Disability Leaders Honor Champions & Challenge All Candidates to Campaign on Disability Issues

Press Release
September 1, 2004
Contacts: Donna Fredericksen
(718) 803-3782, ext 283 or (917) 921-2766
Mariana Nork (301) 509-2057
Marcie Roth (301) 717-7447

New York – Americans with disabilities vote – and candidates and legislators will never make a mistake by looking out for this one-fifth of the U.S. population. That was the core message delivered today by 17 national disability organizations that used the Republican National Convention as the backdrop to honor Republican disability champions and highlight the significant work that remains to be done for Americans with disabilities. The event was hosted by Time Warner at their New York headquarters. A corresponding event saluting Democratic leaders was held at WGBH in Boston July 26.

"People with disabilities represent nearly 20% of the voting age population, a significant voting bloc by anyone’s standard," said Andrew Imparato, President and CEO of the American Association of People with Disabilities. "We challenge all candidates to make disability more than just a footnote in their policy platforms. Candidates need to offer people with disabilities real solutions to the problems we face, not just lip service."

Americans with disabilities are among the nation’s largest minority groups, assuring the disability community a critical role in the November election.

"Disability is not an issue for one or the other political party. It impacts all of us," said Melanie Brunson, Executive Director, American Council of the Blind. "We are fortunate to count a number of Republicans among our strongest advocates and we welcomed the chance to honor Republican disability champions while raising awareness about the fact that all candidates need to reach out to Americans with disabilities."

A number of the legislators saluted at the event were active in passing and supporting the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and they were thanked for their work to ensure civil rights for this long-neglected part of the population. But leaders of the event’s sponsoring organizations were quick to point out that the ADA was not a cure-all for Americans with disabilities. According to the 2004 National Organization on Disability/Harris Survey of Americans with Disabilities, many problems persist:

• Only 35 percent of people with disabilities reported being employed full or part time, compared to 78 percent of those who do not have disabilities;
• Three times as many people with disabilities live in poverty with annual household incomes below $15,000;
• People with disabilities remain twice as likely to drop out of high school;
• People with disabilities are twice as likely to have inadequate transportation, and a much higher percentage go without needed health care;
• People with disabilities are less likely to socialize, eat out, or attend religious services than their non-disabled counterparts; and
• Life satisfaction for people with disabilities also trails, with only 34 percent saying they are very satisfied compared to 61 percent of those without disabilities.

While the ADA addresses fundamental civil rights for people with disabilities, these statistics bear out that the basics of everyday life are still out of reach for too many Americans with disabilities.

To combat these deficiencies, the sponsors of today’s "Lead On" Award Ceremony and Celebration called on leaders in government and candidates for office at all levels to commit to leading efforts to:

Guarantee access to high quality educational services -- including early intervention, preschool, and arts-based programs for children with disabilities -- to invest in America's future.

Employ people with disabilities to build a stronger economy with more contributing taxpayers, an increased consumer base, and an expanded, diverse workforce.

Ensure that people with disabilities have access to the health care and information they need to lead full and more productive lives.

Expand affordable, accessible housing options, as well as access to communication technology and transportation services, to allow people with disabilities to live in and be more active in their communities.

Make all polling places and voting equipment accessible so people with all disabilities can vote.

Noted disability rights activist Cheryl Sensenbrenner emceed the "Lead On" Award Ceremony and Celebration and each of the 17 disability organizations co-sponsoring today’s event honored a Republican leader who has distinguished him or herself through a commitment to people with disabilities.

The event sponsors and their respective honorees were:
American Association of People with Disabilities, New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg; American Council of the Blind, Representative C.W. Young (FL); American Foundation for the Blind, Senator John Sununu (NH); The Arc of the United States, Representative Pete Sessions (TX); Association of University Centers on Disability, Senator Chuck Grassley (IA); Easter Seals, Senator Bob Dole; Enable America, National Association of the Deaf, Representative James Walsh (NY); National Association of Protection and Advocacy Systems, Governor George Pataki (NY); National Organization on Disability, Senator Arlen Specter (PA); National Spinal Cord Injury Association, John Shimkus (IL); Paralyzed Veterans of America, Representative Rob Simmons (CT); Self-Help for Hard of Hearing People, Representative Jim Ryun (KS); United Cerebral Palsy, Senator Susan Collins (ME); United Spinal Association, New York State Senator Nick Spano; VSA arts, Senator Thad Cochran (MS); and WGBH, Senator John McCain (AZ).

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