Alert: National Forum on Disability Issues
Posted by DAWN at 3:13 PM Advocacy Opportunities | Trainings
The Wisconsin Disability Vote Coalition is co-sponsoring a National Forum on Disability Issues. Plan now to attend or watch on the Internet. (This event will be broadcast on the web.)
When: Saturday, July 26, 2008 from 11:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Where: Conference & Technology Center, First Church of God, 3480 Refugee Road, Columbus, Ohio 43232
This event is not a debate but rather an opportunity for each major party candidate to express their positions on disability issues. So each candidate will be on stage by themselves answering questions.
The Forum is free and you can sign up on-line. It will also be broadcast on the Internet.
Senator Tom Harkin will represent Senator Obama at the Presidential Candidates Forum on Disabilities.
Late Friday, the Obama campaign confirmed that Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) will act as the surrogate in place of Senator Obama, who will be out of the country the day of the event. The Obama campaign cites Harkin as Obama's closest disability policy advisor, noting that before Sen. Obama released his "Plan to Empower Americans with Disabilities," he and Harkin discussed the policy, and Harkin made specific suggestions for edits. Senator Obama's staff regularly consults with Harkin's lead disability staff on key disability policy.
Actor Robert David Hall will speak at the Forum as well. Actor Robert David Hall, best known for his role as coroner Dr. Albert Robbins M.D. on the television show CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (CBS), has confirmed his participation in the forum. Hall will speak on the importance of raising the visibility of the disability community as a powerful political constituency. Hall, a passionate disability advocate, is a double amputee and experienced burns over 65% of his body following a car accident over twenty years ago. Several of Hall's acting roles have involved characters who share his disability.
Forum Time Frame Extended - The Forum will run from 12:30 PM ET until 4:00 P.M. ET. Senator McCain will now appear via satellite link at the end of the forum, from approximately 2:55 until 3:35 PM. All times Eastern.
To register for tickets, go to http://www.govoter.org/presidential_forum/register.aspx For more information about the forum go to: http://www.aapd-dc.org/News/election/080423aapd.htm.