Candidate Responses

kathy ryg

Candidate for State Representative

District 59

rygkathy@yahoo.com

Back to Candidate Questionnaire

Please consider my record as a member of the General Assembly in addition to these responses:

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 am fortunate to have aides and volunteers with disabilities working in my legislative office and campaign.

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?

Several constituents have advised me on how the State can use technology to make information available and accessible for persons with disabilities and thanks to their efforts, improvements are being made. The Clerk of the House has responded to these concerns and I will continue to rely on the expertise of those who work with assistive technology to ensure technology is available and affordable to all who need it.

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 - I was the House sponsor for Money Follows the Person legislation and continue to monitor progress toward full implementation.

How would you increase opportunities for people with disabilities in Illinois to live in the most integrated settings?

I am working with my colleagues, the leaders, and the Governor's office to ensure that we increase funding to community based services by rebalancing our system and investing in existing community services and programs and expand capacity and access to quality care.

How will you address the shortage of community direct care attendants in Illinois?

Direct care attendants must be compensated commensurate with the value of their work. Cost savings from rebalancing from institutional to community care must be reinvested in higher pay and professional development opportunities for community direct care attendants.

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?

I fully support increased funding of programs that offer supportive and affordable housing and encourage partnerships with the private sector to develop increased opportunities such as the rental support program, tax breaks for home rehabilitation for persons with disabilites, and low interest loans for development and re-development of housing options. We must continue to explore innovative and best practices in meeting our critical affordable housing shortages.

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?

I am sponsoring legislation and have held subject matter hearings on barriers to employment. We must hold the state accountable for its employment practices and policies and incentivize employers to hire persons with disabilities.

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?

I continue to work with school districts and families to ensure children with special needs have access to the supports and services needed for them to succeed in school. Each student's need must be fully assessed and accommodated and I have worked to increase awareness of the due process procedures when school fail to provide required services.

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?

I am actively working with health care policy makers reminding them that health care must be all inclusive and persons with disabilities are entitled to quality physical and mental health care. I support the efforts of the Campaign for Health Care Justice in promoting universal access to quality and affordable health care.

How would you improve the quality of health and rehabilitation services provided to veterans with disabilities in Illinois?

TRANSPORTATION

What would you do to expand access to affordable, accessible transportation for people with disabilities in Illinois, especially in rural areas?

I am especially proud of my work as Chair of the Paratransit Subcommittee and am monitoring how the transit funding reforms are being implemented throughout the state. Our local transit providers and elected officials must be held accountable for responding to the needs expressed at public hearings for transportation options for persons with disabilities. I have supported additional funding for these efforts and will continue to watch for opportunities to apply for federal funds and work cooperatively with all stakeholders to develop seamless, on-demand services.

VOTING

What steps would you take to ensure that voters with disabilities in Illinois are able to vote privately and independently?

I personally have used the new technology available to ensure voting machines work to provide privacy in the ballot box and support election officials efforts to expand access to these machines.