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Joy the Butterfly leads dancers during Easter activities at Morgan’s Wonderland, an ultra-accessible theme park that serves people with special needs. With Election Day near, we should press candidates about how they will support people with disabilities, our guest columnist writes.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Robin Jerstad\/San Antonio Express News<\/p>\n
As the midterm election approaches, candidates are busy making their case to voters. They are visiting cities and towns, explaining how they intend to improve people\u2019s lives.<\/p>\n
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They routinely court communities of race, ethnicity and religion, listening to their concerns and tailoring their messages accordingly.<\/p>\n
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This is incredibly important, but where is the same effort for people with disabilities?<\/p>\n
The Census Bureau estimates\u00a045.8 million Americans are living with a disability<\/a>. The disability community warrants the same deliberate attention as other sizable voting groups.<\/p>\n This segment cuts across every racial, ethnic and religious community candidates are trying to reach. Its concerns matter deeply to parents, spouses, siblings, friends and caregivers, no matter the demographics. When a candidate takes disability issues seriously, that attention resonates through family and support networks.<\/p>\n It also is a community any of us can join at any moment, through an accident, illness or simply the natural changes aging can bring.<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n Someone who has never considered whether a building, workplace or public service is accessible may suddenly depend on it being so. A family that has never needed help navigating disability services may find itself searching for answers overnight.<\/p>\n READ MORE: Statesman Editorial Board Texas General Election Recommendations<\/a><\/p>\n My daughter Morgan opened my eyes <\/a>to how often people with disabilities are left out of everyday life. Over two decades of working with other families through Morgan\u2019s<\/a>, a network of initiatives dedicated to improving life for individuals with disabilities and their\u00a0families, I have seen how much time families can spend simply trying to connect the pieces: finding care, arranging rides, understanding services, planning for a child\u2019s future.<\/p>\n Each of those pieces matters. Education, health care, transportation and employment help make it possible for people with disabilities to learn, work, build relationships and shape their own futures. When those opportunities \u2014 often taken for granted \u2014 are out of reach, the consequences extend far beyond a single household.<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n A job opportunity means little if a person cannot get to work. A student\u2019s potential can go unrealized without appropriate support. A parent may reduce work hours because the help they need isn\u2019t available.<\/p>\n Removing these barriers also makes economic sense; inclusion is good business. An accessible, welcoming business gives more people the opportunity to become customers. An inclusive workplace gives employers access to skills and talent they might otherwise overlook. Reliable care and support can give caregivers the flexibility they need to work.<\/p>\n Candidates promise to expand opportunity and strengthen the economy. Those promises should include people with disabilities. What does an economic agenda miss when it overlooks their talent, their spending and their families\u2019 ability to work?<\/p>\n