How We Can Become a More Powerful Voting Bloc

By Mark Perriello

An interview with the president of the American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD), Mark Perriello, on the importance of Americans with disabilities to engage in the political processes.

1. How can people with disabilities gain and hold more political power?

Full political participation for Americans with disabilities is a top priority for AAPD. While most states require accessibility standards at the polls, two-thirds report that ensuring accessibility still remains a challenge. Americans with disabilities make up almost
20% of the population, and yet, we have few elected officials who identify as having a disability and have yet to realize the full political power of our community.

First and foremost, we must vote. We already vote in high numbers at 69%, according to the Youth Transitions Collaborative 2013 poll. But we must get to 100%. We must vote in local, state and federal elections. We must vote to make sure elected officials represent our interests. As advocates, we must also eliminate voting barriers, educate all voters about where candidates stand on disability, promote turnout and increase civic engagement. If we do all this, I am confident that our movement will achieve even greater success.

2. What methods or strategies for exercising greater political power would you recommend people with disabilities employ?

Americans with disabilities are grossly underrepresented in elected office. That is why we are very excited to launch a groundbreaking initiative called the Robert J. Dole Leadership Series that will train and provide resources for people with disabilities
to run for and win elected office at the local, state and federal level.

AAPD has also been a part of the get-out-the vote efforts and works on increasing access to polls through our Disability Vote Project, which works to ensure full accessibility to all polling places and voting equipment. We must show our power in numbers by voting and engaging in the electoral process. We must question candidates on their positions on disability issues we all care about such as access to education and healthcare, accessibility, federal benefits programs and much more. I encourage readers to go to our website to find out what they can do as voters.

3. Are there effective social justice movements that people with disabilities can look to as models of success?

While every movement has its own unique set of challenges and history, all movements can learn from one another. Our community cuts across all movements – disabilities exist regardless of who you are or where you come from – and many of us belong to other social justice movements. I come from the LGBT movement and have seen how that community changed the hearts and minds of mainstream Americans and it galvanized its political and financial resources to affect change. At AAPD, we are working to redefine disability in order to challenge Americans to appreciate the positive aspects of disability. Our new PSA encourages viewers to join with AAPD in breaking down the outdated stereotypes confronting many people with disabilities. I hope readers will take the time to go to our website to see our new PSA entitled "Redefine Disability."

4. Do you see any trends toward more people with disabilities becoming candidates and holding political office? If so, what are some examples? If not, what are some of the impediments?

Since we have not seen the kind of representation among our elected officials proportional to our large and diverse community, AAPD is working to train people with disabilities to run for higher office through our new Robert J. Dole Leadership Series. We do have courageous champions of highly influential people with disabilities in political office, including Senator John McCain, Representative Tammy Duckworth, Representative Jim Langevin, former Senator Bob Dole and former Representative Tony Coelho.

5. What can average citizens do to become more politically engaged, beyond voting and short of seeking elected office?

There are many small things that we can all do. Stay informed about issues that matter to you. Go to local town meetings to speak up about disability rights in your community. Volunteer to be part of political campaigns. Write an editorial to your newspaper. Write to your elected officials. You can start by staying informed by going to our website and signing up for the AAPD Disability Daily Newsletter and following us on Facebook at DisabilityPowered and @AAPD on Twitter.

6. How can people with disabilities become a more powerful voting bloc?

We already are a very powerful voting bloc: the disability community votes in very high numbers at 69%, according to the Youth Transitions Collaborative 2013 poll.

Furthermore, 87% of the community would consider voting against a candidate that does not support the disability community, and 85% are likely to vote for a candidate that supports the community. The problem is that these statistics are not widely known, but if we
are more diligent in expressing our opinions in a group, we will gain more political power.

7. How do frequent voting, civic activism and community building translate into political power?

When people vote and engage in the electoral process, our leaders pay attention. Look at the Tea Party's influence in the American public discourse today. Their power stems from the simple fact that their members vote, contact elected officials when needed and organize for and against candidates for office. As a 501(c)(3), AAPD does not support or oppose candidates for office, but individuals in our community can learn the positions of candidates and become involved.


8. Next year we will mark the 25th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). How has this legislation impacted levels of political engagement on the part of people with disabilities?

Despite significant gains from the ADA, we still struggle to guarantee that every polling place is accessible. Federal studies indicate that over three-fifths of states have difficulty ensuring accessibility. Nevertheless, everyone in our community must try to vote. If you can't access your polling place, make sure to tell your story to anyone who will listen. Our stories are our most powerful tool for change.

Mark Perriello is the president and CEO of the American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD), the nation's largest disability rights organization. Perriello, who has had a visual disability since childhood and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity
Disorder (ADHD), has a proven track record of increasing organizational standing with decision-makers through creative and high-impact grassroots and grasstops programs across the US. As a political strategist, he oversaw highly successful efforts to elect candidates to office at the federal, state and local level. Before joining AAPD, Perriello served as the White House Liaison at the US Department of the Interior.

For more information on AAPD and voting, visit www.aapd.com/ what-we-do/voting/