Elected officials have the opportunity to discuss their record, perspectives and plans to address the issues most important to people with disabilities on Monday, October 18, at the 2010 Candidate Forum on Disability Issues. Sponsored by the Regional Center for Independent Living (RCIL) and the Center for Disability Rights (CDR), the candidate forum is your chance to hear who wants, and deserves, your vote.

Aptly scheduled for Disability History Day, the purpose of the candidate forum is to better educate voters in our community about the candidates running for governor, lieutenant governor, U. S. Congress, state senator, and state assembly. If elected, these officials will have the power to influence public policies concerning healthcare, transportation, housing, jobs, education, and physical accessibility, as well as communications access for the large deaf population in the Rochester area.

The forum will be from 6:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M. at the Stardust Ballroom in the Edgerton Recreation Center, 41 Backus Street in Rochester. Each candidate will be given equal time to speak and the opportunity to answer questions.

We sincerely hope you will join us and invite your family members, friends and service providers to do the same. Please contact Terrie Lincoln, RCIL systems advocate at (585) 442–6470 or tlincoln@rcil.org to RSVP, accommodation requests or for any additional information.

If you have any questions about voting, including whether you’re registered to vote, please contact Dave Atias, CDR assistant director of advocacy at (585) 546–7510, or at datias@cdrnys.org. CDR’s Voting Guide can be found at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O7XX6iDyExg.