“Fight beside us or get out of the way”:
New Online Ad Buy Urges Candidates to Back Disability Community and Disability GOTV
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 23, 2024
Contact: Jess Davidson, jdavidson@aapd.com; 202-975-0960 OR Sean Kelly, sean@newdisabledsouth.org
WASHINGTON — Today the American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD), in partnership with multiple disability groups, released a video ad campaign ahead of Election Day, calling on political candidates and elected officials to pay attention to the 61 million+ disabled people across the country and the issues that matter most to us. The 60-second ad, and a 30-second version, will run across digital platforms in critical swing states–Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin–and urges candidates to “fight beside us or get out of the way.”
The ad, filmed and produced with alignco in Atlanta, Georgia, and featuring folks with a range of disabilities, will be distributed across digital and social media platforms. It was jointly produced and funded by:
- American Association of People with Disabilities
- New Disabled South
- Disability Culture Lab
- Detroit Disability Power / Disability Action
“One in every six eligible voters is disabled, making the disability community one of the largest voting blocs in the country. However, our presence and power is all too frequently dismissed by candidates. We are excited to collaborate on this ad with other leading disability organizations to highlight the power of disabled people and the importance of the disability vote,” said Maria Town, President and CEO of the American Association of People with Disabilities.
“We are proud to join alongside our fellow disabled leaders in telling political candidates that enough is enough. Our community is powerful, influential, and ready to vote for the things we need and deserve,” said Dom Kelly, Co-Founder, President & CEO of New Disabled South.
“The disability vote could win or lose the election in every swing state — but politicians too often treat us as an afterthought,” said Keidra Chaney, Program Director at Disability Culture Lab. “We have only two weeks to go — it’s not too late to speak to disabled voters and fight beside us for justice. We’re proud to partner on this ad because the disability vote shouldn’t ever be taken for granted.”
“The disability community is large and diverse, and yet, we have many common interests and everything to gain from increased political representation,” said Dessa Cosma, Executive Director of Detroit Disability Power and Disability Action. “This collective motivation to show up and show out for our community will without doubt impact the presidential election and down ballot races across the country.”
“There is no doubt that the disability community represents one of the largest and most diverse voting blocs in the country,” said Alison Betty, Partner at alignco. “We’re proud to support the disability community during this election cycle. Candidates should be on notice. Disabled people are politically active, organized and powerful.”
Watch the ad and learn more about the campaign: vote.newdisabledsouth.org
Note to press: Interviews with leaders from these groups are available in person or remotely from Washington, D.C., Atlanta, and Detroit. To schedule, please contact Sean Kelly at sean@newdisabledsouth.org.
###
New Disabled South is the first and only regional disability organization in the United States, fighting for liberation, justice, and rights for all disabled people in the South.
Disability Culture Lab is a nonprofit disability media and narrative lab with a mission to shift the narrative on disability from fear and pity to solidarity and liberation. We exist to dismantle ableism and celebrate disabled community and culture.
Detroit Disability Power is a disability focused social justice organization building and leveraging the organizing and political power of the disability community to ensure the full inclusion of people with disabilities. Disability Action is the political 501(c)4 arm of Detroit Disability Power.
American Association of People with Disabilities works to increase the political and economic power of people with disabilities. As a national, nonpartisan, disability-led and cross-disability rights organization, AAPD advocates for full civil rights for over 60 million Americans with disabilities. We do this by promoting equal opportunity, economic power, independent living, and political participation.
Alignco is a full-service strategic communications, advertising, and digital agency that partners with today’s changemakers – and tomorrow’s – to drive lasting change and build a more equitable, just world. To learn more, visit alignco.us.