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PRESIDENTIAL FORUM
Hundreds of voters, most of whom are people with disabilities, attended a Presidential forum on November 2, 2007 sponsored by Granite State Independent Living as well as local and national organizations. The forum allowed presidential candidates a chance to outline their priorities firsthand to the people they will most affect.
The day long forum, moderated by Edward M. Kennedy, Jr., featured appearances by Senator Hillary Clinton (D-NY), Senator Joseph Biden (D-DE), Senator Chris Dodd (D-CT), Senator Mike Gravel (D-AK), and Congressman Dennis Kucinich (D-Ohio). Senator John McCain (R-AZ) called in to the event, while John Edwards’ (D-NC) campaign manager and former Michigan Congressman David Bonior addressed the crowd in Edwards’ absence. All Presidential Candidates were invited and encouraged to speak.
Priorities for the groups sponsoring the forum included the appointment of a new and permanent Assistant to the President for Disability Policy at the White House; support for an increase in access to home and community-based long-term care services that will maximize independence; increased employment outcomes by hiring people with disabilities in the federal workforce and reforming Social Security Disability Insurance and Supplemental Security Income to eliminate disincentives to work; improve the transition to work; increase access to affordable health insurance for all Americans; and promote and increase accessible affordable housing and transportation.
“The disability community will continue to push our priorities to ensure that all Americans can achieve the American Dream,” said Andrew Imparato, President and CEO of the American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD). “Today’s event was a clear indication that America has a bright future.”
The Forum used innovative technology to make the event accessible for voters who are Deaf or Hard-of-Hearing, as well as voters nationwide. In addition to live American Sign Language interpretation at the event, the Forum offered Communication Access Real-time Translation (CART) for attendees from a translator over 1,200 miles away via the Internet. A webcast was accessible to voters nationwide, and the event is temporarily available for download on Manchester Community Television’s website (http://www.manchesteraccess.com).