The National Forum on Equality, Opportunity, and Access is a presidential candidates' forum hosted by Granite State Independent Living Center (GSIL) and a New Hampshire coalition of disability organizations and sponsored by more than fifteen of the country’s largest national disability organizations. Manchester Community Television will televise the event, which will feature live appearances by the presidential candidates and an audience of over 500 New Hampshire voters with disabilities, their families, and their friends. During the forum, each candidate will have an opportunity to present his or her vision for the future of national disability policy (including employment, healthcare, long-term community-based supports, transportation, education, etc.) and receive questions from an audience through a moderator. Lunchtime keynote addresses from key Democratic and Republican leadership are also planned. National leaders from the disability community will also be in attendance, including Ted Kennedy, Jr., Tony Coelho, and Cheryl Sensenbrenner.
CONFIRMED ATTENDANCE:
Senator Joe Biden (D-DE)
Senator Hillary Clinton (D-NY)
Senator Chris Dodd (D-CT)
Congressman Dennis Kucinich (D-OH)
Senator John McCain (R-AZ, to participate by phone)
INVITED TO ATTEND:
Senator Joseph Biden
Senator Hillary Clinton
Senator Chris Dodd
Senator John Edwards
Mayor Rudy Giuliani
Congressman Mike Gravel
Governor Mike Huckabee
Congressman Duncan Hunter
Congressman Dennis Kucinich
Senator John McCain
Senator Barack Obama
Congressman Ron Paul
Governor Bill Richardson
Governor Mitt Romney
Congressman Tom Tancredo
Senator Fred Thompson
LIST OF NATIONAL SPONSORS:
American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD)
AARP
ADAPT
American Foundation for the Blind (AFB)
The Arc of the United States
Association of University Centers on Disabilities (AUCD)
Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund (DREDF)
Easter Seals
Epilepsy Foundation
Hands On Video Relay Services (HOVRS)
National Association of the Deaf (NAD)
National Coalition of Mental Health Consumer / Survivor Organizations
National Council on Independent Living (NCIL)
National Spinal Cord Injury Association (NSCIA)
New England Chapter of Paralyzed Veterans of America
Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA)
Self Advocates Becoming Empowered (SABE)
Telecommunications for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, Inc. (TDI)
United Cerebral Palsy (UCP)
United Spinal Association
VSA arts
For more information, please contact: Anne C. Sommers, J.D.
Policy Counsel
American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD)
(202) 457-0046 (V/TTY)
