The American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD) and REV UP Texas are proud to announce Elected for Inclusion, our national nonpartisan Presidential forum on disability issues. The forum will take place on January 13, 2020 at the AT&T Hotel and Convention Center in Austin, Texas in advance of Super Tuesday and the November 2020 elections.

More details to come.

Elected for Inclusion - the Presidential Forum on Disabilities Issues will place the pressing questions the disability community faces on center stage and give major party Presidential candidates an opportunity to discuss policy decisions that affect approximately 23% of the American electorate.

AAPD and REV UP Texas are hosting Elected for Inclusion as a means of highlighting the power of the disability vote. In 2020, over 35 million eligible voters will be people with disabilities. The number of “disability voters” increases to over 62 million when we consider the ripple effect of the disability vote that connects families, friends, advocates, educators, providers, and other individuals that interact with people with disabilities.

AAPD President and CEO Maria Town stated, “Now, more than ever before, Presidential candidates know they must address issues important to the disability community and involve people with disabilities in their campaigns. Elected for Inclusion is an unparalleled opportunity for candidates to set forth their platforms and better understand this powerful, growing constituency.”

The disability community has a significant stake in the results of local, state, and federal elections this November. Our elected officials determine the direction and funding of the programs and services people with disabilities rely on for healthcare and independent living. Justin Dart, father of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and AAPD co-founder, said it best: “Vote as if your life depended on it, because it does.”

For more information on Elected for Inclusion: A Presidential Forum on Disability Issues and the REV UP Campaign, visit www.aapd.com/advocacy/voting/. The REV UP Campaign offers a host of information on registering to vote, increasing civic engagement, and state-specific resources and events.