In the wake of the 2016 election, voters across America disappointed with the November 8th results mobilized to express their desire for progress. From social media pledges and petitions to large-scale movements like the record-breaking Women’s March on Washington, Americans found creative ways to express their opinions on a divisive election.
For more than a few citizens, the election mobilized them to push their civic participation to a new level: Running for office. Organizations devoted to supporting “average citizens” interested in running for office saw a spike in interest across the country. She Should Run, an organization and political incubator that offers nonpartisan training for women interested in running for office, saw 4,500 new sign-ups following the election.
There are a large number of programs across the country that provide support similar to, and often even further reaching than She Should Run. Many of these programs, such as the Progressive Change Campaign Committee and Wellstone, offer training, advice, and sometimes even staff and campaign contributions to progressive leaders seeking public office, with a special focus on diverse or multiply marginalized demographics. Other programs have more of a demographic niche built in, with specific focuses on women, first- and second-generation Americans, LGBTQIA+, African Americans, and millennials.
Most of these groups fail to recognize the disability community in their diversity lists. There is no organization in existence devoted exclusively to helping disabled people run for office. There is a clear need to be filled either through education and inclusion of disability in these programs, or even better, a program designed specifically to helping disabled people seek public office.
It is rare to come across recognition of the disabled as a voting bloc with significant and unique political interests. However, a recent Pew Research profile found that the disability community is actually more politically active than nondisabled citizens. Politicians’ discussions on reform to social safety net programs, criminal justice, and health care have a massive impact on disabled Americans. We have unique interests in enacting policies that would, for example, end the subminimum wage or enable more citizens to live in their communities, as opposed to in nursing homes and institutions. However, many Americans and politicians think that disabled people are not capable of engaging in politics, and so disabled citizens are often left out.
There are successful disabled politicians already. Senator Tammy Duckworth, an Asian-American woman, wounded veteran, and wheelchair user, has been a strong proponent of disability rights and recently brought up the issue of disability rights when asked about President Trump’s nominee for Attorney General, Jeff Sessions. Congressman Jim Langevin, a wheelchair user, is also a large proponent of disability rights in Congress and personally recognizes disability as a complex and significant political issue.
A program specifically devoted to helping disabled citizens run for political office could help us navigate barriers that are significant for all people, and especially for the disability community. One of the main obstacles to running for office is financing. Running a campaign, no matter if it’s on the local, state, or Federal level, costs money. The intersection of disability and poverty is significant, with 34 percent of disabled Americans living below the poverty line in 2014. People with disabilities are less likely to have backgrounds or wealthy connections to bolster their popularity, recognition, and ability to run for office. Groups dedicated to providing campaign support to disabled Americans interested in running for office can make their goal financially feasible.
Additionally, creating an organization devoted to advancing the political interests of disabled Americans could provide a much-needed boost in recognition of disability issues. Although a number of organizations are dedicated to pursuing the legislative goals of the disability community, and although some movements like #CriptheVote have created a community and gained some recognition for their work, disability policy is still largely closed off. Despite the best efforts of activists, disability rights interests are still not well known by mainstream Americans. By encouraging disabled Americans to be politically active and by getting more disabled Americans into public office, an organization could be another step towards integrating disability rights into mainstream politics. And further, by showing that disabled Americans are interested in active in politics, it could help to break down the notion that the disability community is uninterested or incapable of being interested in politics.
There is a clear need to encourage disabled people to run for office. There is a clear need to provide the tools and training to enable our campaigns. By having more disabled people run for office, all Americans can witness the fact that disabled Americans are not helpless and passive citizens, but empowered, active participants in our democracy.
I am certain that the writer here intended no harm, and in fact probably promotes inclusion to the max so as not to leave anyone behind the mainstream. BUT! Ouch, ouch, ouch! The disabled? The disabled politician? The disabled American? Disabled people? Is that the bottom line defining descriptive of persons reflective in such a group? Do all those disabled people all need “help” that no one else does to become politically involved or run for office? The very coinage here creates a separate class, and an identity of helplessness- for ALL persons so “named.” I certainly don’t want to be a part of “them.” Do you? Most regrettably, an article written like this does more harm than good. Most persons with a disability don’t want to be “called out,” identified, or separated into “that group.” Using “disabled” as an adjective implies the noun that follows is fully encompassed as “quantified” instead of “regular.” The adjective winds up calling attention where, in these cases, none is warranted. A disabled politician is different from a politician with a disability– if the prepositional phrase has to be used at all in the first place. Until we stop defining anyone as among “the disabled,” we will be the ones perpetuating the myths, and begging for others in turn to be kind to the stereotype of the downtrodden “in a special way.”
Submitted with compassion and genuine concern for moving the discussion forward. bp
All contributors to NOS Magazine are disabled. As editor, I do not feel comfortable telling people how they should speak about themselves, so I generally leave the language contributors choose to use intact.
I am proud to be a disabled American. I hope you feel the same way, even if the words you might use are different.
I don’t have the spoons to write out a long, articulate reply, but I believe in using identity first language, as opposed to people first language which you prefer. Identity first language is actually rooted in empowerment and recognizes that disability is not something to be ashamed of, and while it doesn’t define me, it is part of my identity that I embrace with pride. Here’s a good article on IFL, although I believe that a person should use the language they’re comfortable with, PFL or IFL.https://thebodyisnotanapology.com/magazine/i-am-disabled-on-identity-first-versus-people-first-language/
I agree with you, as a capital D Deaf person, my Deafness IS my identity. Deaf Culture is a huge part of who I am. And I am proud of that. #DeafPride
Good blog and points…. As a Black, disabled woman who is an advocate, mother…many of us exist in the continuum of needing care, caregiving, and community-building especially women, most especially women of color. That *comprehensive* experience has shaped my perspective and sharpened my advocacy skills which I now use to help inform public policy serving on handful of disability-related boards/councils. I also write as a facet of my advocacy and creative extension.
I can also affirm that availing myself to diverse advocacy circles helped expand my self-awareness and augment my skillset and knowledge about disability community, learning it has pride, culture, and political movement.
Lastly, “DIS” prefix of “disability/disabled” is not only “not” and “un” but has a Latin and Greek derivative meaning “two” and “duo” hence *another* way of doing and being. Disability/disabled is an identity-marker not an indictment.
As referred to in this article by Emily Landau, “Consider how PFL intentionally separates a person from their disability. Although this supposedly acknowledges personhood, it also implies that “disability” or “disabled” are negative, derogatory words. In other words, disability is something society believes a person should try to dissociate from if they want to be considered a whole person. This makes it seem as though being disability is something of which you should be ashamed. PFL essentially buys into the stigma it claims to be fighting.”
http://www.thinkinclusive.us/why-person-first-language-doesnt-always-put-the-person-first/
To have someone with disabilities as president would be a wonderful game change. I’d love to be the first deaf blind president of the United States of America.
#tactilesignlanguage
#newagekeller
We have had more than one U.S president who concealed their disability while in office. It would be wonderful to have a president who did not have to conceal their disability.
How about helping the disabled to share the same right to life , like the rest of us when we are in the womb . Instead of hearing the 1st questioned ask of a mother when a doctor discovers the child is deformed, disabled, Down syndrome , Do you want to keep IT ?
They have had some support for disabled people running for office in the UK, so there absolutely should be something similar (but on a larger scale) in the US and everywhere else: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/cash-grants-to-help-disabled-people-in-standing-for-election-extended-for-another-year
Excellent and important post. I posted it in a few of my disability FB groups. How do I subscribe to your site?
Thank you.
Cathy Chester
Hi Cathy,
In the next couple weeks, we will be setting up a weekly mailing list/digest. Stay tuned!
I was a school board member, years ago, before I became disabled by chronic pain. Some days and weeks I could do it or a city council position well again. But other days I would be incapacitated and I suspect that the ablebodied citizens I serve as well as my peers would not weigh what I can do versus what I sometimes cannot (employers need dependable employees, right?) And, my disability status and my disability insurance support could be revoked. If I can do this volunteer position (sometimes, most of the time) then surely I can work again. Many ablebodied people immediately think of deficits in seeing, hearing, or mobility (and it is important to accommodate these) but this is a very limited perspective.
Hi Laura,
This website is neurodiversity-oriented. That means that our writers and readership primarily have disabilities that are neurological, cognitive, and/or psychological in nature. Many of these writers, including the author of this piece, have issues with chronic illness and pain. I want to make it clear that this is not the work of someone who does not understand what it’s like to have the kinds of issues you and I have. Not everyone can do everything, and that’s OK, but I am confident that many disabled people could run for office with adequate support. This also means those of us who have less straightforward-to-accommodate disabilities.