visit www.govoter.org. Questions about registration should be directed to Anne Sommers.
The forum will be held at the Conference & Technology Center, First Church of God, 3480 Refugee Rd., Columbus, Ohio.
For more information about the forum visit the AAPD website, www.aapd.com. |
