Presidential Forum Update: Action Needed

The presidential campaigns have not yet committed to their candidates' attendance at the National Forum on Disability Issues, scheduled to take place in Columbus, Ohio, on July 26, 2008. (Note that the location has been changed to the Conference & Technology Center at the First Church of God, 3480 Refugee Road, Columbus, Ohio 43232.)

Sending e-mails or otherwise contacting the campaigns will help to show that there is substantial community interest in this event. The following grassroots alert, distributed by the American Association of People with Disabilities, provides contact information. Please write to the campaigns and urge the candidates to participate in the forum in person.

ASAN and The Autism Acceptance Project are sponsors of this event.

~~~~~~~~~~GRASSROOTS ACTION ALERT~~~~~~~~~~

People with disabilities are 50 million + strong in America, 37 million of whom are voting age. Add to that figure our families, friends, caregivers, and advocates, and we're a force to be reckoned with.

On July 26, 2008, in Columbus, Ohio, the disability community wants to hear from the presidential candidates - Do they have specific policy objectives for Americans with disabilities? How will their existing policy platforms affect us? How will they include us in the new administration, if elected?

You can make sure that happens. Ask the candidates to participate in our forum. Let them feel the power of the disability vote!

WHEN: Start today! The forum isn't until July 26, and we need daily, every-day pressure on the campaigns all the way until the event.

WHAT TO DO:

1. Call, fax, email the campaigns.

Help us to create some friendly pressure on the McCain and Obama campaigns by calling, emailing, and faxing the campaign offices, urging the candidates to participate in person at The National Forum on Disability Issues on July 26, 2008 in Columbus, Ohio.

Sen. Barack Obama
Obama for America
P.O. Box 8102
Chicago, IL 60680
Call: (866) 675-2008
Fax: (312) 819-2089
Email: Alyssa Mastromonaco, amastro@barackobama.com (Chief Scheduler); Heather Higginbottom, hhigginbottom@barackobama.com (Policy Director); David Plouffe, dplouffe@barackobama.com (Campaign Manager)

Sen. John McCain
John McCain 2008
P.O. Box 16118
Arlington, VA 22215
Call: (703) 418-2008
Faxes: (703) 752-2515, (703) 413-0740
Email: Steve Schmidt, sschmidt@mccain08hq.com (day-to-day operations); Carla Eudy, ceudy@mccain08hq.com (National Scheduler); Doug Holtz-Eakin, dholtz-eakin@mccain08hq.com (Deputy Policy Director); Donna Jones, djones@mccain08hq.com (National Coordinator, Americans with Disabilities for McCain Coalition)

2. Show up with signs at their events.

We know the campaigns are likely to make stop-offs in or near where you live. If they do, go out to the rallies they hold and hold up a sign that says, "SEE YOU IN COLUMBUS, OHIO ON JULY 26!" Decorate the signs however you like, or print and paste a copy of the "Feel the Power of the Disability Vote" logo. We want the candidates and their staff to see these signs EVERYWHERE they go!