Jackson Heights–United Spinal Association President and CEO Paul J. Tobin, a U.S. Navy veteran who uses a wheelchair as the result of a spinal cord injury, will attend the Friday, November 2nd presidential candidates “National Forum on Equality, Opportunity, and Access” at the Radisson Hotel, Armory in Manchester, New Hampshire, beginning at 8:30 AM.

United Spinal Association is one of 23 national disability groups who are co-sponsoring this first-ever presidential candidates forum on disability policy.

Candidates scheduled to address disability issues at the November 2nd forum are Senator Hillary Clinton, Senator Joe Biden, Senator Chris Dodd, Governor Bill Richardson, Congressman Dennis Kucinich, Senator John Edwards’ Campaign Manager David Bonior, Senator Mike Gravel, Senator John McCain, and former Mayor Rudy Giuliani (invited).

United Spinal’s Paul Tobin stated, “we are making disability issues a national priority and encouraging the candidates to develop and articulate their disability policies before the election. We are also encouraging people with disabilities to support candidates interested in their issues and, most importantly, to vote.”

Topics to be addressed include employment, health care, long-term community-based supports, and transportation. For the convenience of the national audience of people living with disabilities and those who care about them, this entire event will be webcast by Hands On Video Relay Services, Inc. at www.hovrs.com. Other national leaders in the disability community from both parties will attend the forum, including Tony Coelho, Ted Kennedy, Jr., Dick Thornburgh, and Cheryl Sensenbrenner.