On Monday, October 19, 2010, the Center for Disability Rights (CDR) and Regional Center for Independent Living (RCIL) hosted a “Candidate Forum on Disability Issues” with over 50 vocal audience members in attendance and 14 candidates and representatives.

The Candidate Forum is an annual CDR/RCIL event focusing on issues that are most pertinent to people with disabilities, including transportation, accessible and affordable housing, employment, education, and in-home services that people need to avoid being locked away in institutions. Although nearly 1 in 5 people have some type of disability, disability issues are rarely talked about on the campaign trails, so this Forum shines a welcome spotlight on these critical issues.

This year we invited candidates in the Gubernatorial, Congressional, State Senate and Assembly elections. The Forum was held the same night as the state Gubernatorial debates, but Green candidate for Governor, Howie Hawkins, sent a representative. Congressional candidates who attended were Jill Rowland (28th Distr.), Matthew Zeller (29th Distr.) and a representative for Tom Reed (29th Distr.). State Senate candidates included Ed O’Shea (54th Distr.), Jim Alesi (55th Distr.), Joe Robach (56th Distr.), Robin Wilt (56th Distr.), Amy Hope Witryol (62nd Distr.), as well as representatives for Senators Mike Nozzolio (54th Distr.) and George Maziarz (62nd Distr.). State Assembly candidates who attended were Harry Bronson (131st Distr.), Mark Scuderi (132nd Distr.) and David Koon (135th Distr.).

“Our goal is to help people with disabilities, as well as our families and friends who are part of the disability community, to make informed decisions on Election Day,” said Chris Hilderbrant, CDR’s Chief Operating Officer who moderated the Forum. “The other great thing is how much candidates learn during this process. For some candidates, this will be their only event focused on people with disabilities.”

The Monroe County Board of Elections also brought new accessible voting machines to the Forum so that participants could become more familiar with the new technology. This election will be the first time that lever operated voting machines will no longer be used. Voters will be able to mark their own paper ballots or use a ballot marking device with various technologies that are accessible to people with visual or mobility disabilities. Whether a voter marks their ballot with a pen or using the new device, all marked ballots will then be scanned using the same scanners in order to be counted.

For those who were not able to join us at the Forum, photos as well as a video of the entire event will be available online at www.cdrnys.org. CDR and RCIL also asked candidates to respond to a written survey regarding key disability issues. The candidates’ survey responses will also be posted online at www.cdrnys.org as they are received.