Issue Position: Disability Rights

Issue Position

I will fight for an America free of discrimination against people with disabilities, where people with disabilities are valued, integrated members of society who have full access to education, homes, health care, jobs, and families. I am committed to ensuring people with disabilities are no longer segregated into, and overrepresented in, civil and criminal institutions such as nursing homes, psychiatric hospitals, jails, and prisons.

The rights of people with disabilities are under attack. Under the current administration, we are facing extreme cuts to Special Olympics Funding, the propagation of lies around school choice, which are proven to be detrimental to students with disabilities, and more.

It's time for our district and our country to do more to be leaders in ensuring that people with disabilities can live their daily lives fully and have the rights and access to services that we promise to all Americans.

I support The Autism CARES Act, Transformation to Competitive Employment Act, CAPABILITY Act of 2019 as well as any bill that works to expand the rights people with disabilities and prohibits discrimination.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

70% of public-school students who are physically restrained or secluded have disabilities.

60% of people in local jails have some form of mental disability.

48% of people with disabilities have a personal income of $15,000 or less.

I will work to:

Protect and strengthen the ADA. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is the nation's strongest law protecting the civil rights of people with disabilities. It prohibits discrimination based on disability and guarantees equal access to public buildings and businesses.

Reduce the use of the United States' jail and prison systems to warehouse people with mental and physical disabilities. We support efforts within the criminal justice system to identify and work with a person's disability in rehabilitative efforts.

Support equal access to educational opportunities for people with disabilities. I will promote an education system that is free from punitive disciplinary methods--such as corporal punishment, restraint and seclusion, and bullying--and inappropriate and overused suspensions and expulsions. I will oppose the use of vouchers and separate schools that further segregate and impoverish the education of students with disabilities.

Ensure the rights of all students, including those with disabilities, to an equitable and appropriate education in a safe environment.

Advocate for changes in laws to further the ability of people with disabilities to work in a variety of jobs for fair pay.

Ensure our disabled veterans get the quality care they need and to which they are entitled.

Ensure people with disabilities have equal access to our democracy by working to provide equal access to our voting process.

To expand and strengthen our mental health system, defend those seeking help against discrimination.

Provide an extensive transportation system. In the United States, transportation systems are too often unavailable, inaccessible or unequal to people with disabilities. I will work to provide an electric transportation system that is accessible so people with disabilities can live fully in the community.

Protect against limitations on disabled person's personal freedom. People with disabilities should have the opportunity to make their own decisions.

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