2012 National Forum on Disability Issues
>> [Lewis] Good afternoon. My name is Anil Lewis. I'm the director of strategic communications
for the National Federation For The Blind. I want to welcome each and every one of you to 2012
National Forum On Disability Issues. (applause)
Before I get started, I want to give everyone a great round of applause to Dr. JW Smith for the great
vocal entertainment. I taught him everything he knows about singing. Okay, not so true.
I also want to thank all of our sponsors. Without their financial contribution, none of this would be
possible, and their financial contributions are a validation of why we're here. They think it is
worth the sweat equity, money and resources to make sure this happens, and I agree with them.
I also want to thank Bob Dole and Tony Coelho for penning such a wonderful article in Politico
which defines our purpose and why we're here.
I've been told that there's 500 people-plus in this room, and you all look beautiful. (laughter) I've
also been told that there's over 2,000 sites listening to this through live stream over the Internet,
and that’s powerful. That's powerful. That's a powerful testimony to what we are doing and trying
to accomplish here. Yeah, please, applaud! 2,000 sites, that's awesome.
I can't help but think of Justin Dart in heaven looking down and he is so, so very proud of all of us. I
can hear him. Do you hear him? He’s saying, lead on. Lead on.
And through the Justice for All Network, now the disability -- I mean the National Disability
Leadership Alliance, the authentic voice of people with disabilities, all of the friends and family
members that are here, the service providers, this is just a wonderful consensus of people that are
committed to the lives of people with disabilities in a way that's going to speak out proudly and
loudly with one voice that nothing shall be done about us without us.
(applause)
That's right.
We have to have that voice, because if we don't speak up for our population, who is going to know
that my Medicaid matters? If we are not the ones that are out there talking about resources that
are being used, how are people going to know it is less expensive and provides greater quality of
life when Money Follows the Person?
Don't get it twisted. People with disabilities are not the sole beneficiaries of the public goodwill.
There are other individuals that capitalize on the fact that we are fully participating citizens in this
America.
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There is a friend of mine in Atlanta, he was sitting around talking, he uses a wheelchair. We were
talking one day and he says, “You know, I don't mind going to a public library where my tax dollars
support and providing accommodation of a chair to those people that don't have their own.”
I thought that was powerful. And then I in turn said, “You know what? I shouldn't mind going to a
public library that my tax dollars help to support, and I don't have any animosity toward those
sighted individuals who need that accommodation of printed material in book after book on the
shelves.”
I just want people to understand that if we're not upset with providing them with complications,
then why would they be upset with providing accommodations for my friend to have a no step
entrance to that public library, or a wide enough for him to travel through? If we are not upset
with them having accessible books in the library, why should they be upset with me wanting
access to that information in a format that's accessible to me, either Braille or a digital format that
makes it better for everybody? That’s what it is about, right? Universal access.
If we make a world that's universally accessible to everyone, then we will be able to recognize the
full potential of every American citizen. That’s what it's about. Access.
If you give us access, we will demonstrate our capacity. You better believe that, without a doubt,
we are going to demonstrate our capacity in a way that lets everyone know we have value. We’ve
already done it.
We’ve demonstrated our capacity by hosting this wonderful event. And we're developing
relationships with members of Congress in a way to make sure our voices are heard when the
policies are made that affect everyone in this nation.
We have better, greater capacity than that. We don't just have the capacity to build relationships
with members of Congress. We have the capacity to be members of Congress. And that's why
today, I'm announcing to all of you, it is my intention, wait for it, were you as excited about that?
It is going to happen. That’s the natural evolution of what we're doing, people with disabilities
running for Congress. Look for me in 2014.
(applause and cheers)
As we become members of Congress, what better way to exercise our true participation, full
participation, so that we are responsible, participating members, than sitting right beside those
members of Congress, working shoulder to shoulder. Not just walking if the halls but actually
being in a chamber of Congress where this happens.
Because if we don’t do that – If we don't step up to the next level of what we are doing, we will
always be subjected to the ignorance that results in low expectations, masked as compassion, that
robs us of our true viable future as fully-participating members of this experiment called America.
I'm not ready to stand for that and I hope you aren't either.
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I hope that you want to work with me to make sure we as people with disabilities, our families, our
friends, step up to a new reality so we can be those fully participating citizens. And if we do, if we
step up and own that challenge, then we, moving forward together, can some day look back and
say, “That America we were talking about, wonderful America with full participation,
acknowledgment of the capacity of people with disabilities,” we can say, “We built that,” and we
will be proud of what we built. And there will be a better America because we are fully
participating in it.
Thank you. God bless you. I love you.
The next person on the microphone, this wouldn't happen without wonderful planning committee.
Leaders emerge in the planning committee. This young lady was the leader of the planning
committee, so I welcome Sue Hetrick and her son, Micah. Thank you.
(applause)
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>> [M. Hetrick] I'm Micah Hetrick.
>> [S. Hetrick] And I'm Sue Hetrick. Governor Kasich could not be here this afternoon. But
representing Governor Kasich, even though he couldn't be here, is John Martin, the Director of the
Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities.
(applause)
>> [Martin] Good afternoon, everyone. Except for those of you on the western time zones, I guess,
it is not afternoon yet.
On behalf of Governor Kasich, it is my privilege to extend a warm Ohio welcome to those who will
be presenting in this afternoon's summit, as well as everyone listening, watching, or reading the
information presented here today.
Legislation, both federal and state, and executive orders, policies, and initiatives, both federal and
state, have significant impact upon the lives of persons with disabilities and their families. We look
at the recent Employment First executive order, which Micah helped us issue a few months back,
issued by Governor Kasich, and the legislation that accompanied it, and we see the energy and
effort being put forth by so many people in the state so that individuals with disabilities can fulfill
the dream of meaningful work and experience the independence and freedom that an income
makes possible. This is but one example of what public elected officials can do to impact many
lives.
It is an honor for Ohio to host this event, and I look forward to listening to the impressive list of
presenters detail how they or those they represent will move our state and nation forward to
support our citizens with disabilities, enabling them to experience full and meaningful lives and
full participation in our communities. Thank you.
(applause)
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>> [Jesien] Thanks, John, for those words. And thank you for being here on behalf of Governor
Kasich. We’re pleased and heartened by the lifelong dedication that you've had to people with
disabilities here in the great state of Ohio. We’re happy to have you as a friend and a champion in
such a key position in this state. So thank you for all of the work you have done, are doing, and will
do.
(applause)
Hi. My name is George Jesien. I'm the Executive Director of the Association of University Centers
on Disabilities.
I've got a couple tasks to do this afternoon. But my first one is to have a shout-out to all of those
people out in Internet-land along the electronic waves. As Neil said, we've got over 2,000, we think
it is closer to 2,500, if not approaching 3,000, viewing and listening sites across this country.
(applause)
And that's because of all of the tweets, Facebook likes, e-mails, and phone calls that all of you
across the country have done. So thank you.
I've heard that some of the sites have up to 40 to 50 people at these watching and listening sites.
Right over at Ohio State, at the Nisonger Center, in Cincinnati, Ohio, as well as Utah State, Georgia
State, University of Chicago in Illinois, and hundreds of other places that are organized by ARC,
UCP, and other disability organizations, as well as Best Buddies, bringing young folks together to
listen to this very important event. What we are seeing here today is being multiplied 10, 15, 20
times over across the country.
I consider myself very lucky to be here and hope that you do, too.
What I want to do next is explain to you the format for this afternoon. It is really quite simple. Each
candidate will have somebody introduce -- each candidate's campaign will have somebody
introduce the surrogate that will be speaking for the campaign, or the candidate themselves. The
surrogate or candidate will then provide 10 minutes of remarks, plus or minus a minute, hopefully
not plus or minus more than that, that will sort of outline their vision and some of the principles
that they have in their campaigns and their plans for the future that deal with the important issues
that face family members, as well as individuals with disabilities.
Our moderator will then engage with them in a question and answer period, with questions that
he has. There will be no questions from the audience. There just wasn't enough time to be able to
do that. But what we've done is gathered the questions that sponsors have suggested, or many of
the registrants have suggested through the web survey link that we had prior to the meeting. So
these have been combined to identify the key issues to ask the candidates, and that's where the
questions will come from.
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I don't think this is really needed to be said, but let me just say, we've invited these candidates to
our house to talk to us about what they plan on doing and their mission. We're very thankful for
them to be here, and we hope that this is the beginning of a conversation with them that will go on
for the next two, four, six years. So I hope that we provide them a welcoming and appreciative
response, and one even though we may disagree with some of the things they may say, a respectful
presence here. I look forward to a very exciting afternoon that hopefully we'll be talking about for
months, if not years down the road.
Lastly, and my greatest pleasure here, is to introduce our moderator for the day, Frank Sesno.
Frank is Director of the School of Media and Public Affairs at George Washington University. He is
an Emmy Award-winning journalist, host, and creator of Planet Forward, a groundbreaking web to
television show, seen on PBS and Bloomberg TV. He's chief executive of Face the Facts U.S.A., just
announced, new nonpartisan multiplatform content hub and civic engagement site, dedicated to
elevating -- boy can we use that -- the national debate with provocative facts found at
facethefactsusa.org. facethefactsusa.org.
Frank's diverse career has spanned over 30 years, including 21 years at CNN. He served as a White
House correspondent, anchor and bureau chief. Frank has interviewed five U.S. presidents,
numerous world leaders, and large corporate CEO's. But he's also had a special interest in
disabilities. He has an adult sister, Laura, with Down syndrome, who lives semi-independently
with supports. And he's been one of the key figures in two previous events that the disability
community has come together on. At the Alliance for Full Participation in 2006, he moderated the
town hall with great success.
Any of you there in 2006? All right, a number of you.
He also did that in 2011 in Washington, again, the Alliance for Full Participation targeted on
employment. So it is a great pleasure to bring back a friend, a colleague, and a true professional in
the media world, Frank Sesno.
(applause)
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>> [Sesno]Thank you very much, George, and thanks to all of you for being here today and for
participating in this and making your voices and your presence heard, known, seen, felt. I can't tell
you how important that is in terms of getting the story out, which as George indicated to you, has
been my life's work, and I cannot tell you how much impact you have when you raise your voices
and you participate in something like this.
Yeah, how about that, facts first. What if we put facts first?
One in five Americans has a disability. That's a fact.
One in four veterans returning from Iraq and our war in Afghanistan comes back with a disability.
That's a fact.
65% unemployment rate among working age Americans with disabilities. That's a fact.
And 14.1 million Americans with disabilities in 2008 voted. That's a fact.
So your votes and your voices matter.
I'm really looking forward to the conversation here today, to what I hope will be moments of
debate here today, even though the candidates are not side by side with one another. Certainly the
ideas matter, and the ideas are side by side. And I'm looking forward to listening, as well, listening
to all of the diverse people who come here today with their stories and their points of view and
their issues for the candidates and for the public to confront and decide in the coming weeks,
months, and years.
At this time, though, I would like to turn the podium over to Terri McIntee, whom I had the
pleasure of meeting this morning. She is a mother, a disability advocate. She has a son, Tyrell, with
Down syndrome who can't be here today because he is off with his high school vocational
program, as I understand it, working in a hospital. So with that background and that information, I
would like to introduce Terri McIntee. Terri?
(applause)
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>> [McIntee] Thanks, Frank. On behalf of my son, Tyrell, we would like to introduce the Ohio State
representative Nancy Garland, who is going to be speaking on behalf of U.S. Senator Sherrod
Brown, our Senate candidate in Ohio.
(applause)
>> [Garland] May I say that I am very excited to be here today, and I want to thank the sponsors of
this historic disability forum. I know I have actually worked for some of the sponsors at this
particular time.
I am here on behalf of Senator Sherrod brown. I was going to say he wishes he could be here, but I
understand he is going to be -- he has worked very, very, very hard -- so he will be here for, like,
five minutes later on. But I'm here to let you know in terms of the things that he believes in regard
to disability.
Knowing my commitment and work on disability issues and having a daughter who is severely
hearing impaired, Senator Brown has asked me to represent him at this important event. I've
known Senator Brown since he was in the House of Representatives in his first term. I actually
worked with him on health care legislation. I have continued to work with him, both at the state
and the federal level. There is no one that is more dedicated to disability issues. I'm also honored
to share the podium today with Edward Kennedy, Jr., with representative McMorris Rodgers, and
Secretary Mandel.
Senator Brown is known to be a public servant to the core. He believes that all Americans have the
unalienable rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. And he believes his job is to
facilitate that pursuit. He knows that America is strongest when all people are free to pursue their
God-given rights.
(applause)
Central to these rights, I think, are three tenets: Health, which means support for accessible and
affordable health care, which means we need to protect Medicaid and Medicare. Education, the key
to freedom, which means that we have high expectations and welcoming environments for
students with disabilities. Third, economic security. The promise of America, the land of
opportunity, is for all, which means increasing employment among people with disabilities.
Now, Senator Brown's mission is to help all Americans attaining the American dream. And by all
Americans, he means all children and adults with disabilities.
So how do we do that? Medicaid. It is the safety net for people with disabilities and must be
preserved.
(applause)
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Since 1965, Medicaid has been an essential program for people with disabilities, providing health
care services for low-income Americans, including seniors, pregnant women, people with
disabilities, and children. 68 million Americans currently receive care through Medicaid. Senator
Brown has found and will continue to fight to protect and strengthen Medicaid. Congressman
Ryan's budget in the House of Representatives has recommended a block grant for Medicaid,
which would merely shift the cost of health care more heavily to the states, localities, beneficiaries,
and providers. And as a state legislator, something that I know the states and providers and
localities cannot ill afford at this particular time. Those hardest hit by cuts to Medicaid would be
senior citizens and individuals with disabilities, who account for two-thirds of Medicaid spending.
But are only a fraction of those participating in this essential program.
Senator Brown joined 20 other colleagues in the senate opposing Congressman Ryan's offers to his
budget to block grant Medicaid. Senator Brown is committed to supporting this vital program, and
at the same time, is committed to reforming it. He is determined to pursue the basic promise of the
Americans with Disabilities Act, by enacting policy changes that would result in more choice for
beneficiaries, and service options delivered in the least restrictive environment. Medicaid
currently has an intentional bias that takes away people's ability to choose where they want to
live, and it requires states to pay for care in a nursing home but merely gives an option to receive
care in the community, even though most people would prefer to receive care if the community.
Though a number of incentives is have been provided for the Medicaid program to help people
with disabilities live as independently as possible, this bias toward nursing home care remains,
though I would say that we, in Ohio, are certainly making efforts to move towards having more
community living. Senator Brown will actively seek out solutions that make Medicaid more
responsive to the preferences of beneficiaries and the need for full community integration with
such things as self-directed waiver.
Next, the Affordable Care Act. I think maybe you've heard about it. They like to call it “Obamacare,”
or, as I like to call it, “Obamacares,” has been attacked, unfortunately, by people on the other side.
Senator Brown views the Affordable Care Act as one of the most important accomplishments in
this generation. The ACA will make health insurance more affordable, comprehensive, and secure
for millions of American families. For Americans with disabilities and their families, health care
reform means never running into a lifetime cap.
(applause)
It also means that no one will be denied coverage on the private market because of pre-existing
conditions.
(applause)
Quite a step forward.
Since March 2010, no family could lose insurance coverage because a child had a pre-existing
condition. Since 2010, the annual and lifetime limits on coverage have increased each year, and
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they will fully disappear by 2014. Now, a baby with a birth defect or a child with a disability won't
run out of coverage in the middle of the year or before the child is grown.
(applause)
Next, we need to have high expectations and welcoming learning environments for students with
disabilities. Before IDEA was passed in 1975, about one million children with disabilities did not
attend school. As I was researching for this, my daughter was born in 1974, and if it hadn't been
for IDEA, she wouldn't be where she is now, a very successful attorney, and she's severely hearing
impaired. So thank you, IDEA.
(applause)
Now IDEA ensures that every child, regardless of disability status, has access to a free and
appropriate public education. And as a result, nearly 7 million individuals with disabilities today,
ranging from infants to age 21, have a federally protected right to receive an education in the least
restrictive environment. Senator Brown also feels that we need to have full funding for IDEA,
which has never been fully funded since the past -- yeah.
(applause)
He has been the cosponsor of the full funding for IDEA Now Act and Keep Our Pact Act -- that's
hard to say -- that would ensure full funding of IDEA. Something I know I worked on when I was in
Washington, and I've certainly worked on it when I've been here in Ohio. Senator Brown
understands that conditions must be right for optimal learning. That is why he was an original
cosponsor of the Safe Schools Improvement Act, which fights bullying and harassment of students
because of an actual or perceived difference as race or disability. I particularly applaud him
because I am the sponsor of the anti-bullying legislation here in Ohio. And I know I talk to parents
almost every day that fight this issue. We need to continue to fight on.
Senator Brown also understands that an enriched and safe early environment is crucial to optimal
development and has cosponsored the Foundations for Success Act, which would increase access
to high quality child care and early education programs and ensure that children with special
needs who are in child care receive the services they need.
He's introduced the Ready Schools Act, which would require schools that is have a high proportion
of at-risk children to track how they are doing in terms of providing educational offerings that
appropriately support students and their families. It also emphasizes professional development
for school staff and the development and learning of young children and developmentally
appropriate educational practices.
Senator Brown is also a very proud and passionate member of the public -- a public member of the
voting trustees for Gallaudet University Board of Trustees, which is obviously the leader in
education for the hearing impaired and deaf in Washington. Again, I thank him for what he's done
in that regard.
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(applause)
Now, last, people with disabilities deserve employment and economic security.
(applause)
No doubt about that.
Senator Brown has long supported and is cosponsor of the ABLE Act, or Achieving a Better Life
Experience Act, that would allow individuals to establish tax exempt accounts for family members
with disabilities Their accounts could be used to pay for expenses, such as education, housing,
transportation, employment support, and medical care. Individual taxpayers would be allowed to
a tax deduction of up to $2,000 per year for contribution to the ABLE account.
Also, Senator Brown has worked closely with Senators Harkin and Kennedy and others to ensure
access to meaningful employment for people with disabilities. The A.D.A. is now 22 years old, and
over those 22 years, too little headway has been made for employment for people with disabilities.
Only about 32% of the working adults with disabilities are in the labor force. Senator Brown looks
forward to working in the coming Congress to finally turn a corner and bring more people into the
labor force.
Social Security, talking about security. For 75 years, Social Security has kept millions of senior
citizens, individuals with disabilities, and children out of poverty. Social Security is not only a
retirement program, as it also serves as a disability insurance program for American workers who
become permanently disabled and unable to work. Over 8 million Americans with disabilities
receive Social Security disability -- or benefits. Senator Brown remains a staunch advocate for the
Social Security disability insurance and SSI, two essential federal programs that provide insurance
to individuals who are able to work -- unable to work because of illness or disability.
Lastly, the Americans with Disabilities Act was intended to cover all aspects of life. In 2008,
Senator Brown actually cosponsored amendments to the A.D.A. to reinstate original protection in
case law that has eroded over the years. And he will continue to try to get the A.D.A. back to where
it was when it was passed 22 years ago.
(applause)
I know, it's been a difficult road in that way. We haven't liked always what the Supreme Court's
ruled. In 1993, Senator Brown was an original sponsor to the Motor Voter Act, which made it
easier for persons with disabilities to register to vote. And if you've watched in the papers here in
Ohio and across the nation, unfortunately, there are efforts being made to try to limit the ability of
some people to vote.
So, again, Senator Brown, and I will tell you I, will continue to work to make sure that that doesn't
happen.
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One last thing Senator Brown wanted me to let you know, is that he supports the United Nations
Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
(applause)
It has been ratified by 116 countries, and Senator Brown is very hopeful that it will actually be
passed in the lame duck because it has a lot of bipartisan support. Senator Brown feels that
fighting for the rights of all people should not be a partisan issue.
(applause)
And he will continue to work, when elected, to help all Americans, including disabled Americans,
to live life to their fullest potential.
Thank you.
(applause)
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>> [Sesno] Thank you very much, Representative Garland. Now we will spend a few minutes in Q
and A about some of the things you've said and some of the issues that are out there. Let's start
with Medicaid and what you commented on where Sherrod Brown stands on the issue of
Medicaid. This is a very, very important issue, obviously. It’s the white hot core of a lot of this
debate. What Republicans say is that by block granting Medicaid, we'll have a better shot at
controlling cost. And you give more flexibility to the states to provide these services. That the
states are better off doing this closer to the local level than the federal government. What's wrong
with that argument?
>> [Garland] Well, I know I've talked extensively with Senator Brown's staff in regard to that. And
he really feels that by block granting, unfortunately some very important issues may get lost in the
mix. He also feels, we know when times are tough, and I sit in the State Legislature, I know how
difficult these decisions are, that unfortunately, lots of times the programs that the people with
disabilities care about the most don't get funded. And so that is really the fear. If you block grant
and then you decrease those block grants, what's going to happen with the programs that are so
important to people?
>> [Sesno] Give us some examples of the kinds of programs you think would actually he be
jeopardized by this.
>> [Garland] Well, I think lots of the programs in terms of the specific things, like go to autism. I
have to say here in Ohio, we're working very hard to get legislation passed that would require
insurance companies to actually cover autism. We've been trying to get a much broader program
here in Ohio, and I know Director Martin has worked with the Governor. But all we have right now
is a pilot program. So I think those states that actually have -- you know, we do have money out
there that's supposed to be helping in this regard. I think we have the research in regard to Down
syndrome because of the fact that it wasn't included in the Children's Health Act. Again, money
that is allocated, I'm afraid, will be put in the block grant, and these things will get lost when it
comes to –
>> [Sesno] You're a State Representative. You work here at the state level. Why do you think this
would get lost in the state of Ohio? I've talked to people who say actually the greatest amount of
accountability in government exists at the state level, because you have access to your governor,
you have access to your state representatives, the way you don't necessarily in Washington
>> [Garland] You promised me softball questions. I'm not happy ->> [Sesno] They told me to do a debate.
>> [Garland] Again, I think we need a mix in this regard in terms of you certainly need to give the
states flexibility to be able to develop programs are that are good for their citizens, but I think
when you lump everything together and put it in a block grant, then you do lose control. So I think
that we need to have a partnership with the states, and I think, again, that's actually happening in
some instances where the federal government is saying, okay, we're going to give the state more
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flexibility, but they're still going to make sure that those programs and those people get the
programs they need and the funding that they need.
Because, again, I think we in the state legislature, we have our things that we like and things we
don't like, and so depending on who happens to be in control at that particular moment, things
may get lost.
>> [Sesno] You mentioned in your comments about where Senator Brown stands on reform of
Medicaid, the notion of affirmatively reforming Medicaid to address the institutional bias it's got.
Could you have talk a little bit more about that and how he would do that and how he would
pursue from what he's done so far, addressing this institutional bias to deliver is services
obviously closer to the community and to the family and an individual?
>> [Garland] Right. I think we have an interesting situation here in Ohio in this regard. It started
under Governor Strickland's administration in terms of providing more flexibility he so people
could get more home care, and Governor Kasich and Director Moody have continued to move in
that direction.
But I think that we still need to have more formulas, more direction that really says we know it's
$17,000 a year to keep someone at home to, have them cared for at home, whereas it costs, I
believe it's $74,000, on average, in a nursing home. So he would really like to see legislation
passed, regulations that would give more flexibility in terms of how we spend those dollars and so
we can have -- I mean, we know, surveys show that people, I think 93 percent, would rather be
cared for at home. I know I've been through this situation with my own mother. At some point,
you're not always able to take care of people. But those are the people that need to be in a nursing
home.
You take the 19-year-old that was severely injured in an auto accident, and to have them living in a
nursing home for the rest of their life is not what you want to do. Again, I think we need to give as
much flexibility, and more waivers and money that will go towards keeping people at home if at all
possible.
>> [Sesno] On Obamacare, or Obamacares, as you call it, you talk about the lifetime cap, preexisting conditions, things that are delivered in this. As you know, the Republicans stand for
repealing Obamacare. What is the Democratic response to what would replace it if they were
operating as a minority party?
>> [Garland] Well, first of all, I'm not really sure they're against repealing it, because I listen to
Governor Romney, and one day he's for it, and the next day, he's against it. So I'm not really sure.
But -- because he said, you know, in terms of pre-existing conditions, well, we wouldn't do away
with that, but we wouldn't force people to buy insurance, insurance companies it cover preexisting conditions. So I haven't really figured out how they're going to do that in terms of life caps
and everything.
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Again, I'm amazed at this discussion that we are having, because of the fact, first of all, that our
Republican presidential candidate actually passed what was Obamacare Romney care in
Massachusetts, and now because we have somebody with a different party that passed it in the
legislature, therefore they're opposed to it.
The other thing is something that was the Heritage Foundation's idea, a very conservative think
tank that people should be required to pay for insurance, which obviously will help to fund the
other things that we just mentioned, I don't understand why we're now against that. That's kind of
my response, is I don't get it.
>> [Sesno] Let me move to another category that you addressed in your comments, which is
employment and job security. We know that the disabled -- disability community has been hit
especially hard by this recession, losing a million jobs from those who have been employed over
the past several years. I'm interested, when you talk about the ABLE Act that Senator Brown
supports, and other meaningful employment phrases, how he would get there.
What exactly is he going to bring to bear, does he pledge to bring to bear as a candidate or
reelected Senator that would materially address this?
>> [Garland] Well, I think that he feels that we need -- rather than – I understand sometimes
children that are disabled are automatically put in sheltered workshops and things, and not given
the opportunity, really, to go out and in terms of the workforce. So I think to make sure that people
are able to work up to their potential in the least restrictive environment that we can, I think also,
we have the WIA act, Workforce Development Act. And I think we need to make sure that those
agencies actually make sure that they are looking at the needs of the disabled and trying to
actually have them employed.
I know that the WIA act has been up for reauthorization for some time, and still has not been
reauthorized. So I think that that's an area that we could really work on in terms of providing
assistance in employing people with disabilities. I will go back to my daughter who, again,
successfully -- she argues cases in court. I don't know how she does it.
But just having some help in the courtroom, again, has helped to make her a very successful -those are the kind of -- I think we can do things that, in many instances, are not that expensive, but,
again, until we're kind of pushed to do it, we don't necessarily do it.
>> [Sesno] Let me draw you out and, in absentia, Senator Brown, I guess, an issue on the subminimum wage, which is difficult.
So my sister for years had this great job, caning chairs. She loved it. She felt she was an artisan. She
did it for a long time. I have a few of them in my house. I tried to sell a few of them to get us all rich.
Didn't quite work, but hope springs eternal.
As she got older is she developed arthritis and is not doing that. During the years she had that job,
she worked four days a week. Every couple use weeks, she would get a check for $12, $14, $27. On
the one hand, I felt this is a bad thing. This is nothing. She's working for free. On the other hand, I
15
recognize that if she needed to be paid at a minimum wage level, she might not have had that job.
This is difficult. Where does Senator Brown come down on this?
>> [Garland] Well, he feels that we need to not have people paid minimum wage for doing jobs
that -- you know, if it was an able-bodied person doing that job, you know. I do understand the
problem in terms of, okay, maybe we have less jobs if you're having to pay minimum wage, but,
again, I think that we need to push, I think -- I think Senator Brown would say -- that we need to
push that envelope.
I have a cousin with Down syndrome, and he's 46 years old and lives in Cleveland. He has worked
in -- he worked in a grocery store for a long time. New people bought the grocery store, and it was
a Chinese family, and so everyone that had been working previous to that were let go, except for
my cousin, Michael, who was the only non-Chinese person that's now working in that grocery
store. So -- but it's because he did such a good job that he -- and so therefore, they are paying him,
you know, regular wage. They didn't keep him on because he was getting minimum wage. Again, I
think that that's where Senator Brown would fall.
>> [Sesno] What are three concrete things that could be done to assure people with disabilities a
better shot in the job market?
>> [Garland] I think we need to be able to -- again, I'm not quite sure what Senator Brown would
say in this instance. I'm kind of talking about Nancy Garland here. But certainly he feels that we
need to do everything we can to inform, educate employers in terms of what people with
handicaps can do. And I think that's a big part of it, because it's kind of like we talk about my
cousin Michael, you know. Once these people -- they didn't know Michael until they got to know
him, so now they're going to hire more people. I know we have employers here in central Ohio
who they are primarily hiring people with handicaps.
So I think, as with almost everything, education is so important in getting people to realize that we
are all Americans, and we are all people with civil rights, and so we need to do everything to get us
to be able to live to our fullest potential.
>> [Sesno] One more specific question and I will close with a general one. You cannot listen to the
political discourse and debate these days without knowing that the budget is crazy out of balance,
that there is a fiscal cliff looming, tax-mageddon, call it what you will. Who knows what the end of
the year holds. Really in any scenario, there appear to be almost certainly budget cuts ahead.
When you think about the disability community, what are the budget cuts that you think are most
likely and that worry you the most?
>> [Garland] Again, I'm not in the Senate, so I'm not quite sure where they –
>> [Sesno] But from the state level, you see this both knowing the candidate, but also knowing
what -- if I can use the term, trickles down to you at the state.
>> [Garland] Right.
16
It obviously depends in terms of what candidate is elected. But I do think that we need to
ultimately raise some revenues, but we also need to make some changes, and in terms of looking
at various aspects of various disability programs, to make sure that we are providing them in the
most cost-effective way that we can. And I will go back to our earlier discussion in regard to longterm care. Because I think if we -- we can save money if we have people that are in lower cost
places, so rather than spending the $74,000 a year of having somebody in a nursing home, when
we can have $17,000 of having them living at home, or a similar environment, then I think that we
can certainly save some money there.
So I think those are the kind of things that we're going to have to look at in terms of trying to
balance the budget. It's not going to be easy, but I think -- we need to have give and take on both
sides. That's the thing that I feel we've -- Senator Brown would say this, too -- that as far as
bipartisanship, that we need to work together. So many times, that's not what's happening. So I
think -- we just passed a pension bill here in Ohio, which we worked together, and it passed
unanimously. Nobody would have dreamed that, you know, two years ago. So I think that's
another critical part of this, is there has to be give and take on both sides.
>> [Sesno] Here's my last question, and I'm going to ask this of all of the people I talk to today so
you know it will be equitably spread around. Essentially all eyes are on Ohio right now, because
everybody's talking about what Ohio does may determine or largely determine the outcome of the
election. Let's set that aside for a minute.
You can draw on your Ohio background to be as sharp as you would like in response to this. Next
week, the presidents will debate, the presidential contenders will debate. Tens of millions of
Americans will watch this debate. If you were the moderator and you could ask a question that
was relevant to the disability community of the two candidates, what would you ask, and why?
>> [Garland] Well, I think the question would be, because we know -- and I would ask it more of
Congressman Ryan, I guess, but since he is the VP candidate for Governor Romney, I would say
how are you going to ensure that people with disabilities are going to be able to get the services
that they need if you are going to block grant Medicaid.
>> [Sesno] So you'd go to the block granting of the Medicaid question as the principle question.
Thank you, Representative Garland, for being here and for your comments.
(applause)
>> [Sesno] If Jim Lehrer drops out of next week's debate, I will put your name up for contention.
I'm not sure Governor Romney would be very happy with that. But Barack Obama surely would
be. We will have an opportunity to talk to other folks with different perspectives throughout the
day. But your insight as to where Sherrod Brown is coming from, and we will have an opportunity,
as you heard, to hear from Sherrod Brown himself a little later.
It is now my pleasure to introduce your next speaker, who himself will be welcoming others. He is
someone I knew and I haven't had a chance to say hello to yet personally today for many, many
years during his service in Congress and Washington. He was always a great interview on
17
television. He liked doing that, too, as I recall. We did more than one of those during my years at
CNN. Ladies and gentlemen, will you please welcome Tony Coelho.
(applause)
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>> [Coelho] Thank you, Frank, very much. It is great to be here today. It is great to be with people
from the community who are advocates and believers in our cause.
First off, before I get into my comments, I want to acknowledge Congresswoman Cathy McMorris
Rodgers, who has been great for our community in the Congress. So I want to acknowledge her
presence.
My role today is twofold. I'd like to first acknowledge that we have a video today from President
Barack Obama. Before the video is played, a couple comments. He recorded it, and it is not public.
It won't be released until next week. So all of you, and I, will see it for the first time right now. And
I would just make a comment that I'm prejudiced, and that the 40 years that I have been in
government in one capacity or another, this president has done more for the disability movement
than any president that I have been involved with in the whole 40 years. So with that, let's see the
video.
(video plays)
(applause)
>> [Coelho] That will be released next week. I think it is very good.
Secondly, my role today is to introduce the surrogate for the President, someone who has been a
long-time personal friend of mine, Ted Kennedy Jr. has devoted much of his professional and
personal energy to work as an advocate for civil rights of those of us with disabilities.
He is the son, as all of you know, of the late Senator Edward Kennedy, and Teddy is a disability
policy expert who speaks on civil rights movement from a disability perspective as a cancer
survivor. He discusses his experience with cancer at every time he has a chance. He has done this
from a very young age. Ted has served as the Executive Director of Facing the Challenge, a nonprofit advocacy and public policy office on disability-related issues. As a teaching fellow on
disability policy at Harvard University, Harvard University's John F. Kennedy School of
Government, and as an attorney fighting for the rights of persons with disabilities. In addition, he
has worked extensively with both policy makers in the corporate world in the areas of expanding
job opportunities for people with disabilities. As a personal aside, I hope all of you will join with
me at some point in urging Ted while he's doing all this that at some point, that he decide
personally to run for office. It's time. It's time. It's time that Ted run for office.
(applause)
But today, my job is to ask him to come up and speak for President Barack Obama. Ted?
(applause)
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>> [Kennedy] Thank you, Tony Coelho, one of the great leaders for people with disabilities in this
country. I've had the pleasure to serve with Tony on the board of AAPD. Tony, it is great to be here
with you in Columbus, Ohio. Let me just start by saying what a privilege and honor it is to
represent President Obama here at this historic forum on disability issues. Just being present at
this forum, together with so many local activists, leaders in national disability organizations,
makes me proud to be a person with a disability.
(applause)
And although it we may be diverse and represent many different constituencies, we're all here and
united because of our common belief. Our common belief that people with disabilities want a fair
shot at the American dream.
Access to the same opportunities as every other American. And including the right to vote, and
exercising our right to vote. And President Obama understands our history. He understands our
movement as a civil rights struggle. When we use terms such as exclusion and words such as
dignity and self-determination, and when we talk about being housed and transported, and
educated in separate institutions, President Obama knows exactly what we mean.
The purpose of this forum is to recognize the importance of the disability vote. And mobilizing the
disability vote is not about advancing the needs of some narrow interest group. There are millions
of people impacted by the very discussions that we're having today in Columbus.
50 million Americans. One in four veterans that are returning from our wars overseas. One in
three seniors have a functional impairment. And over 70 percent of seniors will need some sort of
long-term care services at some point in their lives. 66 million Americans are caregivers. And
therefore, also have a direct interest in the issues that we're discussing here today. And the baby
boom is just beginning. So this is really about every single family in America. And you know what?
It's about my family, too.
Because for over 70 or 80 years, the Kennedy family has been involved in these issues, prompted
by my Aunt Rosemary, who was born with an intellectual disability. Many of you know her story.
Many of you know the story of my aunt Eunice Kennedy Shriver, starting Special Olympics and her
advocacy work on behalf of people with intellectual disabilities. And it’s something our family has
been proud of.
It’s personal. Tip O'Neil said, “All politics is personal.” Well, you know what? All politics is local. In
my family, all politics is personal. That's the same with Barack Obama.
Because -- and I joined this community when I lost my leg when I was 12 years old. My father,
because of his -- he had a sister with an intellectual disability, because he sat in a waiting room in
the hospital with all of the other parents whose children were also undergoing cancer treatment,
worried about are we going to be bankrupt by our healthcare bills, am I going to get fired because
20
I'm choosing to be with my kid instead of at my job, those are the things that prompted him to get
involved in family and medical leave and in the Affordable Care Act.
And Barack Obama is -- has the same kind of empathy and the same kind of personal involvement
in these issues. When his father-in-law -- Michelle talked about this -- when his father-in-law was
diagnosed with MS, he was worried about how he was going to pay those medical bills. When
Barack Obama talks about student loans, he's speaking from experience of having somebody who
was stressing out about how he was going to pay off those loans. The fact is, he understands what
most Americans have to deal with.
Now, I want to say, express my appreciation and respect to all of the candidates who are here
today and their surrogates, Democratic and Republican, who have made the time to participate. As
you all know historically, disability rights have enjoyed strong bipartisan support. People like my
dad, who are strong advocates, yet he never hesitated to cross the aisle to try to expand Medicaid
with Warren Hatch, or try to advance the A.D.A. with Bob Dole, or to try to begin to create a public
school education for people with disabilities with Lowell Weicker. That was his style, ok?
Let me just say about Cathy McMorris Rodgers, that the entire Kennedy family holds her with the
highest amount of personal admiration and respect. And I think that all of us in the disability
community owe her a great deal of gratitude for everything she's done to raise awareness of these
issues in Washington, D.C.
(applause)
Now, if a different kind of Republican other than Congresswoman McMorris Rodgers were at the
top of the ticket, I think the disability community could rest a lot more easily. With all due respect
to Congresswoman McMorris Rodgers, she is going to have a very difficult time explaining and
defending the politics of her party.
Because there's a very strong contrast between the Democratic party and the Republican party on
the issues of disability law. The problem is there's something very wrong about the modern
Republican party. Their leader, Governor Mitt Romney, has expressed contempt for the 47
percent. He said, my job is not to care about those people. Do you know who he was referring to,
right?
He said that -- his message to people with disabilities is, you're on your own.
Well, I'm here to tell you, this is not President Obama's view of the world.
His campaign slogan, as you just heard, is Forward Together. He asked me to come here to Ohio to
make sure that all of you understand that he values the contribution of every single American,
including every single American with a disability. He believes that America prospers when we're
all in this together. And that everyone plays by the same rules, and everyone has a fair shot at
success. In short, on disability issues in the 2012 Presidential election presents a very stark choice
between two very different visions for the future.
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Now, that's taken me six or seven minutes, okay? So I have many other things I'd like to discuss.
I'm looking forward to discussing them with Mr. Sesno. Things like jobs, education, housing,
telecommunication and technology policy, health care, civil rights, and international disability
rights. Hopefully we'll have time to talk about all those subjects. But let me just leave you with
some comments about two of those subjects. Health care and civil rights.
You see, Governor Romney's plan for health care is to, quote, “Kill it dead.” That's what he wants
to do with President Obama's health care reform efforts. Which is very puzzling, of course,
because as we all know, he was the architect for this very same plan that we have -- are now trying
to implement Nationwide. Although he doesn't like to talk about it, my father considered it one of
his proudest moments, standing with Governor Romney, working in a bipartisan way, trying to
accomplish something for all Americans.
But the fact is, with President Obama's health care reform efforts, our country will greatly expand,
expand the control that people with disabilities have over their own lives and put an end to the
worst kind of industry abuses and tactics.
I just met a 17-year-old woman in Sioux Falls last Saturday. And she had bone cancer, just like I
did, 17 years old, lost her leg, just like me. And thanks to President Obama, her family will no
longer have to be worried about an insurance company denying her coverage based on her preexisting condition. Because just like me, she now has a pre-existing condition based on her
pediatric cancer history. That insurance company will no longer be able to impose a lifetime cap.
They won't be able to drop her. They won't be able to cancel the coverage now that she's sick. So -and thanks to President Obama, they won't be able to discriminate based on a person's medical
history or genetic information.
So we're going to hopefully have a lot more time to talk about President Obama's plans to expand
Medicaid coverage, including community-based supports, such as Community First Choice, which
are cheaper and more preferable, and save tax dollars by reducing nursing home placement and
creating financial incentives for states to expand the use of personal care attendants instead of
nursing home services. Already, 3 million young Americans have gotten coverage because they can
stay on their parents plan until they turn 26. Already, five million seniors have seen benefits in the
closing of the donut hole. In contrast, the Romney/Ryan budget is cut Medicaid by a third and give
a tax break to the millionaires. That's what his budget is. And to turn Medicare into a voucher
program.
Hopefully we're going to have the chance to talk about exactly how those programs are going to
impact people with chronic illnesses and conditions and people with disabilities. Now, I'll just
leave you with a talk -- a few comments on the issue of civil rights. Many of you know that I'm a
disability rights attorney. These are issues that I focus on very closely. On the issue of civil rights,
the disability community has no better friend in Washington than President Obama. He has a very
strong record of A.D.A. enforcement. His Department of Justice has engaged in over 40 Olmstead
enforcement actions in over 25 states, supporting independent living and not institutionalization.
In contrast, the Republican party supports legislation that's already passed the house, for example,
to defund the Department of Justice enforcement, particularly in the areas of their desire to try to
22
enforce the A.D.A. and issues such as access to swimming pools in hotels, just like the one that
we're in. Now, there are some hotel chains, like the Marriott chain, that they said, you know what?
We're going to go ahead and do this, because it's the right thing to do. Put a lift in every single one
of their hotel swimming pools because it's the right thing to do, and because people with
disabilities represent a huge market.
We are a huge market. That should be one of the underlying messages that we all take home, not
only are we a huge voting block, but we're a huge market, too.
But do you know what? The House Republicans passed a law, basically stripping the Department
of Justice efforts so they neutered their capability to go and make sure people with disabilities
have access to swimming pools, and recreation areas. That's what we’re talking about.
The Republican party also supports the A.D.A. Notification Act. What does that do? That
undermines the authority of the Department of Justice and private citizens to enforce their own
civil rights. This is offensive to people with disabilities around the country. The ideas that
businesses do not have an affirmative obligation to continuously practice nondiscrimination.
That's wrong.
And that's just another example of a stark difference between President Obama and his
Republican counterpart.
I'd love to get the chance to talk about disability rights. I see Mark on his way up, so I'll make a
couple of closing comments. And just to say that this election is about choice. It really is. On
disability policy, the choice is clear. I've only had time to highlight a few key issues here, but it's
important to remember the core values of fairness if the Democratic party that we're all in this
together.
So on behalf of President Obama, I ask you for your vote, and I ask you for your support on
election day. Thank you very much.
(applause)
23
>> [Sesno] Well, thank you very much, Ted Kennedy. I really look forward to the conversation here
and drawing you out as Barack Obama, since you're his surrogate, right? Doesn't get better than
that. At least it's not an empty chair.
But we should talk about some of what you said and drill into some of it a little bit, and let me
challenge you on a few things.
Let's start on the very serious issue of employment and employment security for the disability
community. President Obama introduced an employment bill on Capitol Hill that did not contain
any special provision for people with disabilities. I've spoken to people in the disability
community about this and they've expressed concern about that. If reelected, what would he do,
and would he explicitly include something in a disability or employment initiative to improve the
economic and employment prospects of people in the disabilities community who wish to work?
>> [Kennedy] Well, thank you, Frank. I would say that if the issue of jobs and employment of
people with disabilities, President Obama has done an amazing job. We know this is a tough
problem.
I served on the President's Committee on Employment of People with Disabilities as a Reagan
appointee. Some people are surprised by that. But I think my point is that this is an area where
people from different political parties can all agree. We all want to make sure that people with
disabilities, we know people with disabilities do not want a hand out. They want a job. People
want to become productive, tax-paying citizens.
I would respond specifically to your questions in a couple of ways. One is, President Obama, on
marking the 20th anniversary of the A.D.A., signed an executive order to all federal agencies to
recruit and hire an additional 100,000 people with disabilities across the federal government.
(applause)
We're well on our way to meeting that goal.
Secondly, he established a program called Add Us In at the Department of Labor that has
developed innovative strategies to increase employment for people with disabilities in small
business. He has strengthened anti-disability and discrimination enforcement, even in the tough
economic times. In the EEOC, he's expanded the number of staff people investigating A.D.A. claims
at the EEOC.
He's established a Wounded Warrior tax credit, nearly $10,000 per service member, gives
businesses a tax break, $10,000 per veteran, for a service-related injury.
Finally, and most importantly, President Obama has proposed that tough new standards, through
section 503, that will require companies with federal contracts have a goal of creating a workforce
comprised of at least 7 percent people with disabilities. It's done for people of color. It's done for
women. And President Obama believes that it should be done for people with disabilities, as well.
24
(applause)
>> [Sesno]You mentioned the Wounded Warrior project. Should that type of initiative, tax credits
for people with disabilities, be extended more broadly in the workplace?
>> [Kennedy] Well, sure. I think in addition to the programs that I've mentioned, tax credits,
targeted tax credits, things like 503 to encourage federal contractors who get government
contracts to hire more people with disabilities, sure.
But I also think it's working with business, as well. That's something that I think we need to do.
And I think the government knows that there was only really so much that it can do on its own. We
need to engage the business community. I think we've done a very good job in terms of job
training. President Obama knows that people with disabilities want to -- we're the only group out
there wants to pay more in taxes. Am I not right?
(applause)
And employers know that people with disabilities make incredible employees.
Let me just give you one story of a gentleman that I met in Pittsburgh. His name is Jamie. He works
for High Mark, which is a Blue Cross/Blue Shield plan in Pittsburgh. Jamie has a severe disability.
He was born with cerebral palsy, uses a wheelchair. He had to go to the doctor in the middle of the
day, and his wheelchair broke. You know what? He wanted to go back to work so badly that he
called an ambulance and had the ambulance bring him back to High Mark.
Well, the CEO of High Mark said, you know what? In my 20 or 30 years, I've seen a lot of people
leave my corporate headquarters in a stretcher. I've never seen anyone come to work in a
stretcher.
And that tells the story of how much people with disabilities want to work. Okay? We don't want
to sit at home and receive a check. We want to go back to work. We don't want to have to trigger
the loss of health benefits. We want to become productive members of society. That's just the kind
of society that President Obama wants.
>> [Sesno] Let me move you to another aspect of something you talked about and something that's
very much in the center of the debate with respect to disabilities in the presidential campaign, and
that's the Affordable Care Act. A very important question, it would seem to me, for President
Obama, who’s trying for this next term, is in a next term, if he were reelected, he will face a very
challenging problem, it would seem, in the implementation of the Affordable Care Act, because
many states are saying we're not going there, or they're viewing things differently.
There are disagreements. Other states want to repeal it flat out. How would he and his
administration, in your view, promote the implementation of that act and make sure that there is
uniformity working with states, many of which disagree fundamentally, profoundly with the
whole direction of that act?
25
>> [Kennedy] Well, let me just say that I think even states that have said we are going to wait and
see, we're going to wait and see what happens after the presidential election before we vest a lot
of our resources in developing an exchange, even they are behind the scenes creating the central –
>> [Sesno] A lot of them, but certainly not all of them.
>> [Kennedy] Maybe not all of them, but the default is that the federal government, don't forget, if
states like Texas and Louisiana do not want to provide their own exchange, guess what? The
federal government is going to go in there and provide an exchange in their stead. Okay?
So I think that we know, Frank, that implementation is going to be an ongoing -- the problems that
we're going to encounter are going to be -- we're going to need the input from a lot of different
health care policy experts.
But the point is that we have a system where the government can set the standards, but the health
care is actually going to be it implemented by private companies, like part D of the Medicare
program. To respond to your question, the federal government is at HHS right now, setting up
contingency plans for states who choose -- who may choose not to develop their own exchanges.
>> [Sesno] Let me turn to another issue of profound importance to this community, which is
housing. I can get personal for a minute. My sister shares a place with one other person, also who
has Down syndrome. Before she moved in, the other room in the condo was empty for a year. At
the point she moved in, we found out that this woman had been on the waiting list for housing for
15 years. On the one hand, there was a room that was sitting empty for a year, and on the other,
someone who is waiting for 15.
We know what the demand is in communities, states, nationally. what would President Obama and
the federal government, if he is reelected, do to address this?
>> [Kennedy] Well, President Obama supports programs that support affordable, accessible, and
integrated housing for Americans with disabilities. He knows right now, there is over 750,000
people with developmental disabilities alone who live with aging parents. There's many millions
of wheelchair users who find it very difficult to access affordable, accessible housing. He believes
in modifying Medicaid's long-standing institutional bias, Frank, that you alluded to a few moments
ago that currently spends 67 percent of its dollars in long-term care dollars for institutional care,
but only 33 percent of its budget to community-based services.
So, I think there is a -- under Money Follows the Person, more than 20,000 people have already
transitioned out of institutions. And President Obama has directed a billion dollars toward
training, retaining, and employing more direct care workers so that people with disabilities -severe disabilities can work independently in the community.
Now, I think he's also, as you may know, extended money follows the person by an additional five
years. That's two and a quarter billion dollars more flowing into money follows the person to help
even more people integrate into the community. But we know there is still millions of people
trapped in nursing homes. We know that certain cities are very expensive to live in. And that's
26
going to be -- be we need to work with landlords, we need to work with others to try to create
more affordable, accessible housing. It is a combination of all of the programs I've just mentioned
about, together with working in the private sector.
>> [Sesno] How can these things be done, given the fiscal pressures that he and anybody
appropriating any money in any direction are going to face?
>> [Kennedy] We can't afford not to do it. We can't afford not to do it, because I think that we
know that it costs less to -- we've seen the studies -- to have somebody living in their community
with support costs less than somebody institutionalized in a nursing home. So we need to figure
out a way, okay? Even appeal to people on purely economic terms.
And -- but I think that in terms of right now, we -- the Americans with Disabilities Act is over 20
years old. Places like many cities here in Ohio, for example, that have – are older cities, there are -I think the housing market is very dependent geographically. States like this may have a harder
time with a lot of these same issues than, for example, communities down in Florida or some of the
newer areas who have been able to incorporate universal design in their city planning processes.
Do you see what I'm saying?
So I don't have a magic bullet, but what I'm saying is that I think that the central concept of
President Obama's plan is that finding this money needs to be done in a fair and equitable way.
Okay? That is what it's all about.
>> [Sesno] And you are pledging on behalf of him here today that he will do that in a second term,
regardless of –
>> [Kennedy] I'm not making any promises, Frank. I'm just saying look at his record. Look at his
record.
>> [Sesno] I'm just trying to establish the record right now.
>> [Kennedy] Look at his -- and I think that the reason why we need to reelect Barack Obama is
because we need to make sure that more money flows into Money Follows the Person. We need to
make sure that Medicaid programs are not block granted, because basically what that means,
when you hear the word block grant, you should automatically think of the word cap. that's
basically what's happening.
Yes, it saves money in Washington, D.C. you know how it does it, right? It caps the amount of
money that the federal government will send to the state, say that's it. You decide. Doesn't adjust
for inflation. Doesn't adjust for all of the baby boomers retiring. Doesn't adjust for population
growth and other stresses going on in states. So I think that's what's going to happen. I think if we
want more affordable, accessible housing, our country is going to have to make the investment to
make sure that happens. What are we going to do? People are going to either be prisoners or be
able to live in a community that's open and accessible to it everyone in our society. And I think
that's the kind of community that we want.
27
>> [Sesno] Let me move you to the issue of education. As you know, there is up a lot of attention
on reforming what used to be called No Child Left Behind, is now called the Elementary and
Secondary Education Act. What's the president's strategy to be sure that kids with disabilities will
continue to be included in accountability provisions and education reform?
>> [Kennedy] Well, first of all, President Obama believes that education is an economic imperative
that should be within reach of every single child in America. He believes that students with
disabilities have the right to an equal education that provides them with an opportunity to acquire
the same knowledge and the same skills as their peers. This has been, we know, a difficult task,
especially with the increasing number of students with disabilities in public school classrooms
across the country.
However, if you -- and because under IDEA, as many of us know, the federal government initially
agreed to provide 40 percent of all funding to local districts, 40 percent of the cost of educating a
special education student. But they've never appropriated more than 20 percent. They promised
40. When the law was passed. They've never appropriated more than 20 percent. I am happy to
say that under -- in President Obama's 2012 budget, he included an additional $200 million in
increase to state IDEA grants. That's not going to solve the problem, but it is something.
In contrast, the Romney/Ryan proposed budget would slash federal spending to IDEA by an
additional 20 percent. That's the -- those are the facts. Those are their proposals. At a time where
we need to be making more investments in this area. So I think that -- and we can go on and on
and talk about college and increasingly, students with disabilities thankfully are going on to
college. Not in the same kind of numbers that all of us here in this room would like, but it is
happening.
And people with disabilities need good role models. People who are lawyers and doctors and
other professionals, to show them. Because the expectations have been very low for people with
disabilities. In part because I've always said that it's not so much a person's physical or mental
condition that creates the disability, it's the attitude that is held by our society that frequently –
(applause)
And too often, we've had to deal with the problem of low expectation in schools across this
country. People with disabilities can do amazing things. And we can do anything if only given the
opportunity. And that's why we want to have more opportunities for education.
>> [Sesno] Well, let me ask you about that opportunity, because it also takes us into some of the
things that Governor Romney has said and stands for, and since he's not here, or his surrogate's
not here, I will be talking to her in a little while, I'll try to fill a little bit of that role, at least, in the
conceptual frame of it all. So opportunity -- and at the Alliance for Full Participation that I was a
part of not too long ago, we had a lot of companies there, businesses, corporations that were
providing jobs for people with disabilities. What Governor Romney might say is, wait a minute,
this is fine to talk about government role for a minute, but we cannot lose the connection with the
very important role the private sector will play. That's where the jobs will and should come from.
28
What will Barack Obama do, what should the Obama administration, if there is one in the next
term, do to improve connections with the corporate community to get the jobs and opportunities
flowing?
>> [Kennedy] Well, I've already gone over two huge things that President Obama has already done
to expand job opportunities for people with disabilities. A hundred thousand new people in the
federal workforce.
>> [Sesno] That's the federal workforce.
>> [Kennedy] And section 503.
I agree, but I just said a few minutes ago, Frank, if you recall, that I don't think that it's just the
government's job alone. I do agree, and I don't think quite honestly that there is a big
disagreement among the political parties on this it point, because I've worked with plenty of
people on both sides of the aisle who understand the issue of unemployment for people with
disabilities. Unfortunately, that number has not moved significantly. Very disappointingly so, since
we passed the Americans with Disabilities Act many years ago. There are too many people who
are able and willing to work who can't find a job.
I agree that corporations, the government needs to work together with corporations. People with
disabilities need more job training skills. And those are the types of programs that companies are
not necessarily going to fund, that the government needs to fund to make sure the people are job
ready.
But when I was in Massachusetts, working at the Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission, I
coordinated a program called the Massachusetts Corporate Partnership Program. What we did is
we identified all of the different companies in Massachusetts who had hired people with
disabilities, all different types of people with disabilities, and we paired them up with other
companies who were considering hiring people with disabilities.
And because I can talk about jobs until I'm blue if the face, but guess what, Frank? The people who
make those hiring decisions are the supervisors. And we all in this room know that we need to get
to the supervisors and the CEOs of these companies who make an affirmative -- you know, say
listen, we need to make our workforce a lot more inclusive. So I agree with you.
And we were sitting here in the audience with a good friend of mine, Joyce Bender, who is
probably one of the leaders in expanding job opportunities in the United States of America. She
was the former head of the Epilepsy Foundation. She now serves with me as the Board Chair of the
American Association of People with Disabilities. And there is no one who knows how to expand
job opportunities better than Joyce Bender. She is sitting right over there.
(applause)
But I agree with you, Frank, that together, working with corporation -- and I've learned from Joyce
that there are businesses out there –
29
>> [Sesno] We talked a moment ago and mentioned the tax credits that could be offered to
businesses and other things. Are there things, proactive steps that a reelected Barack Obama
could/would take that would provide some propulsion fuel under this effort? As you say, in the
years after the Americans with Disabilities Act was passed, with economic ups and downs, we
haven't moved very much.
>> [Kennedy] Well, our economy hasn't.
>> [Sesno] Last 10 years has been brutal
>> [Kennedy] Yes. And unfortunately, a lot of people with disabilities are the last to be hired.
And we know we've -- all you have to do is see the statistics of people of color, women, other types
of groups that have kind of traveled this road kind of before us. And we know that the economy -it's been tough out there.
>> [Sesno] What –
>> [Kennedy] People with disabilities, they do not want a job. They want -- every single person
with a disability that I know wants to go to work every single morning and wants to have a
paycheck, and wants to be a contributing member of society. You know what? There are people
around this country who have done a great job in the corporate community and have been
recognized for that. We need more people like that.
>> [Sesno] I want to ask you now about priorities. Whoever the next President is, when they're
sworn in, they will face a profound set of challenges. Many of them driven by the budget situation
and intense pressures to cut additional spending.
We know how much discretionary spending affects communities at need, a great deal of it. We
know that more than half the budget is not even something there is any discretion over. It is
locked into entitlement programs and things such as that. Knowing what you know about the
disability community, knowing what you know about Barack Obama's position, what would his
priorities be with respect to the disability community in a second term, given those pressures?
>> [Kennedy] Well, I think we've had the chance to talk about –
>> [Sesno] But you've got all of them out there. If you had to take the top two or three, people in
this room, watching the conversation, would say –
>> [Kennedy] I think immediately following the election, I think it would be expanding
international disability rights by making sure that the Convention on the Rights of People with
Disabilities is finally ratified by the United States Senate. I think that would be the most immediate
thing, because what people in this room realize is that we're part of a worldwide struggle. We're
part of a worldwide movement. We feel a connection with our disabled brothers and sisters
around the world.
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And we have a situation now where we have a law that's pending, it's passed out of the Foreign
Relations Committee, 13 to 5. It is bipartisan. And we have people, Senators like John McCain who
have come out for it, but guess what?
The Republican Party platform, on Page 45, asks that its members do not support CRPD. Do not
support expansion of civil rights for people with disabilities around the world. Despite the fact
that we have 20 national veterans organizations, including the American Legion, Veterans of
Foreign Wars, Wounded Warrior Project, have all endorsed this bill. It's a shame.
A vote from Mitt Romney is a vote against international disability rights and against the creation of
a more accessible and nondiscriminatory plan. That is right in the lame duck. We have the
opportunity to do that. Okay?
After that, what are we going to do? I think we've just talked about some of these other initiatives,
Section 503. Expanding these opportunities for people. I think you're right, we have a 2000 page
health care bill, which you yourself have -- it's what we call enabling legislation, meaning that it's
the raw skeleton. There is -- there are so many -- the secretary shall find the pathway for generic
biologics, the secretary shall do this, shall do that. And we know that's where the rubber meets the
road. And part of the way President Obama makes sure that people with our views are
represented is by appointing smart people with disabilities in his administration.
And this President has an outstanding track record of attracting and promoting people with
disabilities for senior positions in his administration.
(applause)
>> [Sesno] Before I ask you the, “if you were the debate moderator” question, which is -- which
will give you a chance to provide both your imagination and your wit to your response, you've
talked a lot, and I think this is something that all candidates would sign on to, but I'd be very
interested, and I think this audience would be very interested in your response to this. You've
talked a lot about the need to change attitudes. You have been working at this all your life. What
works? What should we be doing? What should all of us be doing? What should the candidates all
pledge to do better or differently?
>> [Kennedy] Well, I think something every single person can do is not ignore somebody with a
disability. When you meet somebody with a disability, it sounds very simple –
>> [Sesno] You think that happens?
>> [Kennedy] I think that happens every day.
I think that people will cross the street before they fear about having to encounter or have a
conversation with somebody with a disability.
Listen, all of us have prejudices. And I have prejudices, too. All of us do. Okay? And I think a lot of
what we're talking about here is the fear and misunderstanding. Because once companies hire
31
somebody with a disability, you know what? They hire another person with a disability. Because a
lot of their fears are allayed. Once people come in contact, we have had an educational system, for
example, where people, it's possible to go through your entire educational system and never have
contact with somebody with a disability.
Now, we know what happens when people are educated and never having met a person of color
before. What happens? Do you think those people are more prejudice or less prejudice? You know
the answer.
The same is true, because we have been isolated from our peers in the educational system, we
have separate buses that transport us around the cities frequently -- not every where, thankfully,
but many places around the country -- and so I think it is that it is going to take a long time to
change attitudes. But we're getting there, Frank. We’re getting there.
And the more -- the thing about the Americans with Disabilities Act is when it removed a lot of
architectural barriers, ones you've seen removed at hotels like this, okay, enable people with
disabilities to use the bathroom, we would to fight 25 years to use the bathroom.
Okay? Just keep that in mind.
But people are becoming more vibrant in their community. And because of the Air Carrier Access
Act, people can travel on airplanes more easily. That begins to reduce a lot of the fear and
stereotypes, in my opinion.
So we've got a long way to go, Frank, but I think we're well on our way. Largely because of the
work of the people and the organizations that are in this room today. This is the leadership of the
disability community in the United States of America.
(applause)
>> [Sesno] Let me say as I move on to my last question that the premise of it, there is absolutely no
way this would happen. There is no way you would be the moderator of the Presidential Debate.
You might participate in the Presidential Debate, but there is no way you would be the moderator.
Do not take that as an endorsement. That's merely an observation.
But if you were the moderator of this very important debate, there are many people who say that
given the closeness of the race, despite some of the movement that's taking place out there, it may
well be decided and certainly heavily influenced by these Presidential Debates. But if you were the
moderator, and if you were to ask a question of these candidates about or on behalf of the
disabilities community, what would it be? What would you most want to see these two candidates
engage in?
>> [Kennedy] Well, I would like to see not just in the Presidential Debates, but I would like to see
candidates for public office at all levels of the government be asked, what are you going to do to
expand jobs and other independent living and other opportunities for people with disabilities? I
don't think, Frank –
32
>> [Sesno] So jobs?
>> [Kennedy] Jobs -- I would like to know -- because I would like to know what both of these
candidates -- have them put on their disability hat. Have them really try to -- it would be very
revealing, Frank, to have an open-ended question about disability. Because it would tell us what is
their -- do they have a civil rights orientation? Do they have an orientation that's based on pity and
fear? Do they have an orientation like we've got to take care of “those people?” Do we have -- I
mean, what is their orientation? Would I think -- I would ask -- I could sit here and rattle off 10
questions and try to be -- you know, make myself sound intelligent and all that. But all that. But the
point is, I think at all levels of government, Frank, we -- and also, we need more people with
disabilities running for office ourselves. I think –
(applause)
and I think that at all levels of government, state government and federal government, people
need to know, just like they have to answer questions regarding the environment and housing and
education. People should have to respond to questions like this. And I hope one of the moderators
does ask some questions about disability law and policy.
But before I leave the stage, Frank, I just want to say thank you to you for helping make this forum
so important and so revealing.
(applause)
Unless you have some more questions –
>> [Sesno] More last questions? No, there is only one last question.
>> [Kennedy] In all seriousness, if I could just say one last thing, I think that we're -- we are here
because for years and years, people with disabilities, we talked a lot, but we didn't go out and
register to vote. Okay? Voting is the political currency. We don't have a lot of money in the
disability community. What we have is our voice and our vote. So I encourage everybody in this
room, study the issues. Obviously I would like to ask you to vote for President Barack Obama for
president.
But you become the judge, and you become informed about the issues, and you go and tell your
friends and neighbors that these issues are important to me. And that is the message that Barack
Obama would say, we're all in this together.
(applause)
>> [Sesno] Ted Kennedy Jr., thank you very much for being here, for traveling to Ohio.
>> [Kennedy] Thank you all.
33
>> [Sesno] For traveling to Ohio, and for representing President Obama as his surrogate here. I
really hope that next time, we can have Barack Obama -- he wouldn't be running for re-election
unless they change the constitution -- but the presidential candidates themselves.
Mr. Kennedy, thanks again for coming to Ohio for this conversation. The -- what's important about
this conversation, and we'll have an opportunity to hear from Mitt Romney's surrogate in a few
minutes, is that the impact of these policies that we're discussing will be felt for years to come,
across generations, and certainly with the passage of time, I think everybody hopes will contribute
to the changing of attitudes and the improvement of prospects in employment and housing and
health care and in opportunity.
I would like to invite to the stage now, and we've got some time here to have Mark Perrillo join us.
He is the President and CEO of Persons with Disabilities. Mark?
(applause)
Thank you very much, Mark. Welcome.
34
>> [Perriello] Thank you. Hello, everyone.
So I am very, very proud to be here today with all of you. It is so great to look out across this room
and see so many people from here in Ohio and from across the United States who are interested
and engaged in making sure that the disability community's voice is heard in this election.
Now, AAPD is a nonpartisan organization. So we work every day with both Republicans and
Democrats, and folks from other parties, as well, to advance the issues that are important to our
community. And that bipartisan tradition is so important to our success. It has been one of the
keys to our success as a people.
When you look at the going back to the Americans with Disabilities Act, it was George Bush Sr.
who made that law, right? When you look at the A.D.A. Amendments Act, it was George W. Bush.
and so all of the work that we do every day needs to be bipartisan. That's what history tells us. It is
what the future holds. It is what we do every day at AAPD.
So I am very proud to be here with Ted Kennedy Jr., who is on AAPD's board, with my board chair,
Joyce Bender, with Tony Coelho who is on AAPD's board. Give them a round of applause for their
leadership.
(applause)
I have taken over the helm of AAPD about a year and four months ago. And it is such a humbling
and honorable thing that I get to do every day to help fight for the rights of people with disabilities.
And I have an amazing team that are working tirelessly on behalf of all Americans with disabilities
and our supporters to really move the ball forward on so many things, from housing, to
transportation, to health care, to education. And I know that every day, the team at AAPD is
making a difference.
It only is happening because of the hard work of so many people that have come before me that
have come before my team members at AAPD in Washington, D.C., and because of the tireless
work of folks like Tony and Joyce and Ted, and my entire board. One of the things that folks may
not know I, before coming to AAPD, I worked for President Obama. And one of the things that I
have been very, very fortunate to have happen, and to do, is to really work in a bipartisan manner.
I'm saying that word a lot, and I think it's important, but one of the first conversations I had as a
new president of AAPD was with Congresswoman Cathy McMorris-Rodgers, who is here today. Let
me tell you, she is such an outstanding champion for our community that I am also proud of the
partnership that we have, the growing work that we are doing together, and I am looking forward
to so much more good, positive outcomes because of our partnership. If folks could give Cathy
McMorris Rodgers a round of applause, as well.
(applause)
I will say to her credit, I think she was very skeptical of the guy who came from the White House
and whether or not he would be bipartisan. And I would have been the same way. But it has been
35
so great to work with her over the last year and a half and with folks on her team, like Karen
Sumar, who is here today, in order to really make sure that we are making great progress on both
the Democratic side and the Republican side.
But now it is my honor to introduce Josh Mandel, who is the Republican candidate for the United
States Senate here in Ohio. For folks who may not know him, he was first elected in 2006 to the
Ohio state House of Representatives, knocking on 19,000 doors. 19,000. He wore out three pairs of
sneakers in this process. And when he decided in 2010 that he wanted to run for Treasurer, you
know what he did? He traveled over 110,000 miles in Ohio. I don't know if you know this, but the
span of the globe, the circumference, is about 24,000 miles, or a little more, so that is saying
something. He went around the globe four times in order to win that office.
His dedication to the people of Ohio, and potentially to the folks of the United States, is second to
none. He served two tours in Iraq. He graduated first in his Marine Corps boot camp, first in the
Marine Intelligence Service, and I am very humbled and honored to introduce him today. Josh
Mandel.
(applause)
36
>> [Mandel] Thank you very much for having me here this afternoon.
As treasurer of the State of Ohio, I have the opportunity to meet so many different people in
elected office. A lot of folks who are city councilmen, state representatives, and other elected
leaders. I find that a variety of these folks have different goals.
Some of them, by the time they're age 40, want to be Congressmen, or by the time they're age 50,
want to be Governor. By the time they're age 60, want to be United States Senator. I try to keep my
goals relatively simple. By the time I'm 36, I just hope to be shaving.
I heard people whispering, like how old is this guy? I'm 35 years old, born and raised here in the
state of Ohio. My wife and I live a couple minutes from where we grew up. We're not going
anywhere. We're going to spend the rest of our life here in the state of Ohio. We have a vested
interest in turn our community and our state in a better direction. I wanted to tell you my personal
family story and how I've been personally touched by folks with disabilities, and wanted to thank
you, also, for what you do every day as advocates.
My cousin, Allison, has a mental disability, and growing up with Allison, I, in my life, probably have
never met anyone who has inspired me more or who has more toughness or heart at the same
time. My cousin's parents brought her up in a loving, caring home. And now she lives on her own
with one other lady with a disability, and they have two folks who live there with them for
assistance. I've seen her progression from our being kids together, growing up, to now, she's a
little older than I am, and I've seen her take responsibility for her life, and I've seen her in a work
setting. She's really inspired me. When I think of who is an inspiration in my life, I oftentimes think
of my cousin, Allison.
When I was in the Legislature for four years, making decisions based on -- making decisions that
would impact folks with disabilities, I oftentimes thought of Allison and made decisions with her
in mind. I also think of disabled veterans. There are so many disabled veterans of many different
generations, but for me, it is a little personal.
As mentioned, I spent time in the Marine Corps and did a couple tours in Iraq. While I was very
fortunate and grateful to come back with two legs and two arms and all my faculties about me,
unfortunately, that wasn't the case with everyone. And I know the gathering today is, in part,
sponsored by Disabled Veterans for America. And I appreciate everything the organization does.
Listen, there is a problem in Columbus, and there is a problem in Washington with hyperpartisanship and partisan bickering. I think one of the main problems we have both in this town
and in Washington is unfortunately, too many people have come to care more about the D or the R
next to their name than they do about doing the right thing. You talk about the issue, you see
partisanship, whether it's energy, or education, or health care, foreign policy, what have you. That
being said, there are some issues that Senator Brown and I can agree on.
I think one of the main issues that we do is it is very important to do everything we can to ensure
men and women with disabilities, both mental and physical disabilities, are taken care of. And
37
while he and I are having a pretty passionate debate about a variety of issues, I think this is an
area that can really bring us together and that can bring together Democrats, Republicans, and
Independents to take care of folks with disabilities.
At the same time, I think it's important that we do everything we can to make other elected
leaders accessible. One of the problems I've identified when I was in the legislature, and I've seen
just in other parts of our government, is that unfortunately, sometimes when people get elected,
they forget who put them there. They aren't always as accessible as when they were asking for
their vote.
One commitment that I wanted to make to you today is as we move forward are, you should feel
free to call me any time. You should feel free to e-mail me any time. My cell phone is pretty
accessible. There's folks who put this together that do have my cell phone number. You can call me
at home. You can call me on weekdays, weeknights, weekends, what have you.
For me, advocating for men and women with disabilities is personal. Because of my cousin Allison
and because of some of the guys that I know who served in Iraq and who came back a little
differently than the way they flew over there.
I'd be remiss, also, if I didn't mention my sister and my mother. My mother worked in the public
schools for over 20 years, but something she did for a long time within her work in public
education was to work with a child with autism. I got to know Michael very well in the time that
mom was working with Michael. And then my sister for a long time worked at Bellefair, at the
Monarch School there, which is one of the leader schools for autistic education, not in the state of
Ohio, but in the country. And through my sister working there and my mom working with autistic
kids in the public schools, and the combination of that and my cousin Allison, and my working
with veterans and knowing a lot of veterans who unfortunately came back disabled, this is
personal for me.
I want all of you to know, this isn't political. It's personal.
So anything I can do to work with you moving forward, please feel free to call me or e-mail me any
time. Listen, I hope when you cast your ballot, you vote for me, but I'm sure there's going to be
some folks in this room that vote for me and others who vote for Senator Brown. At the end of the
day, regardless of who you support or who you vote for, whose sign you have in your yard, it's not
really important.
What's important is come January, I look forward to working with all of you and opening my office
to all of you so hopefully we can work together to change policy for the better for men and women
throughout our country, children and adults with disabilities.
Thank you very much for what you do on a day-to-day basis. And thank you so much for making
time for me today. Thank you.
(applause)
38
>> [Sesno] Mr. Mandel, thank you very much. We're sorry you have to make such a brief visit, but
we appreciate your willingness to interrupt your schedule to come here. It is now a pleasure to
introduce the other Senate candidate, the incumbent you heard earlier from his surrogate, but
Senator Sherrod Brown is here. Let me invite him up.
(applause)
Senator Brown.
39
>> [Brown] Thank you. And thank you all for being here. Those from Ohio, welcome to the Capitol
city. Those from Columbus, about to see many of you. And from around the country, we're
honored you would choose Columbus and be here in our great state.
First of all, thank you for your activism, the fact that we have moved forward in this country, not
the pace that many of us would like, but that we've moved forward on everything from IDEA to so
many other disability issues is to your credit. I single out, always at a risk, I single out Mary Butler,
who is here somewhere, and she is -- of course she's here and she will make her presence known.
Mary -- I've known her about 20 years. She is like so many advocates, she just doesn't take no for
an answer. She doesn't let you weasel on issue. That's how things happen in this country. So I
multiply Mary times X number of people, and that's the activism that makes the world go around
many ways.
I wear on my lapel a pin, a depiction of a canary in a bird cage. You know the mine workers who
took the canary down in the mines. If it died from lack of oxygen or toxic gas, the mine worker got
out of the mine. He had no government or union that cared enough or strong enough to help him.
Since then, you think of what we've done. A hundred years ago, the average child born in it
country lived to be 45. If you were born disabled, your life expectancy was so much shorter. But
because of activists, in their union halls, as disability advocates, as civil rights advocates, of people
of faith in their church basements, ethnic organizations, advocates for children and education, we
did all kinds of things in this country. And that meant everything from Social Security, to Medicare,
it meant minimum wage and worker's compensation, the A.D.A., IDEA, the Rehab Act, it meant all
of these things, safe drinking water, clean air, civil rights, children's rights, because act visits like
activists and advocates for the disabled, pushed their government to do that. Nobody perhaps in
the Senate has done that better than my mentor, Tom Harkin.
I came to the Senate, I was on the Agriculture Committee when I was Chairman. He is now
Chairman of the Health Education Labor Pension Committee. I was on that committee with him as
he worked on the Affordable Care Act over the -- it's been 2009 and 2010. Since then, I was
appointed the first Ohio Democrat on the Appropriations Committee in 105 years. And his -- I
chose my first choice was his subcommittee, so-called Labor H Subcommittee, H standing for
Health, and have worked and continued to work on these issues. I mention Senator Harkin for it
one primary reason. As you know, four years ago, Senator McCain was running for President.
Senator McCain was one of the two congressional appointees, Senator and House member, to the
Gallaudet Board of Directors, I guess it is called. And Senator McCain thought he should get off
because of his time constraints, running for President. Senator Harkin said, would you like to be
on that board? I said, I would consider it an honor.
Gallaudet, as you know, was founded in -- signed into law by Abraham Lincoln, the only University
of its kind, really in the world. Here's the story I want to tell you. It happened in Columbus.
A young man who graduated from Gallaudet had gone through the Columbus Public Schools. He
was deaf, obviously. I guess not obviously, but he was deaf. He spoke to our group through an
40
interpreter, and a group of people at a reception in Columbus that some local people held because
one of their own, an Ohioan, was on the Gallaudet board. What he said, he talked about his time in
-- growing up in a family that was very good to him in a community that was good to him, but he
always was isolated because he was often the only deaf kid in the group, in the class, in the -- his -among his play mates, in his church.
He said when he went to Gallaudet, this was in his speech, three or four years ago. He said, when I
went to Gallaudet and I saw other people, he said, it was an oasis for me. He said it was the first
time in my life when people really understood me and what I did and what was happening in my
world. And –
(applause)
Thank you. Well done. I still need to work on sign language, because I don't know that well
enough.
But I think that -- but what this experience in Gallaudet has taught me is it's only strengthened my
belief in the way my father and father raised me, every individual absolutely has the full right to be
a member of our society and absolutely has the right to recognize his or her full potential. But is
they really can't do that if a society doesn't do what the society's responsibility is, and that is living
up to the promise of A.D.A., living up to the promise of the Rehab Act, living up to the promise of
IDEA. So far, we've fallen short as a society. We've made progress, to be sure. Those of you that are
activists for 20, 30 years know that. But you're also impatient, as you should be. And activists are,
by definition, are impatient. And activists always need to push us. That's the beauty of what you
do.
My colleagues on the other side of the aisle, and many of them -- and, you know, many of them say
47 percent of the population is not so much on board in moving our country forward. And I was
disturbed by that. I think it betraying an incredible ignorance of what people in Ohio and the rest
of the country go through on a daily basis. Those 47 percent are veterans, seniors, people living on
disability, people working hard and not paying federal income tax because they're only making
thirty or forty thousand a year, like so many of the people you represent and so many of you
fighting for disabled and fighting for people every day of your life. How many families are
struggling to get by on one salary because a caregiver must stay home? We know that happens in
so many cases.
These people aren't slackers, they're saints in many ways. I would close with this story about my
mom, because in many ways, I would put her in that category.
My mom was dying in late 2008. She had -- in the fall of 2008, as an 88-year-old woman, she sat up
a card table and went to grocery stores because she wanted to help elect the first -- she wanted to
get people registered to vote and wanted to help elect the first African-American president in the
history of our country. She got sick soon after the '08 election. We had her in hospice the last six
weeks of her life. One day, she was -- her death wasn't as painful as many, but my – my brothers
and I were her caretakers, with hospice. And we were there pretty much every day, and our wives.
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But hospice, which is one of the most incredible organizations ever, a bunch of mostly middle aged
women who are nurses, giving the kind of care to these patients, whom they don't even know
before, in a bunch of under paid home care workers, that are showing love for human being that
they didn't know before, I mean, really an incredible thing.
But my mom, about a week before she died, she said to me -- she was a southerner, grew up in a
little town in Georgia. She said, Sherrod, sing a song to me, if you would, from when you were a
kid, when you were a child. She didn't say kid, she said when you were a little boy. I went in the
other room, got our hymnal out. I sang three verses of Beautiful Savior, only because she can't sign
it. I sang Beautiful Savior. She said, very nice, Sherrod, I like that. She hesitated. She said, you really
do sound better in a group. And it's a mother's never giving up on teaching us.
But in so many ways, this country, in so many ways, the way we look at a government is
determined by that. Are we in this together? Do we look at government as a group? Is it e pluribus
unum, from one come all, is that it? I don’t know Latin. I’m sorry, I should know that.
Are we really going to look at the world that way, are we going to look at the world, I got mine,
you're on your own. In many ways, that's what this election is about this year. Are we going to cut
Medicaid and Medicare, say sorry, you're on your own? Are we going to cut Head Start and Pell
grants and say go borrow money from your parents and start a business when you’re done with
college? Are we going to work together and make sure Medicare, Medicaid, and social security, Pell
grants and all are really there for everyone. That in so many ways is the difference in this election,
whether it's my race, presidential race, or any of these races up or down the ballot.
I'll close with this. And this is a group that doesn't need to even hear this quote, but a Mississippi
civil rights leader once said, “Don't tell me what you believe. Show me what you do and I'll tell you
what you believe.” And it's pretty clear that the Mary Butlers of the world, and so many of you,
what you believe, what you care about, what you fight for. I am grateful to you for all of that.
Thank you. (applause)
>> [Sesno] Thank you very much, Senator.
One note, and one short correction when Mark was up here a moment ago, he asked me to do
something he should have done. I am always happy to help somebody do something they didn't
do.
That was to help acknowledge a board member, Merrill Freedman who is here from the National
Persons with Disabilities. So, Merrill, welcome.
It is now my pleasure to bring to the stage a former Assistant Secretary at Office on Disability
Employmnt Policy at the U.S. Department of Labor. Neil Romano is here and will make a few
comments and the next introduction. Neil?
(applause)
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>> [Romano] Thank you very much.
Let me start off by, I have prepared remarks, of course, but I just wanted to say, I'm looking out at
this audience, and I've worked with so many of y'all. It is so good to be with you. I am so proud
that we have this kind of forum here, and that we need to make as a commitment to each other,
and I'm going to call on all of my friends over there, that four years from now, we'll have
Presidents or Presidential candidates here. We have to have them here. It's that important.
(applause)
I think a lot of you out there know me as a world-class dyslexic. Reading for me is very difficult.
Especially reading out loud. But the person I'm introducing today, I wanted to be so precise with
what I had to say that I decided to put words down on paper. And even my wife was frightened by
that since I can't even read a grocery list.
But I would like to just say, as a person who has struggled with a learning disability my entire life,
whose brother is a Vietnam veteran with a severe disability, and has had the honor to serve my
country as Assistant Secretary of Labor for the Office of Disability Employment Policy, I have lived
with and dealt with disabilities from virtually every perspective.
That's why when I meet someone who genuinely cares about people with disabilities and the
struggles they face, I'm honored to be associated with them. Congresswoman Cathy McMorris
Rodgers is such a person.
Someone who has been personally touched by disability, but even more importantly, brings to the
issue a genuine belief in the inherent value of every single human being. Because of that belief,
Cathy knows that for far too long, people with disabilities have not received full access to all the
social, economic, and educational opportunities they deserve as Americans and as human beings.
And she knows that's wrong. That's wrong for people with disabilities. And that's wrong for our
country.
A country that can no longer afford to squander the talents and abilities of this valuable group of
people. We just can't do it, America. We need you. We need each and every person in this room.
As a member of leadership, Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers has acted upon those beliefs
and earned bipartisan respect, which you heard today from some of the other speakers, and I
thank you for that, nationwide for unwavering support of people with disabilities.
Congresswoman Rodgers, along with Representative Patrick Kennedy, founded the Congressional
Down Syndrome Caucus. She also chairs the bipartisan Disability Caucus, Congressional
Neurosciences caucus, and the Congressional Military Family caucus. All dedicated to helping
people with disabilities realize the promise of a better tomorrow. And all because she believes in
the inherent value of every single person. And believes that at her very core, it is absolutely
unacceptable for people with disabilities to be left behind any longer. A belief she shares with
Governor Romney, and the reason she's here today. Ladies and gentlemen, it's my pleasure to
introduce the Congresswoman from the State of Washington, Cathy McMorris Rodgers. (applause)
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>> [McMorris-Rodgers] Good afternoon, everyone. It is sincerely great to be here. I want to thank
the organizers of this event for hosting and organizing such an important national dialogue on
issues important to people with disabilities and the entire disability community, including me. I
want to thank you Frank Sesno for agreeing to moderate. I think he's doing a great job.
(applause)
I want to thank Governor Romney for the opportunity to represent you during this discussion. I
also want to thank Ted Kennedy Jr. for being here, for participating, and most of all, I want to
thank his family for all that they have done. I'm personally grateful. And I know we all appreciate
the leadership of the Kennedy family through the years.
(applause)
Ted Kennedy Jr.'s aunt, Eunice Kennedy Shriver, founded Special Olympics. She went on to receive
the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Ronald Reagan. Ted's father, the late Senator
Ted Kennedy, was widely respected for his years of legislative work.
And finally, I want to thank you, the audience. Everyone that's here in Columbus, as well as others
that are joining us across the nation, for taking your time on this important issue. Some of you in
the audience know me, but others do not. And I'd just like to start by telling you a little bit about
myself.
On April 29th, 2007, my life was changed forever. It was the day that our son, Cole, was born.
Today, like any 5-year-old, his heart is full of love. He's active. He recently started kindergarten. He
loves learning. And that day in April was the greatest day of my life. One of the greatest days of my
life. I also -- anyway... It was certainly one that I had dreamed of for a long time. It was also the day
that we found out that our son was born with Down syndrome.
It wasn't easy news to hear. It's not what we had hoped. It's not what we had expected. It certainly
wasn't what we had dreamed. The doctors sat Brian and me down and told us that Cole's life
would be filled with doctors visits, medical checkups, endless challenges.
Just like that, our lives changed forever. In the best way imaginable.
Cole has made me a better person. Cole has made me a better legislator. He's taught me to
celebrate the abilities of every individual instead of focusing on disabilities. He's taught me to put
people above politics, no matter the issue. I've been warmly welcomed into the disability
community, and I'm grateful for that. An ever-growing family, eager to open the doors of
opportunities for those with be special needs.
In fact, it was just days after Cole was born that Eunice Kennedy Shriver called and said, Cathy, we
need to sit is down and talk about all these issues. Let's get a cup of coffee.
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The lessons that I have learned from Cole and others are why I do co-chair the Congressional
Down Syndrome Caucus, Disability Caucus, the Neurosciences Caucus. They are the reason I have
interns and fellows with disabilities working in my office. I am proud of the great strides our
country has made for those with disabilities.
Through strong bipartisan leadership and hard work, we have a good story to tell that is centered
on disability policy and legislation. Milestone achievements include the Americans with
Disabilities Act, the A.D.A., the Individuals with Disability Education Act, IDEA, both signed into
law by President George Herbert Walker Bush. IDEA promises every child a free and appropriate
education, regardless of their ability. A.D.A. literally opened doors.
And these acts promise opportunity and a brighter future for all. However, many in the disability
community have not realized the full promise intended by these laws. For example, both the child - both the parent of a child with a newly diagnosed autism, and the returning soldier who has lost
a limb in honorable service, are confronted with life-altering situations. While dealing with the
diagnosis and all of those implications, the family with a child with autism is thrown into the
muddy waters of early intervention, special education, Medicaid, and told to swim. The wounded
soldier returns, not to the opportunities he expected, but to the grim reality of high unemployment
and uncoordinated resources. the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that 67 percent of
working age people with disabilities are unemployed. At the same time, 80 percent of them would
like to work. We've been experiencing high record unemployment in recent years, but it's been far
worse for those with disabilities. A million people with disabilities have lost their jobs in recent
years. We can and we must do better.
To do that, we must first honestly examine the problem. It's not a lack of desire by America to help
those with disabilities. Or the failure of these important programs, like A.D.A. and IDEA. Instead, it
is a program with implementation. Rather than a clear focused path for opportunities, we're
presented with a bewildering array of agencies and programs that often work at cross-purposes.
The implementation of A.D.A. and IDEA has occurred across the antiquated systems of Social
Security, Medicaid, VOC rehab and others. These programs were designed long before the
concepts of A.D.A. and IDEA. It's like trying to go to the moon in a Model T.
We need an improved engine to fulfill the promise of A.D.A. and IDEA. We need to the start looking
at disability in a whole new way. The historic view of disability is that of dependence. This wellmeant attitude of dependency results in paternalistic programs dictating care. It focuses on loss
rather than investment, on can't rather than can. Disabled Americans with 57 million of us, looking
to participate in the American dream.
This is not a single homogenous group. Disability includes the baby born with Down syndrome,
the child diagnosed with autism, the returning war veteran with paralysis or traumatic brain
injury, and the millions of baby boomers, of which half will develop a disability. In reality, we must
remember that most of us have some kind of a disability, whether it's eyeglasses or a wheelchair.
One of the biggest problems that we keep trying to draw an arbitrary line that separates us into
two groups, one that can care for themselves and one that needs to be taken and cared for. There
45
is no distinct line in the real world. To change outcomes, the next administration must
fundamentally change the way it looks at disability. We need to see people with disabilities as an
untapped pool of talent from which we can all benefit. This attitude is in sharp contrast to the idea
that these people that just need to be taken care of.
Once we understand that key principle, we will further understand that we must move beyond
simple curb cuts and wheelchair ramps to an investment in individuals with disabilities. Our
system also needs the flexibility to meet the needs of the individual.
This is often difficult to do through a command and control approach from Washington D.C. It just
makes sense that a family in Walla Walla Washington is going to make better decisions than
someone in Washington D.C. So how do we get from where we are to where we need to be?
The next step should be taken by whoever wins this election, and it should be in a commitment to
continued reforms and improvement in education, and employment.
We need better plans for transition to independence. There are programs that are showing
promise in this area, and we need to study them and incorporate them into policy. One example is
Project Search, which started right here in Ohio at Cincinnati's Children's Hospital. Ann Romney
recently visited the program and was very impressed. To address the persistent problem of
disability employment barriers need to be identified and removed. Policy makers can learn about
disability employment reform from studying the success stories that we find in states and private
enterprise.
For example, Walgreens has learned that people with disabilities are valuable employees. They
have a disability employment inclusion policy and they've created a whole new business plan
using universal design that has allowed them to put that policy into action. Walgreens has a
distribution center in Windsor, Connecticut, where half of the employees have a disability. And the
company reports that this distribution center has the best productivity and fewest accidents of
any of their distribution centers. And now they're expanding that commitment beyond
distribution centers to front-line employees. Rather than fearing disabilities, Walgreens is
embracing ability.
(applause)
Another company, Walmart, understands that people with disabilities are consumers. Some
Walmart stores are now being built with special sections that include items that are on the musthave, the milk, bread, prescription drugs, and these special centers are built near the front of the
store so that someone with disabilities doesn't have to navigate the entire store.
Now, to Walmart's surprise, these must have sections have become hugely popular by some that
they weren't traditionally targeting, the mom with two small kids in tow, the 60-year-old with
arthritis who is beginning to experience the trouble of getting around. This is an example of a winwin. In addition to those efforts in business, some states have made policy changes that help those
with disabilities.
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Here in Ohio, as well as Wisconsin, in my home state of Washington, there is Employment First
initiatives. These policies require that employment be the first consideration in service planning
for working age adults with disabilities. When I look at Cole, I wonder, what is he going to do when
he grows up? I wonder, what will he study? Who will he become?
Having a job is such an important part of who we are. A job is so much more than a paycheck.
Think about it. When you meet a person for the first time, there are two questions that you ask.
What is your name, and then what do you do.
We must keep the promise of A.D.A. and IDEA alive. What is needed is leadership to build upon
them. I endorse Governor Romney for President, and I'm serving as his liaison in the House of
Representatives. I know him, and I also know that he lives these values. He cares deeply about
people. Mitt Romney also has the business acumen to turn around the economy and get people to
work. I know that Ann Romney will be a great first lady, as someone with multiple sclerosis, Ann
has firsthand experience with a disability. And she will be a champion for the disability community
within the Romney White House.
I also know Paul Ryan. I worked with him in Congress. He's another person who cares about
people. Paul is very courageous. While many in Washington D.C. will privately talk about how the
16 trillion dollar debt is the greatest threat to our survival, the greatest threat to our national
security, the greatest threat to our national dream, Paul is having an honest, open discussion about
how to make programs sustainable for many generations to come. But no matter what happens in
November, the bipartisan work and the leadership on both sides of the aisle for the disability
community must continue.
(applause)
When the next jobs plan is released, it must include people with disabilities.
(applause)
Thank you for having me here today.
(applause)
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>> [Sesno] Congresswoman, thank you very much. Your comments are a great point of departure
for a conversation, which we will have now.
I would start, though, by thanking you for your comments about your son, and wish you great
adventure ahead. You will have it.
>> [McMorris-Rodgers] We've just begun.
>> [Sesno] You've just begun. I want to start with something that has been mentioned here a great
deal today, which you did not mention, and I'll give you an opportunity to talk about that, the
ticket that you endorse and on behalf of which you speak here has supported the idea of reforming
Medicaid by turning it into block grants to the states.
>> [McMorris-Rodgers] Yes.
>> [Sesno] This is something that has caused great angst the within the disability communities, a
great deal of criticism from others who have preceded you on this platform. Would you address
that, please, in particular, with respect to the principle concerns that block granting this to the
state locks it in against inflation and population growth, locks it in as something that can be
applied across the country unevenly, lock in, potentially, a place states can go to cut costs down
the line at the expense of the disability community.
>> [McMorris-Rodgers] Right, right.
Well, I recognize -- Governor Romney recognizes that Medicaid is an important program. It is a
very important program. It is a program that costs us a lot, but it is a program that does a lot.
For the disability community, it is a very important program. As we move forward, we need to
make sure -- and I am committed. I'm one that is committed to making sure that the protections -important protections for those are with disabilities is maintained. Now, when I talk to governors,
including the Governor from the state of Washington, she's been -- there's some realities that
we're facing. The Medicaid program is currently funded 50 percent by the federal government, 50
percent by the states on average. And both at the state level and the federal level, Republicans,
Democrats alike are being forced to make some very difficult decisions.
As we move forward, I think it's as we think about Medicaid, it is very important that we maintain
the protections for those with disabilities. As we are expanding Medicaid and expanding who is
going to qualify for Medicaid, I think within the disability community, we need to be especially
focusing on those with disabilities. And I mention what happened in Washington state as an
example. Where Governor Christine Gregoire has been forced to make some really tough decision,
things she never thought she would be doing. In order to balance the budget, ended up making
some very difficult cuts to Medicaid and to the disability programs within Medicaid that she has
long supported.
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Many of you are probably aware there's even a lawsuit that has ensued after that. But this only
followed after Governor Gregoire and the Republicans and the Democrats in the legislature had
asked for a waiver from the federal government to have more flexibility. And the administration,
Health and Human services, said no, we're not going to give you that flexibility. And they had
asked for that flexibility so they would be able to avoid some of the cuts that they had to move
forward.
They thought there was a better way that they could have prioritized funding for those with
disabilities, and yet they felt like they were given no other option.
So what I see in Medicaid moving forward, and the proposal that has been on the table in the
House, is one that will provide the flexibility to the states so that they can make the smarter
decisions, so it's not just these across the board cuts, burr I also see where it is very important as
we're moving or modernizing Medicaid, we shouldn't be afraid about bringing a program into the
21st century and what it is going to look like.
My last point would be related to the institutional. We need to change that bias and focus Medicaid
on home and community programs. Washington state is Number 2 as far as the commitment to
home and community programs. All of this, I believe, can be accomplished if we're not afraid to at
least look at Medicaid in ways that we can improve it.
>> [Sesno] The concern, as I hear it and has been represented here, is that certainly flexibility is
one side of the equation. But the vulnerability to budget cuts, to its inability to grow the program
to protect such programs, is home health care and that kind of thing, creates a fundamental
vulnerability in going to block grants. Do you, does Governor Romney agree with that, or do you
find – can you explain some way those things will not be vulnerable if you move to a block grant
system?
>> [McMorris-Rodgers] Well, I certainly recognize the concern. And what I've been exploring, and
this is me personally, is whether or not we can put some protections at the federal level in place,
some safeguards, some must-haves within the program, even as we move more of the decisionmaking and give that flexibility to the states
>> [Sesno] Do you feel the concern in the disability community about block granting Medicaid is
displaced?
>> [McMorris-Rodgers] I -- no. I can see where they -- where the disability community needs to
make sure what they -- what has been accomplished through the years and what is -- the
protections that are in place are, that they continue.
What I think -- you know, Medicaid is being asked to do a lot as we move forward. And one of the
thoughts I want to explore is whether or not we should pull even the disability portion out of
Medicaid and make sure that we have some kind of a program long-term that is clearly protecting
those with disabilities and making sure that a program continues over a longer period of time, and
that those with disabilities and the important funding that is needed to serve those with
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disabilities in the home, in the community, is not taken away in order to meet the needs that are
being added to Medicaid as we move forward.
>> [Sesno] If Governor Romney were here today and were asked about the vulnerability of some
of these programs if Medicaid were to be block granted, what would he say?
>> [McMorris-Rodgers] Well, as his -- you know, in representing Governor Romney here today,
there's a recognition on both sides of the aisle, Republicans and Democrats, that these are
important programs. Medicaid is an important program. And as we move forward, we need to
make sure that we are protecting those that are dependent upon Medicaid and those that have
long got important services through Medicaid.
There's also reality that we're going to add 30 million more people to the Medicaid program, and
the demands that are going to be put on that program are going to be fierce. And that's where I
think the disability community, as we move forward, needs to make sure that we're thinking
through how do we make sure we protect those with disabilities. And I shared -- Washington state,
they didn't want to make the decisions they did, but because they didn't have the flexibility from
the federal government, they were forced to make cuts to important disability programs because
they didn't have the flexibility to do anything different.
>> [Sesno] So is it unfair, perhaps, for Ted Kennedy Jr. and for Barack Obama to -- I'm not trying to
set one side against the other, but clearly lay out what's at stake here -- for them not to say to the
disability community, look, we can't afford all of this? We're going to have to make some tough
decisions.
>> [McMorris-Rodgers] That they said that?
>> [Sesno] No, that they're not saying that.
>> [McMorris-Rodgers] Oh.
>> [Sesno] Is that -- in other words, is what Governor -- Governor Romney, you know, is trying to
lay it out straight, we're going to do this because we're going to -- you know, there may need to be
some things on the table.
>> [McMorris-Rodgers] Well, what I would also add to that conversation is that I believe that some
of this can be accomplished by doing things smarter, and that -- and when I talk about states
having more flexibility, I think it would allow them some -- it would allow them to be a little more
creative in the way that the services are delivered to those in need, and really bringing it back to
the individual and giving the states and the families as much flexibility as they possibly can to
make the decisions that are needed for that individual but not have it dictated so much from
Washington D.C. that you're spending the money on things that you don't really want to, and -- but
you have to because that's what Washington D.C. says.
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>> [Sesno] So the Ryan budget has been widely discussed, and it's unclear exactly what role that
plays in Governor Romney's plan calls for $700 plus billion cuts in the Medicaid program. Is that
part of plan and what impact would that have on the disability community?
>> [McMorris-Rodgers] Well, Governor Romney -- this is -- I know Governor Romney's plan would
increase funding for Medicaid every year, as you look moving forward. And where we really –
>> [Sesno] What about those 700 billion dollar plus cuts?
>> [McMorris-Rodgers] The proposal that was in the house was more focused on the flexibility to
the states. And I've had some good conversations with Governor Gregoire from Washington State,
who is a Democrat, and I've been talking to her about how do we move forward on Medicaid. What
she asks me more than anything is for the flexibility. She says, Cathy, we can do things, we can do
so much more than we currently are able to if we had the flexibility to move some of that money
around. Now, I'm not saying that 700 billion that you brought up is the right number. Is that what
it is? Is that what you said? But I do –
>> [Sesno] It's actually a little over 800.
>> [McMorris-Rodgers] There are ways that we can deliver these services smarter, and we
shouldn't be afraid of having that conversation.
>> [Sesno] Another concern with respect to Governor Romney's agenda within this community is
his comment to repeal Obamacare. Many of the issues that address directly the people with
disabilities in the President's very controversial health care reform law, specifically, pre-existing
conditions, lifetime caps, annual caps, that sort of thing. What would become of those protections
in a repealed-Obamacare Romney administration?
>> [McMorris-Rodgers] Well, many of the list that you just laid out, there's actually bipartisan
support. There's bipartisan support for making sure that those with pre-existing conditions can
access health insurance plans in it America. There -- you know, when you look at both what the
Republicans are putting forward, as well as what the Democrats put forward, there is quite an
emphasis on high-risk pools, expanding the high-risk pool, more investment in the high-risk pools.
These are areas where there is some bipartisan support. Yes, I don't want to -- it's clear that the
Republicans believe that we can do better and that we believe it is best to repeal this bill and start
all over so –
>> [Sesno] So what would you do? So you'd start over again?
>> [McMorris-Rodgers] Right.
>> [Sesno] Explain to people how that would happen, how long it would take. Look how long this
took. I've been in Washington for a long time. Feathers have been flying for years, right?
>> [McMorris-Rodgers] Well, there would be quite a pressure on Congress to take action quickly.
From my perspective, it is very important that health care and health care decisions remain in the
51
hands of individuals and families. That is what concerns me most about the President's healthcare
bill, is that I am concerned about legislation that gives so much power to federal government
agencies to make health care decisions that I want to be making myself.
And I share one example with you, when Cole was first born, my husband is retired from the Navy
so we have access to Tricare. Like any American family, we looked at how much the costs were for
Tricare versus the private health insurance plan that I was currently on, Blue Cross/Blue Shield,
Premera. We made a decision to put Cole on Tricare. You know what? I learned a valuable lesson,
because I couldn't find a physical therapist, an occupational therapist, speech therapist in
Washington D.C. that took Tricare, because Tricare didn't reimburse for the actual cost of
delivering that service. Even though when you read Tricare, it says you have access to that, right?
What I also learned is that Tricare in Washington D.C. reimburses less than Medicaid. You know
Medicaid doesn't reimburse for the actual cost. And what concerns me about whether it's Tricare,
Medicaid, Medicare, and the promise of the President's health care bill, is that the -- we are not -the government is not being honest about the actual cost of delivering what it is promising.
>> [Sesno] If your -- I'm sorry.
>> [McMorris-Rodgers] And trying to find the doctors, trying to find the specialists. You cannot -right now, try to find someone who will take Medicaid, take Tricare. Medicaid ends up in
emergency rooms because you can't find doctors who will take Medicaid. So it is a false promise.
>> [Sesno] What, then, would the Romney plan look like?
>> [McMorris-Rodgers] Boy. Governor Romney has laid out an extensive plan. He has committed
to –
>> [Sesno] I don't mean the whole Romney plan, but I mean specifically protections for those and
coverage for those with disabilities?
Granted, there are lots of nightmares with Medicaid, Tricare, Medicare, and they're all different,
one from the other, different reimbursement levels, different income levels, all of that. There are
also frustrations with private insurance. I think people have had one or two of those moments in
the past. Specifically to the question that is raised by this audience is, what would replace an
admittedly imperfect system in terms of protections for the disabled in their medical treatment
and care?
>> [McMorris-Rodgers] Well, there is a commitment to pre-existing conditions and language that
would ensure that no matter if you have a pre-existing condition, that you would have access to
health insurance plans in this country. We also need to address what is the cost drivers within the
current health care system. I think what you'd see in the proposal is some efforts to look at what's
actually driving the cost of health care. Because despite the fact that it is called the Affordable Care
Act, it really didn't address the cost. We're seeing record skyrocketing health insurance cost even
right now and so we need to address what's driving the cost of health care. We need to bring back
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more choices for individuals and families in the marketplace so they can go out there and access
the plans that they need in order to meet the needs of their families.
And there's a whole set of reforms that would accomplish that.
>> [Sesno] Another important concern revolves around long-term care resources. You have to
exhaust your resources to get into Medicaid, an admittedly limited program. What kind of
supports, improvements in the financing of long-term care services and supports would Mitt
Romney bring?
>> [McMorris-Rodgers] Well, you know, it -- I am encouraged that we're seeing a movement
towards home and community care. And it is estimated that 90 percent of seniors, when asked,
would like -- would prefer to stay in their homes. I think we need to -- we know that
institutionalized care is very expensive, and we need to continue that commitment to providing
the support that a senior would need in their home so they can stay there as long as possible,
whether it's a technology, there's exciting technology available now that would allow seniors to
stay in their home. So that's one area, is to provide the support necessary so that our seniors can
stay in their homes as long as possible so they don't end up if the nursing homes. I think it's a winwin.
I also would like to see -- boy, I just lost my train of thought. For seniors and -- I'm sorry. Longterm care.
>> [Sesno] Long-term care, in home, who pays, how that gets done, is it Medicaid, what happens if
Medicaid is block granted.
>> [McMorris-Rodgers] Okay. I would say -- thank you.
I wanted to -- I think we need to look long-term care insurance is still very expensive. And –
>> [Sesno] Very expensive.
>> [McMorris-Rodgers] And I think for a lot of people, when you look at it, you just kind of think,
this is too much money, I'll take the chance. And I think we need to look at some incentives so that
more people would actually save and buy the long-term care insurance
>> [Sesno] There is a real problem with that, if I may. There’s a real problem. About 50 million
Americans, Medicare covers about 50 million Americans. Just under nine million of them are
people with disabilities. Something like two-thirds of Medicare beneficiaries have income under
$30,000 a year. How are they going to afford long-term care insurance?
>> [McMorris-Rodgers] Well, I'm not saying it's for everyone. What I -- but I do think that there's a
number of people in America that, if they're -- if we put in some incentives so that they would
actually invest in long-term care insurance, that they would go ahead and do that.
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And that's the direction we need to move, rather than it currently being the approach where if
you're smart, you don't pay for that long-term care. You actually give your money, your assets
away, you spend down your assets so you qualify for Medicaid and it is the government paying
those bills rather than you as the individual. And what we see is that long-term care costs are just
skyrocketing. So that's where I would -- I mean, I'm not saying every -- guy earning $30,000,
that's a high order. But their –
>> [Sesno] What steps in for that person? You put the incentives in place. If that person can't
afford it -- everybody gets it, you give your money away so you don't spend your own money, you
let the government pick up the bill. That shouldn't happen. But there are a lot of people, maybe
most people in that position, can't afford that. I think the question that's raised, when the
Governor talks about block granting, when the governor talks about it, when you talk about
getting the government out of this business, is who then does that? Who then provides that back
stop?
>> [McMorris-Rodgers] There is still going to be -- there still needs to be a Medicaid program.
There still needs to be that safety net available, but it should -- rather than people going into their
senior years thinking that's going to be the way they pay for long-term care, I think for many
seniors, if they had an affordable option to actually save and prepare for that through private
health insurance, they would do so.
(Tape change here.)
So I'm not saying no -- we need -- Medicaid is a very important program. What we need to make
sure is that it's available. I recognize low income -- for those it was really intended to be there for,
low income seniors, those with developmental disabilities, there needs to be a Medicaid program.
We need to make sure it is available and we don't put too much on Medicaid so it can't deliver
what it has promised, and more and more people on Medicaid still don't have access, even though
they have the card, try to take it to a provider, you know. Providers are going to say no. That is a
concern I have.
>> [Sesno] So, jobs. You mentioned in an employment bill,
(Tape change complete.)
…a President Romney would have a provision, mention, and some ideas for the disability
community. What would those be? How would he put people to work who have had so much
trouble getting work and have been hit so hard over these last years in this recession?
>> [McMorris-Rodgers] Well, it is -- it goes back to what was said earlier. It starts with changing
attitudes in the way that we look at those with disabilities in general in this country. It starts by
each one of us doing our part to focus what a person has to offer, what their ability is.
But I've been working with a bipartisan fashion with Senator Harkin to look at what some of those
employment barriers are. What we find so often is for a lot of employers, it is still new. And I think
the Department of Defense has an accommodation fund, for example, and I think those kind of
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approaches, where we could expand accommodation funds within the federal government, and
even look at support for employers who go ahead and hire someone with disabilities to help with
maybe some of the costs, whether it is technology or other assisted -- assistance that individual
may need to get started, if we put some of those incentives in place, I believe that it would, you
know, incentivize some employers to take a closer look at that.
>> [Sesno] You are now, by virtue of your son, a family caregiver. And one question that people
have and that has come to me is what steps would a President Romney take to support families
and family caregivers, given the pressures that are often there with respect to the workplace,
juggling all of the demands, never mind the financial demands. Is there some leadership there to
be discussed, as well, from the Presidential level?
>> [Sesno] A lot of those discussions, in my mind, come into play as we look at Medicaid and look
at Medicaid going forward. And as a disabilities community, as we identify what are those musthaves in Medicaid for every state that we look at some of that support that is needed for families
and put the commitment in the Medicaid program.
>> [McMorris-Rodgers] We're almost out of time. A couple quick others.
Again, thinking of Cole, we heard earlier about efforts to encourage and help people with
disabilities go on to college, go on to higher education, to fulfill their dreams. What more can be
done to ensure college graduates with disabilities that, A, they have opportunities in school, and, B,
opportunities in the job market?
>> [Sesno] In my mind, that is the next frontier. We have made so much progress when you look at
early intervention, when you look at what's going on in the K-12. Yes, there is more work that
needs to be done, but one of our big focuses needs to be on that transition after high school, after
the individual turns 21. And there's some legislation, Team legislation that representative Harper
has introduced that is providing more training, more support for those types of individuals to get
them into higher education.
There's universities and colleges around the country. George Mason is one near Washington D.C.
that is making the commitment to opening the door for those with disabilities. Many of the interns
that are on Capitol Hill come from George Mason University. As more universities do it, I think
that's a great example and we need to encourage more of those types of efforts.
>> [Sesno] We're almost out of time and I know you have to move on, but in order to be fair, I want
to ask you the same question I've asked the others.
If you were sitting there with those presidential candidates on October 3rd for that first debate,
they'll be talking about domestic policy, they’ll be talking about where and how dollars get spent,
they’ll be talking about where and how we get people back to work, what would your question be
with respect to the disabilities community to Barack Obama and Mitt Romney?
>> My question would focus on jobs and how are we going to open up the door of opportunity for
more people in this country to -- that have a disability to be employed. And to think beyond the
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traditional jobs that have been made available to those with disabilities, that we think about what
they have to offer, really identify what those employment barriers are, but recognizing that over a
million people in this country with disabilities have lost their jobs. It is ten times the normal
unemployment levels.
So I would ask them, what are they going to do to open up the doors of opportunity for those with
disabilities to work in America. Because as I said earlier, a paycheck is so much more than just – or
a job is so much more than just a paycheck
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>> [Sesno] Congresswoman McMorris Rodgers, thank you so much for representing Governor
Romney, for answering these questions, and for addressing this group here today. Appreciate it.
All the best, and all the best with everything that you are doing on the job, at home, and beyond.
Thank you.
(applause)
Before I step off the podium and turn it over to your final comments here, I think I would close
with a couple observations.
One is how important it is to have this conversation, how much I agree that the next conversation
four years from now have should the candidates here. How much I hope when the candidates are
here, the cameras from every network in America are here, as well, so this conversation can be
seen.
(applause)
And just to tell you what a privilege it's been for me to be here with you today.
I guess, you know, we've had some other personal stories along the way. In 2006, when I was at
the big summit in Washington, my sister attended, and with some trepidation, I went to her at the
end and I asked if she wanted to say a word or two, Laura? She grabbed the microphone from me.
She's not shy, never has been. She stood in front of 2,500 people, half of them self-advocates, and
she said, “I don't like it when I hear the word retarded.” She said, “I want another R word.”
She said, “I want respect.” From my sister.
I'll tell you, it's about respect.
It's about opportunity.
It's about a voice.
It's about a vote.
It's about all of these things.
We start by informing ourselves. I hope this has been helpful and has helped shed some light on
some of what the campaigns and candidates have to say about these very complex bundle of issues
that are, despite whatever we may want to think, under siege by reality, by reality, because dollars
are tight and they are going to get tighter. There are going to be some very difficult decisions that
need to be made.
I hope the decisions can be made with information and not just supposition going forward.
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I would like to close, or invite two people to close, by inviting Kelly Buckland, Executive Director of
National Council on Independent Living, and Betty Williams, who is the former President of Self
Advocates Becoming Empowered, to join us on the platform here and say a few words. Thank to
you all very much.
(applause)
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>> [Williams] I think I better use the podium. I don't know if people can see me. I need something
to lean against.
I would like to thank our participants today. As a person with a disability and a past president of
Self Advocates Becoming Empowered, we appreciate your taking time out of your busy schedules
to be with us for this event.
(applause)
I want to tell you about a survey. The National Council on Disability and the National Disability
Rights network and EIN Communication have teamed up to create a distribute a brief open-ended
questionnaire regarding experiences of voters with disabilities. It is for the 2012 general election.
It’s going to be distributed across the country. What we want is to record experiences of voters
with full spectrum of disabilities. Your vote counts. Your experience counts.
You can go to www.NDRN.ORG, or www.NCD.GOV for more details in the coming weeks. For more
information, contact Robin Powell at NCD.GOV.
And what I would like to say is vote as if your life depends on it, because it does.
I would like to see everybody go out and vote, especially for the candidates that supports your
issue, the issues that are important to you.
(applause)
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>> [Buckland] Thanks, Betty.
I'm Kelly Buckland with the National Council on Independent Living. It was honor for me to be
here with you today. This has been a great discussion. Everybody, give all of the candidates a
round of applause.
(applause)
It is great to see all of the independent living advocates in the audience. All of the -- Sue Hetrick, all
of the I-L advocates in Ohio. It is great for me to be here with you all. I want to echo what Betty
said. I wanted to really thank all of the people that were here and discuss the issues.
Cathy McMorris Rodgers, Ted Kennedy. You now have a pretty clear idea about what the
campaigns stand for and what they'll do if they are elected into office. Now you have a clear
choice. So what are you going to do?
Go vote. Absolutely.
Betty stole my quote, obviously.
Justin Dart, our great leader, said to vote as if your life depends on it, because it does. Absolutely it
does. But we can also speak out not just by voting. That is our main way to voice our opinion in an
election.
But you can get involved in it a lot of different ways. I would encourage you to do so.
First of all, you can volunteer for the campaigns of your choice. You've heard the candidates. You
can now get involved in their campaigns and help elect the person that you want. Not just by
casting a vote, but by going out there and doing some work on their behalf.
And you can also help get people out to vote. Merrill and I and our son, Rodney, have gone out and
signed people up. We've registered them to vote so you can get people out to vote. They should go
out and voice their opinion. You can do that by getting them registered to vote. Merrill is also
going to be an election official during the election. I'm holding her up as an example because I
think I highly regard the amount of involvement that she has in campaigns and how much it
counts for all of us.
And just to let you know, I did run for the Senate in 1992 in the State of Idaho, and ran for the
House in 1994. I did not get elected either time. But I did serve as a Senator for one day in the state
of Idaho. You can do that by someone appointing you for the day. And Senator Brooks had me sit
in for him. You're actually sworn in, you're paid, all that good stuff. I was actually a Senator for a
day. The reason I brought this up is because I could not agree with Anil more.
We really do need to run as people with disabilities. I really hope Teddy Kennedy will run and be a
person in the Congress for us.
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(applause)
And I'll be supporting Anil Lewis in 2014.
With that, I want to thank you for coming, as well. We are going to close with a short video that
was done by the Ohio Secretary of State on getting people with disabilities out to vote. So thank
you all again for coming. Please watch the video before we close.
(applause)
(Video plays.)
(Event concludes.)
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