PERSPECTIVES
Two voters with disabilities share why they are voting for Hillary Clinton and Donald J. Trump. Read their perspectives here:
Why I’m Voting for Hillary Clinton
by Tony Coelho
As a person with a disability and an original sponsor of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), I want a President who has the ability and motivation to protect and expand upon that landmark accomplishment. Every “disability voter” in Georgia has reason to vote for Secretary Hillary Clinton.
As a young adult, my diagnosis with epilepsy took away my ability to get a job, my driver’s license, my health insurance and, ultimately, my dream of becoming a Catholic priest. It is my history with epilepsy that led me to author the ADA, to continue my advocacy for people with disabilities, and to stay engaged in politics. It is the reason I want to elect Hillary Clinton.
I applaud the Georgia Council on Developmental Disabilities for being intentionally inclusive in its work. I had the opportunity in 2013 to sit amongst many Georgians at the Carter Center where I discussed my experience with epilepsy and its impact on my mental health with the former First Lady Rossalyn Carter. She and the Georgians around her understood how stigma and discrimination prevent millions from seeking and receiving effective treatment. Secretary Clinton has responded to us with a detailed plan to address the mental health crisis and end the stigma and shame associated with treatment.
Secretary Clinton isn’t with us just to get elected, she’s been with us all along. Her first job out of law school was knocking on doors to figure out why two million US children were not in school, finding that many children with disabilities and other children with special needs were being excluded from schools. That work helped lead to a federal law guaranteeing access to public school education for children with disabilities. She went on to push for health reforms such as the Children’s Health Insurance Program.
While she’s with us, her opponent swears to demolish the Affordable Care Act (ACA), and with it, the tremendous advance we have made for people with disabilities by ending coverage discrimination against individuals with pre-existing conditions. Yet, almost half of the American population between the ages of 55-64 has a pre-existing condition, and 20% of our young adults age 18-24 have one. Secretary Clinton is committed to protecting access to insurance for people with pre-existing conditions, improving support for people with autism, and increasing employment opportunities for all – including us.
Secretary Clinton will work to finally pass the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (or “Disabilities Treaty”). The Disabilities Treaty embodies, at the international level, the ADA principles of non-discrimination, equality of opportunity, accessibility and inclusion. It has strong bipartisan support, yet we are one of three countries not to ratify it. We must judge our leaders by their ability to get beyond politics and make the tough decisions to do what is right for the most vulnerable among us – not mock us. With our voice and our vote, we can elect leaders who will build on the disability rights movement and protect our access to insurance.
Tony Coelho is a former Congressman and House Majority Whip. He is a lifelong disability rights advocate and was the principal sponsor of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Mr. Coelho is diagnosed with epilepsy. For more information, visit Clinton’s official campaign site at www.hillaryclinton.com
Why I’m Voting for Donald Trump
By Jason Faircloth
The question that many people will ask over the next month is “who are you voting for?” Some people will tell you and some people won’t. But what I know is that this election could change American politics for years and years. We have the opportunity to do that. As a leader in North Carolina’s disability community and an entrepreneur, these are the reasons that helped me make the decision to vote for Donald Trump.
First and foremost, I wonder why the Washington elites are not supporting Trump. Is it because they are afraid of the American people or are they really afraid of their inside connections who make and keep them rich? We need to worry about America and build America First, and that means protecting our jobs, benefits such as Social Security and healthcare – all things that also affect people with disabilities.
Everybody seems to want higher wages. People want college to be free. And the only way this is going to happen is with higher taxes! We need businesses to stay in this country so America can prosper – it will give more opportunities for people with disabilities to get a job.
Another thing that is important to me is the safety of our country. Does anybody around the world respect us anymore? We need to look at real facts, not TV facts, as we decide who is going to lead this country for the next four years.
This election, we have a chance to turn America around. It’s quite clear who I’m voting for, but that’s not your vote. Consider what issues are important to you as you head to the polls, and decide which party falls in line with your thoughts. I believe we have been headed down a path that we may never recover from, and I believe Donald Trump is the right candidate. We are still the best country in the world.
Jason Faircloth is the founder of the US Disabled Golf Association and a member of the North Carolina Council on Developmental Disabilities. He is a person diagnosed with cerebral palsy. For more information, visit Trump’s official campaign site at www.donaldjtrump.com
Georgia Council on Developmental Disabilities' (GCDD) fall edition of Making a Difference quarterly news magazine covers National Disability Employment Awareness Month; Project SEARCH; Election 2016 and more. The magazine is available in PDF, Large Print and Audio below.
Listen to the audio version of the magazine by clicking on the blue "Play" button below:
