National Forum on Disability Issues Webcasted Live on Disaboom.com July 26

[Guest guest]

National Forum on Disability Issues Webcasted Live on Disaboom.com

July 26

by Lawton

http://www.disaboom.com/Living/election08/National-Forum-on-

Disability-Issues-Webcasted-Live-on-Disaboom.com-July-26.aspx

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

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