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The National Forum on Disability Issues, a non-partisan forum on national disability policy, will be held on July 26, 2008 in Columbus, Ohio.  The forum will commemorate the 18th anniversary of the American with Disabilities Act (ADA) and address the issues most important to the disability community in the current electoral cycle.

The event—organized by the American Association for People with Disabilities (AAPD) and co-sponsored by over 60 national, state, and local disability groups—builds on the success of AAPD's first-ever presidential candidate forum held in New Hampshire in November, at which five candidates attended in person and two by phone.

Presumptive presidential nominees Senator Barack Obama and Senator John McCain have been invited to participate in the July forum, which will allow both candidates to present their disability policy plans individually. 

Afterwards, journalist and news-anchor Judy Woodruff (The News Hour with Jim Lehrer") will moderate a question and answer session with the candidates.  Topics covered will include employment, healthcare, long-term community-based supports, transportation, education and more.

The event will be held at the Conference & Technology Center at the First Church of God, a completely accessible venue with a max capacity of over 1,000. Candidates speeches and answers will be simultaneously captioned and translated by American Sign Language interpreters at the event

Registration is free and still open, but organizers urge those desiring to attend to register soon at http://www.govoter.org/presidential_forum/index.aspx,

For those unable to attend in person, the forum will be broadcast live and in its entirety by Disaboom.com—the world's largest web community for individuals with disabilities.  To see the forum, visit www.disaboom.com/AAPDSignUp.aspx.

"In this historic election year, we think it's vital that politicians recognize the importance of voters with disabilities," said Disaboom co-founder Glen House.  “This is why we're proud to provide free online access to the disability community for this event."

Organizers are encouraging voters to form watching parties in order to stimulate dialogue and ensure that those without access to a computer are able to participate.

Additionally, the forum will be broadcast on all Ohio reading services, allowing Ohio residents without computers to listen in to the candidates’ platforms and answers.

Many disability-rights advocates believe that the forum is a unique opportunity for the presidential candidates to reach voters with disabilities—a demographic that is currently 37 million strong—as well as their families, caregivers, advocates and friends.
 
For more information on the forum, go to http://www.govoter.org/presidential_forum/index.aspx.

To register to watch the live webcast, visit: www.disaboom.com/AAPDSignUp.aspx

 Click to visit Barack Obama's Profile on Disaboom