For Immediate Release: September 10, 2019
Contact: Keri Gray, (202) 521-4310, kgray@www.aapd.com
The American Association of People with Disabilities and REV UP Texas Announce
Elected for Inclusion: A Presidential Forum on Disability Issues
Washington, D.C. – The American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD) and REV UP Texas are proud to announce Elected for Inclusion, our national nonpartisan Presidential forum on disability issues. The forum will take place on January 13, 2020 at the AT&T Hotel and Convention Center in Austin, Texas in advance of Super Tuesday and the November 2020 elections.
Elected for Inclusion – the Presidential Forum on Disabilities Issues will place the pressing questions the disability community faces on center stage and give major party Presidential candidates an opportunity to discuss policy decisions that affect approximately 23% of the American electorate.
AAPD and REV UP Texas are hosting Elected for Inclusion as a means of highlighting the power of the disability vote. In 2020, over 35 million eligible voters will be people with disabilities. The number of “disability voters” increases to over 62 million when we consider the ripple effect of the disability vote that connects families, friends, advocates, educators, providers, and other individuals that interact with people with disabilities.
AAPD President and CEO Maria Town stated, “Now, more than ever before, Presidential candidates know they must address issues important to the disability community and involve people with disabilities in their campaigns. Elected for Inclusion is an unparalleled opportunity for candidates to set forth their platforms and better understand this powerful, growing constituency.”
The disability community has a significant stake in the results of local, state, and federal elections this November. Our elected officials determine the direction and funding of the programs and services people with disabilities rely on for healthcare and independent living. Justin Dart, father of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and AAPD co-founder, said it best: “Vote as if your life depended on it, because it does.”
For more information on Elected for Inclusion: A Presidential Forum on Disability Issues and the REV UP Campaign, visit www.aapd.com/advocacy/voting/. The REV UP Campaign offers a host of information on registering to vote, increasing civic engagement, and state-specific resources and events.
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AAPD is a convener, connecter, and catalyst for change, increasing the political and economic power of people with disabilities. As one of the leading national cross-disability civil rights organizations, AAPD advocates for the full recognition of rights for the over 60 million Americans with disabilities. AAPD’s programs and initiatives have been effective in mobilizing the disability community through communications advocacy; cultivating and training new and emerging leaders with disabilities through leadership development programs; increasing the political participation of Americans with disabilities and elevating the power of the disability vote through the REV UP (Register! Educate! Vote! Use your Power!) Campaign; and advancing disability inclusion in the workplace through the Disability Equality Index (DEI) — the nation’s leading corporate benchmarking tool for disability equality and inclusion. To learn more about AAPD, visit www.aapd.com.
The mission of REVUP Texas is to outreach, educate, and disseminate information to people with disabilities, family members, supporters, professionals, the general public, and policymakers on issues affecting the integration of people with disabilities of all ages into every aspect of community living. The REV UP Campaign, launched in 2016, is a nonpartisan initiative that coordinates with national, state, and local disability organizations to increase the political power of the disability community while also engaging candidates and the media on disability issues. The Campaign focuses on voter registration, education, access, and engagement. REV UP stands for Register! Educate! Vote! Use your Power! Learn more at www.aapd.com/REVUP.