REV UP Issues Guide
Introduction
AAPD is pleased to present the REV UP Issues Guide for the 2018 Elections. The Guide provides a comprehensive, yet concise overview of the issues, legislation, and regulations that have a significant impact on the disability community. The Guide is meant to serve as a tool for voters, advocates, candidates, and the media to be better informed on the issues that matter to people with disabilities.
The disability community represents an important and potentially influential voting bloc. To make the disability vote influential, people with disabilities need to be actively involved in the election process and press candidates to give their positions on issues that affect them and their families. Candidates that support the equality and full inclusion of disabled individuals will benefit from the power of the disability vote.
Use this Guide to inform yourself and others on the priorities of the disability community, and to make an informed choice at the ballot box.
Use this guide when meeting with candidates formally or informally. Ask them how they will vote on legislation and what policies they will support. Remind them that the disability vote matters.
Use this Guide when talking with the media about the importance of disability issues in this upcoming election. With 1 in 5 Americans living with a disability, these issues are everyone’s issues.
As Justin Dart said, “Vote as if your life depends on it – because it does.”
If you have any questions, please contact AAPD’s REV UP Campaign at programs@www.aapd.com.
Download a printable version of the Issues Guide.
Spanish Translation
Topics
Budget and Government Spending
Civil and Human Rights
Community Living
Education
Employment
Health Care, Medicaid, and Medicare
Housing
Social Security
Transportation
Acknowledgements
AAPD would like to thank and acknowledge the following individuals for helping us develop the REV UP Issues Guide:
- Sha’ Anderson, Arkansas State Independent Living Council
- Alison Barkoff, Center For Public Representation
- Kim Brussell, The Viscardi Center
- Courtney Curry, The Viscardi Center
- DisBeat
- Lisa Ekman, National Organization of Social Security Claimants’ Representatives (NOSSCR)
- Marilyn Golden, Disability Rights Education & Defense Fund (DREDF)
- Dawn Howard, Colorado Cross-Disability Coalition (CCDC)
- Bethany Lilly, Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law
- Jennifer Mathis, Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law
- Kim Musheno, Autism Society
- Katy Neas, American Physical Therapy Association
- Paul Schiell, Atlanta activist
- Laura Thien
- Terri Thrower, Ph.D.
- Carol Tyson, Disability Rights Education & Defense Fund (DREDF)
- Denise Vargas, The Viscardi Center
- Carol Westlake, Tennessee Disability Coalition
The 2018 REV UP Issues Guide was published on June 25, 2018 and last updated on September 20, 2018. AAPD will do it’s best to keep this guide up-to-date as Executive and Legislative changes happen; however, we recommend double-checking Congress.gov, WhiteHouse.gov, or Google for the latest updates.
