Julie McKinney, MS
on
October 23, 2024

How to decide who to vote for? (Hint: it’s not just about the White House)

How can you tell which candidates share your family’s values, and will support the programs you need? How do you know who is telling the truth? It takes some time to learn about them and what they believe in.

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It’s a presidential election year, and it’s hard to keep track of all the races on the ballot. How can you tell which candidates share your family’s values, and will support the programs you need to support your child with disabilities? How do you know who is telling the truth? It takes some time to learn about them and what they believe in. 

What’s at stake in the election when it comes to children with disabilities?

The ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) and IDEA (Individuals with Disabilities Education Act) are  federal laws and are not decided by each state. But federal laws are impacted by the president, our members of Congress, and, in some cases, the Supreme Court.

At both the state and the federal level, decisions about funding, insurance, and education can impact the availability of services people with disabilities may need. Here are some examples:

  • Education funding impacts how many support team members are available to support students with disabilities
  • Education policy can mean more inclusive schools – or the opposite
  • State Medicaid funding can impact what Medicaid pays for and who can get Medicaid
  • Elected officials can decide to enforce accessibility codes for building construction – or they can decide this is not a priority

Here are two ways to learn:

1. Talk to people you know who have the same concerns as you.

Ask what they know about the choices of candidates. Important: ask how they know this. A lot of false information is spread through social media like Facebook. If this is how you got information, try to find another source or website to confirm it! Make sure it is a website that ends in .gov or .org.

2. Look up the candidates online to see what their beliefs are.

See if your state’s election site has information about the candidates and questions. Search for the candidates’ names and go to their official websites. Learn how they voted in the past to see how they really think. Here are some sites to help: Know Your Vote, Vote 411, Ballot Ready. These are not supporting a certain party or candidate. They are just giving information.

Finally: make sure you know about voter protection and accommodations in your state for people with disabilities.

Check out this guide to Voting with a Disability . This will walk you through everything from how to register (check the deadlines for your state!) to what you can do if the right accommodations are not available to you.

Sometimes it’s hard to make these decisions. But with a little effort, you can find out what you need to know. Happy voting!

  • Julie McKinney, MS

    Director of Training / Health Literacy Specialist

    Julie McKinney has over 25 years of experience in health literacy, plain language, and adult education. She has deep expertise in writing information so it’s easy to understand, and has developed trainings for educators in clear communication.

    At Exceptional Lives, she ensures that our content is clear and friendly. She also works to strengthen relationships with community partners, and designs trainings that help them connect with families.
    Julie also has experience parenting kids with ADHD, learning disabilities and significant intellectual disability. She has ushered her own children through schooling and transition to adulthood, and is committed to helping make this process easier for others.

    Her core view is that good relationships are the key to just about anything we hope for.

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