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Kenneth novak Candidate for State Representative District 90 124 N Jones
Back to Candidate Questionnaire
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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? See end. 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? See end. 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? See end. How will you address the shortage of community direct care attendants in Illinois? See end. 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 will work collaboratively with advocacy organizations to ensure that legislation is sponsoredand implemented as intended so that the availability of affordable, accessible, and integrated housing opportunities are a reality within communities throughout the State of Illinois. Housing Authorities should be encouraged to expand housing voucher programs for individuals with disabilities in accessible units that are age appropriate settings. This is needed as rental assistance for persons with disabilities tend way too often to limit them to "senior" housing settings which causes friction between young adults with disabilities and seniors. Also, should home ownership be a priority for an individual with a disability, there needs to be more funding opportunities available within home ownership programs that are simultaneously available for persons without disabilities. 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? See end. 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? See end. 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? See end. How would you improve the quality of health and rehabilitation services provided to veterans with disabilities in Illinois? See end. TRANSPORTATION What would you do to expand access to affordable, accessible transportation for people with disabilities in Illinois, especially in rural areas? See end. VOTING What steps would you take to ensure that voters with disabilities in Illinois are able to vote privately and independently? See end. From Ken Novak... As I would be new to the legislature, it is difficult for me to say exactly and in specifics what I would do to address the issues raised in this questionnaire. However, I feel strongly that the state of Illinois needs to do some re-prioritizing starting with the waste in state government and put the spending in the area of human needs. My wife has worked for 30 years in child welfare and I know that it is largely underfunded. I have a daughter who works in child care, and considering the importance of her work, she is significantly underpaid, just like personal care assistants. I also have a son who is disabled and could not be accomodated in his home school district, so I understand that frusteration with the lack of appropriate resources. Additionally, I agree that we need to address issues of inadequate housing and healthcare as communities and as a state. As a state, we need to embrace the idea that we must be responsive to the needs of all of our residents and especially those who often are not powerful or wealthy. We must listen to everyone - I am open to ideas and suggestions.
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