Individuals with disabilities can be politically stronger when they unite with others who share their economic, social, and political interests.
By Thomas Cooke
Whether you are on the right or left of our political spectrum, Republican or Democrat, you can clearly see-and might even be worried about-the influence of “the special interests” on our political system: groups like the National Rifle Association, The American Federation of Teachers, the American Petroleum Institute (a.k.a. Big Oil) and the American Association for Justice, which was formerly known by the presumably less-popular title “The Association of Trial Lawyers of America.” From A to Z, anything you can think of that is a product or an occupation or a civil, social, religious, or constitutional interest is overwhelmingly likely to have a lobbying group that attempts to influence legislation. Every group under the sun is working hard to see that their constituents’ interests are advanced. Groups that don’t pool their resources and fi nd areas of common interest, and then lobby for them, are left out in the cold.
And here’s where you come in.
United Spinal We Stand
At United Spinal we have a proud history of fighting hard to advance strong legislation for the rights of people with disabilities. We wrote portions of The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), The Fair Housing Amendments Act and have always fought hard for the rights and services American veterans deserve.
While we are proud of our accomplishments and the partnerships we’ve had in our fights for these rights, it seems to me that something is in the air in the greater disability community that can even further the efforts of people with disabilities- something that can give Americans with disabilities the political leverage of organizations like the American Association of Retired People and others I’ve listed above.
On July 26, United Spinal Association was a proud sponsor of and participant in the fi rst National Forum on Disabilities featuring the 2008 Presidential Candidates. With CEO Paul J. Tobin participating in a panel that discussed disability issues of the day, there were two aspects of the Forum that should have long-term positive consequences for the disability community.
First, this event was the first such national forum acknowledged by and participated in by the presidential campaigns of the two major political parties. Senator John McCain delivered a speech and answered questions live via satellite while Senator Barack Obama (who was traveling back from Europe) was represented physically at the Forum by Iowa Senator Tom Harkin. For the leading presidential candidates to listen to our needs and interact with us is a major step forward in our power as an influential political group.
Just as important, the Forum was a cross-disability event. From those with “hidden disabilities” to mobility impairments, visual impairments and/or deafness, the afternoon saw members from the full spectrum of disability organizations coming together for the greater common good. The goal of every American with a disability is to have the opportunity and services available to pursue a productive life as a contributing member of society. This means greater access to education, home care, necessary equipment and the workplace. While the accommodations needed to pursue these goals are different depending upon one’s disability, these are general themes that each of us with a disability recognizes as pivotal to our long-term inclusion in American society.
Tennessee Volunteers
A number I’ve heard quite a bit in recent months is 54 million: the number of Americans with some form of disability. In a country of 300 million, many of whom choose not to vote, consider the massive influence a group of 54 million organized, voting Americans would have on the state, local, and federal level. Politicians would fear doing anything to hurt such a group. But how do we make this happen? How do we turn 54 million Americans with disabilities into a unified block that identifies important themes and mobilizes its voters to sway elections?
Well, for starters, we can look to Tennessee.
The Tennessee Disability Coalition has well more than 100,000 members. The coalition has registered individuals with disabilities to vote and become a formidable lobbying concern in the state. Members can sign up to receive weekly e-mail blasts that keep them abreast of legislative developments important to people with disabilities. The Coalition has pooled the resources of over 25 disability organizations to grow their numbers and concentrate on larger, common themes. They e-mail their members, telling them to contact their elected officials, and, by having such a sizable voting constituency, are sought out by everyone from governors to would-be city council people. Consequently, the Coalition is involved in drafting legislation that helps people with disabilities and is developing a sizable body of legislative success (tndisability.org).
Now I know what you’re saying: “Well that’s great, but how am I going to produce a group with such sizable numbers?” Well, for starters, I don’t think you make that your initial goal. But what you can do, and what we need as many of us as possible to do, is to get involved politically at the local level. Join the local club of your registered party. Regularly attend their events. Make them aware of the need for accessibility. Sign up for legislative updates from every disability organization that you can (including United Spinal, of course). Google local disability groups in your area and take a plan of action-talk to someone there about a voter registration drive for their members; get the e-mail addresses of people with disabilities so that you can send them important links (maybe one day you can develop your own e-mail blast system).
Getting individually involved increases disability awareness amongst the non-disabled. It also creates relationships that will make it harder for your elected representatives to ignore you. By getting involved locally you can help the greater disability movement grow. While your numbers may be small initially, one has to produce small numbers before they can get to big ones. It has been said that “Rome was not built in a day,” but it was built day by day, brick by brick. Get yourself involved politically, and from small beginnings great things may follow.
Thomas Cooke is United Spinal’s Chairman of the Board.
