November Midterm Election Series

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"Our disability vote does count, very much so. Combined, we are 25% of the population... 25% carries a lot of weight, and we must use that weight responsibly. We must vote for people who are about us... It is quite simply a question of what kind of society we are going to live in."

"One of the things that called me to the ballot box, or even just my mail-in ballot, is that I want my voice heard. As a provider, our funding is often dictated by people in Sacramento or even in Washington, DC. And if we do not make our voices heard, then they are unaware of how that funding change or that legislation affects us."

"Every day, decisions are being made at every level of government that affect my life, my work, that affect everyone around me.... I am fortunate enough to live in a democracy where I get to hold my politicians accountable when I don't like what is happening. And so I vote to hold them accountable. I vote to get a say in what they do... I deserve a good life. People like me deserve a good life. My friends, my family, my coworkers, my clients, everyone deserves a good life. And we can have a good life if we vote."

"It's basic. It's self-advocacy - self-advocacy about your choices... History has not been favorable for people of color and people with disabilities. In the past, people of color and people with disabilities died for the right to vote... So we vote because it's our self-advocacy. It is showing everyone what we think. You are the most important person when it comes to voting - it's your self-advocacy.'"

"It's so important to vote to me because there are so many pieces of law that touch different parts. We look at California and we think of the Lanterman Act, but on the national level, there are so many different parts - education, housing, employment, ADA, voting rights - that are important to all of us. We need to make sure we know that these legislators, these policymakers, are going to bring them up for consideration periodically."

"I really am passionate about voting so I can represent my children... For people like my children, they don't have a voice and a choice unless we're voting for things that help them get accessible supports and services, which includes devices and a circle of support... I think a lot of parents like me think they don't have time to vote, but of all the many many things that we have to do to advocate for our loved ones in our lives, this is the one thing that takes the least amount of time, and there won't be someone on the other side of the table arguing with you."