For Immediate Release: September 13, 2021
Contact:Rachita Singh, rsingh@aapd.com
Washington, D.C. – The American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD) will host the 5th annual National Disability Voter Registration Week (NDVRW), from September 13-20, 2021. Throughout the week, over 100 national, state, and local organizations and advocates will be hosting events, town halls, and other initiatives to build the power of the disability vote.
Across the country this week, REV UP organizers and partners are working to protect our freedom to vote and make sure voters with disabilities are registered and ready to vote. We continue to face a global pandemic that has disproportionately impacted people with disabilities and their ability to vote safely. This year, we have also witnessed nation-wide attacks on voting rights to limit voting access for disabled voters, voters of color, and disabled voters of color. These challenges emphasize the importance of the work of the REV UP network this week and every week.
On Tuesday, September 14, AAPD will co-host the 2021 Disability Vote Summit with the National Disability Rights Network. This Summit will feature over 20 speakers discussing voting accessibility, challenges to getting out the disability vote, and the future of advocacy around the disability vote. View our full calendar for more NDVRW events.
“People with disabilities make up the largest minority voting bloc with 38 million eligible voters. And we exist in every community and every other voting bloc. Through National Disability Voter Registration Week, we grow the number of registered voters with disabilities and call attention to the power the disability community has to hold our leaders accountable,” said Susan Diegelman, Chair of the Board of Directors at AAPD.
“Voting is deeply personal and vitally important. Our vote is our say in the kind of world we want for ourselves and our communities. When we talk about voting, we are really talking about being a part of a process that impacts access to employment, community living, healthcare, education, transportation, and so much more,” said Maria Town, President and CEO of AAPD. “The work of advocates and organizers during National Disability Voter Registration Week impacts the future of our country and communities.”
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The REV UP Campaign, launched by the American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD) 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. REV UP stands for Register! Educate! Vote! Use your Power! Learn more at aapd.com/REVUP. For more information on the REV UP Campaign, National Disability Voter Registration Week, and other civic engagement and state-specific resources, visit aapd.com/NDVRW.
The American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD) is a convener, connector, and catalyst for change, increasing the political and economic power of people with disabilities. As a national cross-disability rights organization, AAPD advocates for full civil rights for the over 61 million Americans with disabilities by promoting equal opportunity, economic power, independent living, and political participation. To learn more, visit the AAPD Web site: www.aapd.com.