Yes, there is Power in the Disability Vote
AND WE ARE HOLDING A FORUM TO SHINE A LIGHT ON THE ISSUES
September 19, 2022 was an important day for the Texas Disability Community.
To learn what major party candidates have to say on the most pressing problems from healthcare to elections to education and more, REV UP Texas and the Coalition of Texans with Disabilities, along with more than 45 disability organizations, joined forces to host the third Texas Disability Issues Forum, (TDIF). This non-partisan, one day event, where candidates for elected statewide office were asked to specifically address the concerns of Texans with disabilities.
Democrat and Republican candidates for the offices of Governor, Lt. Governor, Attorney General and Agriculture Commissioner were invited. The 4 Republican candidates did not respond to TDIF's invitation. This forum was not a debate and was moderated by independent journalists, Patrick Svitek and James Barragán and live streamed through our media partner, the Texas Tribune.
Now more than ever, it is critical that the Texas disability community get out the vote. Issues like affordable health care that covers pre-existing conditions and protects mental health parity; Medicaid funding for in-home services so folks can stay out of nursing homes and other institutions; barriers like long waiting lists and ridiculously low wages for Community Attendants that further strangle the system; and, cutbacks in funding for already chronically underfunded affordable, accessible integrated housing mean growing numbers of the disabled face homelessness.
Even the right to vote itself has been attacked here in Texas. These are just some of the reasons why the Texas disability community is becoming active in electoral politics. We need to educate candidates about disability issues, and disabled people and our allies about the candidates' stand on these issues.
The 2022 Texas Disability Issues Forum was held on Monday, September 19, 2022 at the AT&T Hotel and Conference Center on the UT campus.
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