For The Disability Community Voting Can Still Have Barriers, Understanding Your Rights

The Americans with Disabilities Act ensures that people with disabilities have a full and equal opportunity to vote.

The U.S. Department of Justice website helps to define, and understand the rights of people with disabilities, as the website states:

Voting is one of our nation’s most fundamental rights and a hallmark of our democracy. Yet for too long, many people with disabilities have been excluded from this core aspect of citizenship. People with intellectual or mental health disabilities have been prevented from voting because of prejudicial assumptions about their capabilities. People who use wheelchairs or other mobility aids, such as walkers, have been unable to enter the polling place to cast their ballot because there was no ramp. People who are blind or have low vision could not cast their vote because the ballot was completely inaccessible to them.

Important federal civil rights laws were enacted to combat such forms of discrimination and protect the fundamental right to vote for all Americans. This document provides guidance to states, local jurisdictions, election officials, poll workers, and voters on how the Americans with Disabilities Act and other federal laws help ensure fairness in the voting process for people with disabilities.

The U.S. Department of Justice - Americans with Disabilities website (https://www.ada.gov/ada_voting/ada_voting_ta.htm) is a wonderful resource for people with disabilities, family members, caregivers and advocates, as a resource for the rights of the disability community. Throughout the country their are advocates, and organizations to reach out to also.

If anyone needs help in locating  resources that are available in your part of the country, feel free to send a email here at Ability Chicago Info, we will be honored to assist. 

Email inquires to Jim at jimwatkins@abilitychicago.info - in 'subject' header post 'request for voting resources'. TY