|
|
|
|
|
|||
|
|||
|
|
 |
|||
|
daniel biss Candidate for State Representative District 17
Back to Candidate Questionnaire
|
|
CIVIL RIGHTS Do you believe that people with disabilities have the same rights as anyone else? YES Do you believe that individuals with disabilities should be the primary decision maker in their lives? YES POLITICAL LEADERSHIP Will you make it a priority to include people with disabilities as part of your political team and/or as advisors on relevant issues? YES If YES, how do you intend to do so? I have already assembled a group of professionals from the field, from advocates to service providers, who I turn to for advice on relevant issues. As the campaign moves forward, and particularly after my election and swearing-in, I intend to expand and formalize this group. TECHNOLOGY AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS Do you support legislative measures to require that Internet technologies be made accessible to and usable by people with disabilities in Illinois? YES What measures would you propose to ensure that consumer electronic and telecommunications devices are accessible to and usable by persons with disabilities in Illinois? As I understand it, federal law, especially Sections 225 and 255 of the Communications Act, particularly given the May 2007 interpretation used by the FCC, lay down a high standard for accessibility of telecommunication devices. However, enforcement has proven markedly less successful. I support and would initiate state-federal partnerships to ensure that service providers do a much better job of meeting federal standards. INTEGRATED COMMUNITY LIVING Do you support funding mechanisms, such as "Money Follows the Person," that allow people with disabilities in Illinois who are currently unnecessarily institutionalized to move into integrated settings? YES How would you increase opportunities for people with disabilities in Illinois to live in the most integrated settings? As an elected official, I intend to work to uphold the Constitutions of both the United States and the State of Illinois. Olmstead tells us that we must increase support for non-institutionalized living arrangements for people with disabilities. How will you address the shortage of community direct care attendants in Illinois? By guaranteeing fair compensation, effective training, and where appropriate, incentives for working in underserved areas. HOUSING What would you do to increase the availability of affordable, accessible, integrated housing opportunities in the community for low and moderate income people with disabilities and their families? Again, enforcement is one important part of the problem here; in this case, enforcement of the Fair Housing Act. We should further institute incentives for new developments not covered by the Fair Housing Act to nonetheless be fully accessible. EMPLOYMENT What steps would you take to reduce employment barriers and improve employment opportunities for people with disabilities in your district and in the entire state of Illinois? Again, enforcement of the Americans with Disabilities Act is an important beginnning. Furthermore, we must encourage employers whose places of work are not covered by the ADA to nonetheless provide completely accessible working environments. EDUCATION Federal and state laws require that students with disabilities are educated in the least restrictive environment and that appropriate accommodations and support services are provided to them. How would you ensure that these laws are enforced in Illinois? One important piece of this comes from increasing funding for accessibility of the physical school structures, as well as for all pedagogical materials. We must also structure our curricula so as to maximize integration of students with disabilities. HEALTHCARE What steps would you take to ensure that people with disabilities in Illinois have access to affordable, quality health care that is responsive to their individual needs? This should arrive as a consequence of a comprehensive, effective, affordable, universal health care system in Illinois and throughout the country. How would you improve the quality of health and rehabilitation services provided to veterans with disabilities in Illinois? Access is an important problem, which should be addressed by increaseing the number of available facilities across the state. We must also work to increase the quality and availability of mental health care, another area where Illinois lags behind most states, and which is of particular importance to veterans with disabilities. TRANSPORTATION What would you do to expand access to affordable, accessible transportation for people with disabilities in Illinois, especially in rural areas? We must expand bus service, particularly in rural areas. VOTING What steps would you take to ensure that voters with disabilities in Illinois are able to vote privately and independently? This concern is conventionally addressed via early and absentee voting. While I applaud the expansion of accessible voting via these methods, I also feel that the very act of voting in a polling place on Election Day is an important means of community participation. Consequently, I strongly support maximizing the number of Election Day polling places that are completely accessible.
|
|
© 2008 Campaign For Real Choice In Illinois, All Rights Reserved. |