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Tuesday, September 23, 2008

Workshop in Fort Worth on Monday offered people with disabilities information on voting services

By Laura Seewoester

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According to the Coalition for Texans with Disabilities, less than 34% of voters with disabilities went to the polls in the last presidential election. A workshop was held Monday at the Arborlawn United Methodist Church in Fort Worth to train people with disabilities with a mock election. Tracey Michol, who organized the workshop, saw a need to help those with disabilities when she went to caucus and to the state conference in Austin. Michol, who is hard of hearing, noticed there weren't a lot of people with disabilities in attendance and noted that the conference was unorganized and offered little service to those people with disabilities who were there.

"I went to caucus and there was no interpreter," Michol said. She also said that many of the party volunteers had beards, making it hard for her to read their lips. They didn't really know what to do with her. Despite the challenges, Michol said it was still a good experience.

Patt Dreyer, an employee with Easter Seals, also noticed the lack of services for the disabled at her district convention. She has been working to get both parties to require interpreters at their conventions.

"Transportation is an issue," Dreyer said. "And a lack of connectivity, because they don't always belong to a group to help them understand the process."

The Dallas County Democratic Party does provide rides to the polls and will help disabled voters. If you would like to take advantage of this service, call the campaign office at 214-523-8080. Michol encourages people with disabilities to go to early voting, which takes place October 20-31.

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