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AAPD, ADAPT, NCIL, SABE Questionnaire – Senator Dodd Response
July 30, 2007
- POLITICAL LEADERSHIP
- Do you support the creation and appointment of a permanent Assistant to the President for Disability Policy at the White House?
Yes.
- How will you make sure qualified people with disabilities will be a part of your political team and, if elected, as part of your administration?
My Administration would represent all Americans. Just as individuals with disabilities play a significant role in contributing to their local communities, they would play a significant role in contributing to the Dodd Administration.
- EMPLOYMENT
- What steps would you take to reduce employment barriers and improve employment outcomes for Americans with disabilities?
Despite progress made since passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), people with disabilities experience unemployment at a rate far above the national average. Some estimates put the unemployment rate of people with severe disabilities at or near 70 percent. As President, I would encourage public/private partnerships as they relate to the recruitment, hiring and retention of people with disabilities, I would ensure that the tax code to encourages both private and nonprofit sectors to provide additional accommodations for applicants and employees with disabilities and I would support funding of "disability program navigators" at state One Stop Career Centers created under the Workforce Investment Act. My Administration would also strengthen the EEOC’s enforcement of the ADA as it relates to job protections for people with disabilities, support efforts to increase the development of and access to assistive and universally designed technologies, and significantly expand efforts to ensure that federal jobs are fully accessible to all.
- How would you reform the federal income support programs (Supplemental Security Income and Social Security Disability Insurance) so that beneficiaries enjoy a greater standard of living and participate more fully in the labor market?
As President, I would ensure that individuals who cannot support themselves due to a disability are provided with sufficient income through SSDI and SSI. In addition, I would work to revamp the current programs so that current recipients are not punished for what work they are capable of. Individuals that leave SSDI and SSI for full-time employment will have access to high-quality universal health care – universal in terms of affordability and access to the treatments, medications and medical devices that people need.
- According to the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, between 1993 and 2004, federal workers with significant disabilities left the federal workforce at rate more than seven times the general reduction in the federal workforce during that period. What actions would you take to ensure that qualified workers with disabilities are given meaningful opportunities to participate in the federal workforce at all levels?
I am extremely concerned with the rate at which employees with disabilities are leaving the federal workforce. Through the creation and appointment of a permanent Assistant to the President for Disability Policy at the White House, I would hope that we could gain an immediate understanding of why such large departures are taking place and find a way to address them. The federal government should be a model employer of all peoples, including those with disabilities. As stated earlier, my Administration would significantly expand efforts to ensure that federal jobs are fully accessible to all – whether by accommodations or more universal access to assistive technologies.
- HEALTH CARE FOR ALL
- What steps would you take to ensure that people with disabilities have access to affordable, quality health care that is responsive to their needs?
I believe that the federal government has a responsibility to ensure that every American receives affordable, quality medical care that meets all of their needs. As President, I will call on the federal government to create a health insurance marketplace based on, and parallel to, the Federal Employees Health Benefit Plan (FEHB). Every employer and individual will be given the chance to go to the marketplace to purchase high-quality, affordable health care or, if they wish, keep their existing insurance arrangements. No one will be forced into the marketplace, and individuals, as well as businesses, will contribute based on their ability to pay. By focusing on prevention, and by investing in technology and data collection for better care and better efficiencies, we can better serve all populations of patients. Savings in better care and better efficiencies will finance new coverage. In a Dodd Administration, universal health coverage will be achieved through universal responsibility and universal access will mean access to the doctors, treatments and medical equipment that an individual needs.
- How or will you use managed care principles to deliver healthcare services?
Modeled on the Federal Employees Health Benefit Plan (FEHB), the Dodd healthcare plan will provide individuals with a wide variety of choices in choosing the type of health care plan that best fits their needs.
- How would you improve the quality of health and rehabilitation services provided to veterans with disabilities?
My Administration would provide further investments in the VA system, particularly in the areas of post traumatic stress disorder (PSTD) and traumatic brain injury (TBI). Our commitment to our young men and women in the armed services must remain firm long after they have left the battlefield.
- How would you improve the quality of health and rehabilitation services provided to Native Americans with disabilities? Do you support the reauthorization of the Indian Healthcare Act?
In my administration, high quality, universal healthcare will be made available to all citizens regardless of their race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status or where they live. As President I would also incentivize healthcare professionals to serve in rural and underserved communities, including tribal lands, to ensure that patients not only have coverage, but access to the actual care those they need.
- How will you assure people with disabilities have fair access to Medicare Part D prescriptions?
One of the best tools we have to lower the cost of prescription drugs is to allow Medicare to harness the enormous buying power of its membership to negotiate drug prices with the pharmaceutical companies. Currently, this option is not available and recipients are paying the price for a poorly crafted and executed drug plan. As President, I would require Medicare to negotiate drug prices. I would also immediately eliminate the so-called “doughnut hole” in Medicare Part D drug plans to ensure that every senior in America does not have to worry about being able to afford their medications at any point during the year.
- How will you address the inequities caused by the Medicare "homebound" rule?
No individual with a disability should be required to be stranded at home in order to receive the services necessary to support them. We should support efforts by individuals with disabilities to live full and complete lives in the setting that they choose.
- Do you support ongoing Congressional efforts to ensure mental health parity in health insurance (S.558, H.R. 1367)?
I have long supported and will continue to support efforts to ensure mental health parity for all Americans. I believe that it is essential that we require employers and health plans to cover treatment for mental health conditions on the same basis as all other illnesses. A Dodd Administration would not only pass mental health parity legislation, it would strongly enforce it.
- LONG TERM SERVICES AND SUPPORTS
- How would you address America's increasing need for home and community-based long-term services and supports (such as personal assistance services, respite care, and other supports)?
I support the right of people with disabilities to live their lives to the fullest, in whatever setting they chose. To ensure that those who choose not to live in institutional settings have services and supports available to them, I would support creation of additional community based options for individuals with disabilities. At the same time, I will fight to ensure that people with disabilities that choose a community-based option have the same access to the Medicaid program as those who are living in institutions. In a Dodd Administration, Medicaid policy will not be stacked against community living.
- Do you support the Community Choice Act of 2007 (S.799, H.R. 1621) and/or the Community Living Assistance Services and Supports Act of 2007 (CLASS Act of 2007)?
I am an original cosponsor of the Community Choice Act and will support the CLASS Act when it is introduced. Taken together, these two important pieces of legislation will provide critical services to individuals with disabilities.
- What other steps would you take to help states implement the Olmstead v. L.C. Supreme Court decision and help address the institutional bias in the current Medicaid system?
The Olmstead decision makes clear that all individuals with disabilities should have the choice to live their lives as full and integrated members of their communities. I believe that the federal government should encourage states to provide Americans with disabilities the freedom to choose the kind of care that they believe will best enable them to live full, complete and manageable lives. As stated earlier, my Administration would support creation of additional community-based options for individuals with disabilities while at the same time working to ensure that individuals choosing to live in these settings have the same access to Medicaid as those living in institutions.
- Will you propose integrating acute and long-term services by using integrated managed care principles?
Yes.
- How will you address the shortage of community direct care attendants?
Millions of people with disabilities rely on attendants to help them live and work in their communities. These workers assist people with disabilities with activities of daily living, medication administration, preparing and eating meals, getting to work, gaining life skills and handling other daily affairs.
Demand for these workers is growing. Hundreds of thousands of people with disabilities are on waiting lists for services and the demand will grow 62 percent by 2010 as these Americans get older. Unfortunately, these positions have a high turnover rate each year because of poor wages and job demands, putting the quality of life for people with disabilities at risk. My Living with Dignity Initiative includes specific steps to attract, support and retain home health aides and attendants. These workers ought to be treated with the same dignity and respect that we ask them to give to their patients. As president, I will provide resources to improve wages, training, and working conditions for aides. I will also establish strong workplace safety regulations such as the ergonomics regulations discarded by President Bush.
- How will you address the lack of coordination between Medicare and Medicaid policies?
All too often the care of individuals with disabilities is imperiled by the lack of coordination between the Medicare and Medicaid programs. Believing that these two programs should be work together seamlessly, I will work to ensure greater transparency and coordination between these two critically important programs at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.
- HOUSING
- What would you do to increase the availability of affordable, accessible, integrated housing opportunities in the community for low and moderate income people with disabilities and their families?
I have been a leader in supporting affordable housing nationwide, for all families. In 1990, I was an original cosponsor of the National Affordable Housing Act, and I have long believed that access to a home that is comfortable, safe, and within close proximity to good schools, public services and parks, should be an attainable goal for every American, including people with disabilities and their families. I believe we can increase housing opportunities for people with disabilities by including requirements for a certain number of accessible housing options in all new affordable housing projects, and a requirement that we retrofit older buildings and developments.
- How will you assure the vigorous implementation of all Fair Housing Laws?
As President, I will make fair housing a priority. I believe that if we remain vigilant on all Fair Housing provisions using a thorough and complete review process, we can ensure that all Fair Housing laws are implemented and complied with. In order to accomplish this, we must fully fund all HUD programs and offices that are involved with Fair Housing implementation. We also must draw on community support and participation. The people who actually need access to fair housing opportunities are the best people to ask whether these opportunities are available and any problems they are encountering. We must educate the public about their rights and set up mechanisms such as hotlines so that any discrimination that occurs can be reported and eradicated immediately.
- How will you assure that HUD implements programs that will assist states in complying with the Olmstead decision?
I will ensure that HUD implements such programs through adequate funding and vigilant oversight.
- TRANSPORTATION
- What would you do to expand access to affordable, accessible transportation for people with disabilities, especially in rural areas?
Access to affordable, reliable public transportation is both an issue of fairness and environmental necessity. One of the key points of my energy plan is to increase access to affordable and convenient mass transit systems that are fully accessible to people with disabilities across all regions of the country. Such a system will be designed to enable people with disabilities to gain full access to jobs, schools, and healthcare facilities.
I know that mass transit saves families money in fuel costs and lowers pollution by reducing the number of cars on the road during rush hours. I also know that affordable and convenient mass transit represents an essential component to ensuring that everyone can take advantage of services and opportunities. With the many resources and developments we have at our fingertips, in a Dodd Administration access will never be an impediment to people with disabilities, regardless of where you are from and where you need to go.
Additionally, to fully serve people with disabilities who live in rural areas, we must offer them a wide array of personalized transportation support services, including van services and rideshare.
- EDUCATION
- How would you ensure that students with disabilities are included within and accommodated as part of the accountability measures of No Child Left Behind?
As President, I would vehemently oppose any efforts to remove students with disabilities from the NCLB accountability system or to weaken their participation in it. At the same time, I would heavily invest in efforts to ensure that appropriate supports, assessments and accommodations are available so that students with disabilities have full access to the regular curriculum. A Dodd Administration will also commit to, and invest in, a national effort to ensure that curriculum objectives, materials, teaching methods and classroom assessments are universally designed.
- Do you support full federal funding for the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)?
Over thirty years ago, Congress passed IDEA to help states provide children with disabilities with a free, appropriate public education in the least restrictive environment possible. At that time, the federal government made a commitment to, over time, cover 40% of the state cost of servicing these students. Thirty years later, the federal level of funding hovers at less than 20%. I believe that the time has come to fully fund IDEA. I have been a leading voice on adequately funding this initiative throughout my Senate career and would reflect my commitment to do this in Presidential budgets.
- What ideas do you have for strengthening federal enforcement of IDEA?
Recently, the National Council on Disability (NCD) found that every State in America was out of compliance with IDEA requirements to some degree. They found that the Department of Education made limited use of its authority to impose available sanctions -- withholding of funds and making referrals to the Department of Justice --- and a system where parents with limited resources were unable to challenge violations of their children’s rights when they occured. As President, I would rectify this by first advancing a more aggressive approach to enforcement. I would do this by instructing the Department to establish clear, objective, and publicly available criteria for applying sanctions, funding and directing an immediate review of compliance across the states, and ensuring that sanctions are then fully applied.
In regards to parents’ ability to challenge IDEA violations, I was a strong supporter of the Supreme Court’s decision in Winkelman v. Parma City School District and was among a handful of Senators to file an amicus brief with the court in favor of a parent’s authority to bring pro se claims under IDEA. The recent ruling in favor of parents will help to ensure that those of limited resources have a fighting chance in court. A Dodd Administration will work to ensure that children with disabilities are no longer denied their civil rights.
- What ideas do you have for increasing the high school graduation rate of students served by IDEA?
As President, I will require that every 9th grader in America, including students with disabilities, have a graduation plan to ensure that they are on-track for college and the workforce upon graduation. A graduation plan will allow students and parents to monitor progress and allow them to make adjustments as needed along the way. I would also work to ensure that all students successfully complete high school by supporting initiatives that provide targeted instruction and appropriate behavior supports to students that need them. The need for targeted instruction and interventions must not delay a student’s successful completion of high school.
- How would you improve services for students transitioning from school to employment? From high school to higher education?
Building on requirements within IDEA that every student have a transition plan in place by the age of 16, a Dodd Administration would work to provide additional funding to ensure that transition services take place wherever most appropriate for the individual student – on school grounds, at community or four-year colleges, or at works sites. As President, I would work hard to ensure that IDEA students stay on track not only to graduate, but to graduate college and/or workforce-ready.
- TECHNOLOGY AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS
- Do you support legislative measures to require that Internet technologies be made accessible to and usable by people with disabilities?
In our global economy, it is essential that every American have the ability to successfully access and use the Internet. Internet connectivity is essential to doing business, obtaining information, and remaining competitive. Internet technologies also offer an unprecedented ability to perform tasks and employment obligations from home, or anywhere else that is convenient, allowing people with disabilities access to jobs, activities and services that might previously have been difficult or inconvenient to take advantage of. That is why I strongly support any and every effort to require that Internet technologies be made fully accessible to people with disabilities. As President, I would also support efforts to expand our wireless networks so that location -- rural or urban -- will never be an impediment to accessing or using Internet technologies.
- What measures would you propose to ensure that consumer electronic and telecommunications devices are accessible to and usable by persons with disabilities?
As President, I would convene a panel of experts to determine exactly which consumer and telecommunications devices are most useful to people with disabilities and consequently provide tax breaks to consumers, and tax incentives to businesses, to ensure that anyone who could benefit from these products would be able to do so. Cost should never be so prohibitive that it limits access to these types of consumer products. I would reconvene this panel on an ongoing basis to review new technologies as they are made available so that people with disabilities will always have access to the most up-to-date technologies. I would also evaluate current technologies to determine if they require special components to render them accessible to people with disabilities and then provide incentives for manufacturers to make these modifications. Finally, as I mentioned above, I would expand wireless networks across the country so that no matter where you are you will be able to fully utilize the most current consumer electronic and telecommunications devices.
- How would you ensure enforcement of Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act and Section 255 of the Telecommunications Act?
Having been one of its principle supporters upon passage, I have been a strong supporter of Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act. I was one of Section 508's lead authors and I continue to be a leading proponent of assistive technologies that ensure that individuals with disabilities have full access to promising new developments.
Within IDEA, I won passage of the Instructional Material Accessibility Act (IMAA), a bill designed to provide much needed assistance to blind and print-disabled students enrolled in our public schools. IMAA ensures that blind and print-disabled students receive textbooks and other instructional materials in the formats that they require at the same time as their sighted peers.
- Would you support restoration of full funding for the Technology-related Assistance for Individuals with Disabilities Act programs?
Yes. I support full funding for these programs because I believe that technology-related assistance can dramatically increase the quality of life for individuals with disabilities.
- VOTING
- What steps would you take as President to ensure that voters with disabilities are able to vote privately and independently, consistent with the requirements of the Help America Vote Act (HAVA)?
As the primary author of the Help America Vote Act (HAVA) I worked to ensure that historic new voting protections for persons with disabilities were included in the final legislation. HAVA included critical reforms to ensure safer, more secure, more transparent and accessible balloting procedures for federal elections, and provided funding to enable states and localities to upgrade antiquated voting systems and procedures. It also required states to revamp registration procedures, ensure broader access to enable persons with disabilities to vote privately and independently -- many for the first time -- and to prevent voting discrimination.
With HAVA, we made great strides in repairing cracks in our voting system’s foundation, but clearly we must do more to strengthen each American’s right to vote and have their vote counted. That's why I introduced the VOTER Act, to build upon HAVA’s reforms while preserving critical access guaranteed by HAVA for persons with disabilities. It is also why we must ensure vigorous enforcement of HAVA's accessibility requirements. And it is why I am cosponsoring new legislation to provide for a voter-verified paper ballot record while preserving full access for persons with disabilities -- legislation which also authorizes new federal funding for research into innovative new electronic accessibility technologies. In a Dodd Administration, I'll continue to fight to protect and strengthen the voting rights of persons with disabilities.
- Would you require the Census Bureau, in its surveys of people with disabilities, to ask questions regarding whether the respondents are registered to vote and whether they voted in the last election?
Yes, as long as appropriate privacy protections are in place. As with more general current population surveys conducted by the Census Bureau which inquire about voting and registration, survey data from these targeted surveys can offer important information about voting patterns and trends, and provide a basis for policymakers to craft improved federal policies which can make voting easier, more convenient, and more accessible for all.
- CIVIL RIGHTS
- Of the existing members of the U.S. Supreme Court, which justices do you consider models for the kinds of federal judges you would appoint if elected president?
I believe that Ruth Bader Ginsburg is a preeminent example of the kind of jurist I would appoint as President. I believe that she uses sound judicial reasoning and measured judgment in making her decisions. I admire her commitment to justice for every member of our society and her commitment to upholding rights Americans should be fundamentally guaranteed.
I especially respect Justice Ginsburg for her majority opinion in the historic Olmstead v. L.C. decision, finding that segregating people with disabilities in institutions may amount to discrimination. This decision opened the door for people with disabilities to receive community-based services rather than automatic institutionalization, and represents an important decision making process on behalf Justice Ginsburg that I think should be repeatedly used.
- Do you support an ADA Restoration Act, such as the bill introduced in the last Congress?
Yes. I believe that the incremental erosion of the rights guaranteed by the Americans with Disabilities Act over the past few years is unacceptable and I will do everything in my power as President to fully restore those rights.
- What steps will you take to protect the diminishment of the civil rights protections under the ADA?
As President, I will support legislation that provides enhanced civil rights protections under the ADA. I will also appoint judges at every level who understand that protecting civil rights guarantees is a top priority.
- INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS
Do you support U.S. ratification of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and its Optional Protocal?
Yes. People with disabilities around the world deserve these rights and protections. It is unacceptable that the United States has not taken this important action.
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