Hyatt Regency 350 North High Street
Columbus, OH
September 28, 2012
About
The National Forum on Disability Issues was an historic nonpartisan event, focusing on the disability positions of the 2012 Presidential candidates. Edward M. “Ted” Kennedy, Jr. and Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) spoke on behalf of their respective parties to present their campaigns’ positions on matters relating to Americans with disabilities. Ohio Senate Republican nominee Treasurer Josh Mandel and Rep. Nancy Garland (D-New Albany) on behalf of Ohio Sen. Brown participated. The speakers discussed their positions on a wide variety of disability issues directly to the disability community. Frank Sesno, director of the School of Media and Public Affairs at the George Washington University and former CNN White House correspondent, anchor and Washington bureau chief, served as Forum moderator.
FactsThe National Forum on Disability Issues is the only national electoral event to focus specifically on disability issues.
- There are 57 million people with disabilities in the United States, meaning that roughly 1 in 5 Americans have a disability (source: 2000 census).
- CNN reports that Approximately 21 million American families include at least one member with a disability, and over 65 million Americans are caring for family members with disabilities.
- According to the Disability Funders Network, between 1990 and 2000, the number of Americans with disabilities increased 25 percent, outpacing any other subgroup of the U.S. population.
- Over 80 disability organizations from across the country supported this historic event.
Washington, D.C. (Sept. 11, 2012) – Frank Sesno, director of the School of Media and Public Affairs at the George Washington University, and former CNN White House correspondent, anchor and Washington bureau chief, is serving as moderator of the National Forum on Disability Issues (NFDI) from 12:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m., Friday, Sept. 28, at the Hyatt Regency in Columbus, Ohio.
The non-partisan forum aims to bring together President Barack Obama and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney and provide them with a platform to present their policy positions on disability issues directly to the disability community. Invitations have also been extended to candidates from both parties for the U.S. Senate from Ohio, Sen. Sherrod Brown (D) and Republican nominee Treasurer Josh Mandel.
“This is the only national event for candidates to present their positions on disability issues,” said Sue Hetrick, director of public policy of the Ability Center of Greater Toledo and coordinator of the Ohio Disability Vote Coalition. “There are more than 57 million people with disabilities in the United States, and one in four veterans returning from service in Iraq and Afghanistan are returning with a disability. The disability community, which is growing and increasing its influence on elections, must know the policy positions of the people who will represent them in Washington.”
Format of the Forum
Each candidate will occupy the stage exclusively for 30-minutes. During that time, he will have 10 minutes to present his vision for the future on disability policy in America and 20 minutes to respond to questions presented by Sesno. Questions for the session are being generated by the disability community prior to the event. Each candidate has the opportunity to address such topics as employment, health care, long-term community- based services and supports, education, transportation, housing, and research.
A maximum capacity crowd of 500 Americans living with disabilities is expected to be confirmed, while thousands more are planned to participate via a live webcast. Individuals interested in registering for the forum or live webcast can do so at www.nfdi.org.
For more information, visit www.nfdi.org.
Joel Kessel
COLUMBUS, OH (September 11, 2012) -- A coalition of over 50 disability organizations, including Autism Speaks, is hosting a non-partisan September 28 National Forum on Disability Issues where the Democratic and Republican presidential candidates will have the opportunity to present their positions on disability issues and the public will be able to respond through a webcast.
Both the Romney and Obama campaigns have acknowledged the event; the level of their participation will be detailed closer to the event.
“The National Forum on Disability Issues, the only national Presidential event to focus on issues specific to the disability community, is a great opportunity for both President Obama and Governor Romney to make their stances on disability issues clear," said Sue Hetrick, director of public policy/The Ability Center and coordinator of the Ohio Disability Vote Coalition. "Over 14.7 million Americans with disabilities voted in the 2008 election. With 1 out of every 5 Americans living with a disability today, their voices and their votes will play a critical role in the 2012 election.”
The forum is making available 30-minute timeslots (between 12:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. EST) for each presidential candidate, or their representative, to present their vision on disability policy in America for the next four years. Each candidate has been invited through their campaigns to address issues such as employment, health care, long-term community-based support and services, education, transportation, housing, and research.
Following their remarks, a moderator will present questions submitted from the disabilities community. In addition to the presidential campaign, the event will address Ohio's U.S. Senate campaign between incumbent Democrat Sherrod Brown and his Republican challenger, state Treasurer Josh Mandel.
To register for the webcast, go here.
To learn more about the event, visit the NFDI website here.
The event is being held in Columbus at the Hyatt Regency at 350 North High Street. To attend in person, go here. Space is limited to 500 participants.
The Forum has also officially launched their new, interactive website, www.nfdi.org and encourages Americans with disabilities, their families and caregivers, and the organizations that serve them to visit the site and attend the Forum.
This website provides important information for attendees, sponsors, media, and all Americans concerned with where the 2012 Presidential candidates stand on issues critical to the 57 million people with disabilities in this country. The forum will be held from 12:30pm- 3:30pm EST on September 28, 2012 and will feature time slots for the candidates to share their visions for the future of disability policy. President Barack Obama and presumptive Republican Presidential candidate Governor Mitt Romney, as well as U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown and Republican challenger Josh Mandel, the Ohio Senate candidates, have been invited.
“The National Forum on Disability Issues, the only national Presidential event to focus on issues specific to the disability community, is a great opportunity for both President Obama and Governor Romney to make their stances on disability issues clear. Over 14.7 million Americans with disabilities voted in the 2008 election. With 1 out of every 5 Americans living with a disability today, their voices and their votes will play a critical role in the 2012 election,” said Sue Hetrick, Director of Public Policy/The Ability Center and Coordinator of the Ohio Disability Vote Coalition. “We are thrilled to launch our new website, and encourage everyone to visit it, register to attend or watch the webcast, and add your support to our call for the Presidential
campaigns to come to Ohio and speak about the issues that matter the most to the disability community.”
The forum is sponsored by over 50 organizations, including:
National American Association for People with Disabilities
American Association on Health and Disability
American Diabetes Association
American Physical Therapy Association
Amputee Coalition
Association of Assistive Technology Act Program
Association of University Centers on Disabilities
Bender Consulting
Caring Across Generations
Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities (CCD)
CSAVR
Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund (DREDF)
Easter Seals
Epilepsy Foundation
Hearing Loss Association of America
Hemophilia Federation of America
Jewish Federations of North America
Jewish Funds for Justice
Lutheran Services in America
Mosaic
National Association for Homecare and Hospice
National Association of State Head Injury Administrators (NASHIA)
National Association of States United for Aging and Disability
National Center for Learning Disabilities
National Council on Aging
National Council on Independent Living
National Diabetes Association
National Disability Rights Network
National Down Syndrome Society
National Federation of the Blind
National Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Society
National Organization on Disability
National Youth Leadership Network
Paralyzed Veterans of American
PHI National
Self Advocates Becoming Empowered (SABE)
Sibling Leadership Network
The Access Center for Independent Living
The Arc of the United States
The Daniel Jordan Fiddle Foundation
United Cerebral Palsy
United Spinal Association
Yoshiko Dart
State/Local
CareSource
Down Syndrome Association of Central Ohio
Mary Cariola Children’s Center
Ohio Abilities Network Ohio APSE
Ohio Association of Goodwill Industries (OAGI)
Ohio Disability Vote Coalition
Ohio Down Syndrome Advocacy Network (ODAN)
Ohio Olmstead Taskforce
Ohio SILC
The Arc of Ohio
The Ohio State University Nisonger Center (UCEDD/LEND)
University of Cincinnati UCEDD/LEND
For more information about the forum, please contact Sue Hetrick / 866-575-8055 / shetrick@abilitycenter.org.
For Sponsorship Information Contact: Kate Josephson / 202-776-0406 / kjosephson@ucp.org.
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