On Saturday, August 19th, REV UP NJ partnered with the NJ Council on Developmental Disabilities to present the second part of the What's Your Advocacy? series in Princeton. The conference focused on providing the tools necessary for people with disabilities and families to vote and become more effective advocates. Among the presenters were Bob Kafka, ADAPT and Zach Baldwin, American Association of People with Disabilities. ACI and REV UP NJ look forward to continuing to work with the NJCDD.
On July 18th, approximately 50 people gathered at the State House Annex to kick off National Disability Voter Registration Week. The event, hosted by ACI and REV UP NJ, included speeches by NJ Senate President Stephen M. Sweeny, Assemblyman Eric Houghtaling, Rutgers Distinguished Professor, Douglas L. Kruse, NJ Council for Developmental Disabilities, Kevin Casey, and a host of advocates and civil rights activists. The event, also featured resources tables, giveaways, and entertainment by Johnny Crescendo. Thank you to everyone who participated in this important event! ACI and REV UP NJ will be holding voter registration and education events during the months leading up to the November 8th Gubernatorial Election.
This event was made possible by a grant from the NJ Council on Developmental Disabilities.
On July 18, dozens of disability advocates and voting rights experts will mark the annual National Disability Voter Registration week with a kickoff event at the NJ Statehouse Annex on 131 West State Street in Trenton. Time is set for 12:00 noon to 2:00 pm. This event is open to the public.
In addition to recognizing National Disability Voter Registration week, the purpose of the day is to underscore the importance of the disability vote in this year’s gubernatorial election. “With nearly 10% of the state’s population identifying themselves as having a disability, we need to show the candidates that our issues need to be addressed,” says Carole Tonks, Executive Director of Alliance Center for Independence.
NJ Senate President Stephen M. Sweeny (D-3) will be the featured speaker.
On March 15th 2017, President Trump submitted his first Federal budget to the 115th Congress. It features cuts of $54 billion to federal agencies, an increase of $52 billion in military spending, and tax cuts.
The budget will have a negative impact on people with disabilities, low income individuals, seniors and children. Members of the US Senate and Congress need to know that this is unacceptable!
According to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, the 2018 budget proposal:
In addition, the budget would cut health assistance to low and moderate income people by $1.85 trillion over ten years. $1.25 trillion of which will come from the proposal to from the House bill to "repeal and replace" the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and $610 billion of additional Medicaid cuts. New Jersey stands to lose $31 billion in Federal funding of Medicaid over 10 years, as a result.
What can you do to prevent this budget from passing?
Call your US Senators!
Senator Menendez (973-645-3030) and Senator Booker (973- 639-8700).
Call your US Representative!
You can be connected to your representative by contacting the House switchboard at (202) 224-3121. If you wish to speak specifically about Medicaid or other healthcare issues in the budget, ask to speak with the Representative's Heathcare Staffer.
Tell them to vote "NO" on the President Trump's proposed budget. Indicate that the budget proposal will put the lives of people with disabilities at risk!
For more information:
According to the 2010 American Community Survey (ACS), approximately 845,000 individuals, or 9.7 percent of NJ residents, have reported having at least one type of disability. People with disabilities accounted for 7.3 percent of the state’s 18-64 year-olds, and 3.5 percent of the state’s children under age 18.
ACI and REV UP NJ have requested that the NJ gubernatorial candidates participate in completing a questionnaire to better inform NJ voters with disabilities on where they stand with important issues. Click the buttons below to read the responses that we've received so far.
UPDATE 5/22/17: Responses from Democratic candidate, Raymond Lesniak, have been added.
UPDATE 5/31/17: Responses from Democratic candidate, Phil Murphy, have been added.
UPDATE 6/1/17: Responses from Democratic candidates, John Wisniewski and Jim Johnson, have been added.
UPDATE 6/1/17: Responses from Green Party candidate, Seth Kaper-Dale, have been added.
On May 1st, about 20 people assembled for the spring 2017 REV UP NJ meeting about the upcoming gubernatorial race. REV UP NJ, established by ACI, is part of REV UP, a national effort to engage people with disabilities in the election process and to increase the voting turnout of people with disabilities. Zach Baldwin, Outreach Coordinator at the American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD) in Washington, led the discussion. "2017 is a crucial election year for NJ voters, especially those with disabilities," Baldwin explained.
If you would like to join REV UP or become part of our efforts, please contact ACI.
Whoever is elected tomorrow will impact our lives for the next four years. People with disabilities account for more than 35 million voters this year, approximately one sixth of the total electorate. Let's go out and Rock the Vote!
Congratulations to all the first time voters out there. ACI would like to hear your experiences whether good or bad. Please contact us or email ctonks@adacil.org or lkoppisch@adacil.org.
