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keith gray Candidate for State Senate District 30 14540 W. Old School Rd.
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 - omitting those with mental disabilities prohibiting them from making reasonable decisions 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? I choose people cased on their experiences, abilities, work ethic, and integrity. If YES, how do you intend to do so? N/A 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? I need more information regarding this in order to answer it. What measures would you propose to ensure that consumer electronic and telecommunications devices are accessible to and usable by persons with disabilities in Illinois? I need more information regarding this in order to answer 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 How would you increase opportunities for people with disabilities in Illinois to live in the most integrated settings? I'm on the school board of a district that has successfully integrated special needs students into the general population. This is done by adding specially trained staff and in developing a team approach among the students to enable all students to participate as evenly as possible. How will you address the shortage of community direct care attendants in Illinois? The state must adequately fund all programs through an increased tax base brought about through a healthy state economy. Continuing to borrow and burden future generations with debt is no way to run a government. 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? These questions all require the efforts of much more than one state legislator. As a board member of the Special Education District of Lake County, I am very aware of the needs, costs, and challenges of housing, employing, educating, transporting, and providing healthcare to special needs individuals. Our state has done an unacceptable job in this area partly due to partisan politics, fiscal mismanagement, and tax policies that discourage businesses to invest in jobs in this state. Immediately, I'd concentrate on sustainable revenue sources to fund worthy and needed programs, and then to insure that the Governor (and his enablers in the Senate) do not allow the re-assignment of funds that are targeted to specific areas. 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? These questions all require the efforts of much more than one state legislator. As a board member of the Special Education District of Lake County, I am very aware of the needs, costs, and challenges of housing, employing, educating, transporting, and providing healthcare to special needs individuals. Our state has done an unacceptable job in this area partly due to partisan politics, fiscal mismanagement, and tax policies that discourage businesses to invest in jobs in this state. Immediately, I'd concentrate on sustainable revenue sources to fund worthy and needed programs, and then to insure that the Governor (and his enablers in the Senate) do not allow the re-assignment of funds that are targeted to specific areas. 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? These questions all require the efforts of much more than one state legislator. As a board member of the Special Education District of Lake County, I am very aware of the needs, costs, and challenges of housing, employing, educating, transporting, and providing healthcare to special needs individuals. Our state has done an unacceptable job in this area partly due to partisan politics, fiscal mismanagement, and tax policies that discourage businesses to invest in jobs in this state. Immediately, I'd concentrate on sustainable revenue sources to fund worthy and needed programs, and then to insure that the Governor (and his enablers in the Senate) do not allow the re-assignment of funds that are targeted to specific areas. 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? These questions all require the efforts of much more than one state legislator. As a board member of the Special Education District of Lake County, I am very aware of the needs, costs, and challenges of housing, employing, educating, transporting, and providing healthcare to special needs individuals. Our state has done an unacceptable job in this area partly due to partisan politics, fiscal mismanagement, and tax policies that discourage businesses to invest in jobs in this state. Immediately, I'd concentrate on sustainable revenue sources to fund worthy and needed programs, and then to insure that the Governor (and his enablers in the Senate) do not allow the re-assignment of funds that are targeted to specific areas. How would you improve the quality of health and rehabilitation services provided to veterans with disabilities in Illinois? These questions all require the efforts of much more than one state legislator. As a board member of the Special Education District of Lake County, I am very aware of the needs, costs, and challenges of housing, employing, educating, transporting, and providing healthcare to special needs individuals. Our state has done an unacceptable job in this area partly due to partisan politics, fiscal mismanagement, and tax policies that discourage businesses to invest in jobs in this state. Immediately, I'd concentrate on sustainable revenue sources to fund worthy and needed programs, and then to insure that the Governor (and his enablers in the Senate) do not allow the re-assignment of funds that are targeted to specific areas. TRANSPORTATION What would you do to expand access to affordable, accessible transportation for people with disabilities in Illinois, especially in rural areas? These questions all require the efforts of much more than one state legislator. As a board member of the Special Education District of Lake County, I am very aware of the needs, costs, and challenges of housing, employing, educating, transporting, and providing healthcare to special needs individuals. Our state has done an unacceptable job in this area partly due to partisan politics, fiscal mismanagement, and tax policies that discourage businesses to invest in jobs in this state. Immediately, I'd concentrate on sustainable revenue sources to fund worthy and needed programs, and then to insure that the Governor (and his enablers in the Senate) do not allow the re-assignment of funds that are targeted to specific areas. VOTING What steps would you take to ensure that voters with disabilities in Illinois are able to vote privately and independently? I've heard of situations where people with disabilities were denied the right to vote because the polling places could not accommodate the special needs of the individual. This is unacceptable. However, good alternatives such as an improved absentee voting system help in this regard.
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