Americans with Disabilities
Achieving Equitable Access to the American Dream
I seek an inclusive America that empowers everyone to contribute to this great country of ours. I want people to live independently in their communities, demonstrate their capacities and access the American Dream on a level playing field. Unfortunately, Scott Garrett has an extreme anti-disability rights voting record as the only member of Congress from New Jersey to join a tiny minority and oppose the bipartisan Americans with Disabilities Amendments Act and the Voting Rights Act reauthorization.
It is a testament to America’s greatness that blindness has not prevented me from having the opportunity to live the American Dream, accomplish my goals and give back to my community. Yet, too many Americans with Disabilities still find their choices and opportunities stifled by an institutional bias in Medicaid, discrimination in health coverage on the basis of pre-existing conditions, inaccessible housing and barriers to education and employment. This is unacceptable. For each person with a disability who is empowered to attain his or her educational and career goals and live in community rather than institutional settings, we save money by creating new taxpayers, growing our workforce and shrinking entitlement rolls!
In Congress, I will champion policies that promote equal employment opportunity and remedy the disproportionate unemployment of talented workers with disabilities. If the cure for cancer potentially rests in the head of someone with a disability, we would lose out terribly if we don’t allow them to reach their full potential.
I strongly support the Americans with Disabilities Amendments Act to restore the original intent of the landmark legislation and ensure those who have been discriminated against on the basis of disability aren’t turned away at the courthouse door. Furthermore, I am committed to making the federal workforce a model employer through aggressive recruitment and retention of qualified persons with disabilities.
As a doctor, I understand that access to affordable health care is essential for people with disabilities and pre-existing conditions, who would not otherwise be able to work, and support affordable health care for everyone. Persons with disabilities and chronic conditions should not be punished or kept in poverty for circumstances beyond their control. Rather, they should be assured accessible, affordable, high quality care, services and supports in the setting of their choice, which doesn’t discriminate on the basis of pre-existing conditions. In Congress, I will support the Community Choice and CLASS Acts to expand access to cost-efficient home and community based services, mental health parity, and legislation to enhance preventative care by promoting accessible diagnostic equipment.
As a homeowner, I understand the importance of ensuring that persons with disabilities have accessible, affordable housing both for ownership and for rental in their communities. Builders have failed to keep up with market demand from persons with disabilities and seniors who wish to age in place and HUD has found that the most prevalent form of housing discrimination is discrimination on the basis of disability. Therefore, I support initiatives such as the Inclusive Design Home Act, reforms to incentivize the construction of an ample stock of accessible, affordable housing, and enhanced fair housing enforcement.
Without educational opportunity and technology, I would not be where I am today. The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act are cornerstones of equitable access to educational opportunity. It is vital that we safeguard the rights and opportunities of students with disabilities, while enhancing transition services and supports to students with disabilities moving into higher education and the workforce. Furthermore, the telecommunications revolution that has brought us computers, assistive technology, the internet and broadband has dramatically enhanced opportunities for persons with disabilities. But laws are not keeping pace to ensure continued access for the deaf and blind. Accordingly, I support the bipartisan Twenty-first Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act of 2008.
