What's Wrong with this Photo?
From US Census Bureau statistics, 2000:
There were an estimated 612,027 voting-aged persons with disabilities state of Minnesota at that time, 336,615 of whom were estimated to have voted. This amounts to 55%. Total voter turnout for Minnesota during the 2000 election was 67.8%.
There were an estimated 88,842 voting-aged persons with disabilities in the state of North Dakota at that time, 42,911 of whom were estimated to have voted. This amounts to 48.3%. Total voter turnout for North Dakota during the 2000 election was 69.8%.
Perhaps politicians don’t pay as much attention to disability issues, because people with disabilities vote at far lower rates than other population groups.
Vote on November 4th!
Posted by: Freedom Resource Center for Independent Living on 11/2/2008 at 4:18 PM | Comments (0) | Permalink
Letter to the Editor
October 29, 2008
Editor:
As directors of organizations working to enhance the independence and productivity of people with disabilities, we ask the citizens of North Dakota to vote no on measures 1 and 2. As for measure 1, just as we can count on wind and snow in January, we can count on the North Dakota Legislature to convene and spend the people’s money prudently. The reason that North Dakota is in such good financial shape is because of the conservative approach that our government takes with regard to spending and taxation. Measure one is not necessary.
People with disabilities do not need an income tax cut. Many of them are elderly and on fixed incomes and struggling to stay in their homes. Property tax relief is what would help them. Other people with disabilities are struggling to be independent and/or work. Their needs are for quality education, both K-12 and postsecondary; accessible and affordable housing; enhanced public transportation; and increased funding for home and community-based services. None of this will be possible if our State Legislature does not have the funds. For this reason, we ask that people vote no on measure number 2.
Sincerely,
Steve Repnow, executive director
Independence, Inc., Minot
Royce Schulze, executive director
Dakota Center for Independent Living, Bismarck
Randy Sorensen, executive director
Options Resource Center for Independent Living, Grand Forks
Nate Aalgaard, executive director
Freedom Resource Center for Independent Living, Fargo
Posted by: Freedom Resource Center for Independent Living on 10/31/2008 at 9:07 AM | Comments (0) | Permalink
Freedom Legislative Questionnaire Allan Peterson
1. What is your plan to address the state’s challenge to provide long term services to our growing aging population?
When elected, I would work diligently to enact legislation and the policies that would enable people who are aged or have severe disabilities to obtain the in-home services that would allow them to have the independence to remain in their home environment. I share the opinion, that institutional nursing home care should not be forced on any individual if it is their preference to remain in their own home and they can care for themselves with the aid of in-home services that are available in the community. I would work hard to break down the barriers that force people into institutional care, when that isn’t in their best interest. Also, it has been shown that it costs much less to provide a person with in-home care as opposed to caring for them in an institutional setting like a nursing home. My opinion is whenever it is feasible we should support in-home based services.
2. How would you reduce the employment barriers and encourage employment opportunities for North Dakotans with disabilities?
First, people with disabilities often need the adjustment training in skills that allows them to deal with their disability. For example, a person who becomes blind needs to obtain the set of skills that can be provided that would enable that individual to make the adjustments to sight loss so he or she can go back to work. I would work very hard to enhance the rehabilitation training that can be offered to people with disabilities that gives them the ability to go back to work.
I would work on legislation that would provide incentives for employers to hire people with disabilities and give them a chance to prove what they can do. What most people with disabilities need is a chance to prove they can do the job.
I would also introduce legislation that would help remove the many disincentives that are imposed on people with disabilities that prevents them from working. These include among others, asset limits to receive medical care from Medicaid & SSI payments and increasing the income limits that are allowed to receive food stamps.
3. What would you do to expand access to affordable accessible transportation services for persons with disabilities, especially in the rural areas of the state?
I would support legislation that increases the state financial aid that is provided to public and non-profit entities and agencies that provide transit services to people who are aged or have disabilities.
I would sponsor and support legislation that would create pilot projects that would integrate all public transportation service entities into a collaborative system in a community wide transportation network.
4. How would you work to make people with disabilities bigger participants in their communities?
I would sponsor and introduce legislation that would require all new housing construction that is built with the aid of public financing to meet the requirements for being visitable by people with disabilities.
I would work very hard to increase the financial aid that is needed to improve access to public transportation for people who are aged and people with disabilities throughout the state. This would include rural and both inter and intra city modes of transportation.
I would support legislation that would increase the tax incentives for commercial and business entities to make their sales areas, products and services fully accessible to people with disabilities.
Posted by: Freedom Resource Center for Independent Living on 10/30/2008 at 4:40 PM | Comments (0) | Permalink
Freedom Legislative Candidate Questionnaire Senator Tom Fisher, District 46
1. What is your plan to address the state’s challenge to provide long term services to our growing aging population?
More Home and Community Based Care. Access to QSP’s.
2. How would you reduce the employment barriers and encourage employment opportunities for North Dakotans with disabilities?
Comply with ADA.
3. What would you do to expand access to affordable accessible transportation services for persons with disabilities, especially in the rural areas of the state?
Support organizations who provide transportation for those with disabilities.
4. How would you work to make people with disabilities bigger participants in their communities?
Local communities support. Provide opportunities for people with disabilities to participate in local government. Local issue.
Posted by: Freedom Resource Center for Independent Living on 10/29/2008 at 4:38 PM | Comments (0) | Permalink
Freedom Legislative Candidate Questionnaire Jerome Kelsh, District 26
1. What is your plan to address the state’s challenge to provide long term services to our growing aging population? We need to work together to provide in-home care and nursing home care, when necessary to make sure or seniors are treated with the respect and given the care they deserve.
2. How would you reduce the employment barriers and encourage employment opportunities for North Dakotans with disabilities?
We need to educate business of the good work people with disabilities can do. We also need to make sure people with disabilities are given the opportunity to work.
3. What would you do to expand access to affordable accessible transportation services for persons with disabilities, especially in the rural areas of the state?
As a County Commissioner and former State Legislator, I have always supported the matching mill and have helped provide programs for seniors and people with disabilities to have access to affordable transportation.
4. How would you work to make people with disabilities bigger participants in their communities?
I live in a very small community, and we do not have many people with disabilities or many places for them to work, but as Chairmen of the board of our Community Café I have encouraged Management to hire people to do what they can.
Posted by: Freedom Resource Center for Independent Living on 10/29/2008 at 4:37 PM | Comments (0) | Permalink