Call the Trump for President Headquarters on July 14th!

In January, the Trump for President Campaign received a list of 16 questions related to disability policy and issues important to the 54 million Americans with disabilities. The questionnaire was put together by RespectAbilityUSA, a Maryland-based disability advocacy organization. The questionnaire was sent to all the presidential candidates on both sides of the aisle. Since that time, however, all but the Trump campaign have responded.

As of now, the Trump campaign has refused to answer the questions or acknowledge them in anyway. Since January, calls, emails and a visit to his campaign headquarters in Edison asking Trump to complete the questionnaire have gone unanswered.

As the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, his continued dismissal of our community should not go unchallenged! Join us on Trump Call-In Day and send a message that we will not be ignored. For more details, visit our Upcoming Events page.

This call-in day has been organized by the Alliance Center for Independence and REV UP NJ. REV UP NJ is comprised of disability agencies throughout the state, including NJ Centers for Independent Living, the NJ Council on Developmental Disabilities, and Disability Rights NJ. To become involved in REV UP NJ, please sign up at our website: adacil.org/voting or visit our Facebook page: facebook.com/revupnj

REV UP NJ is part of a national movement to increase the participation of people with disabilities in the election process.

ACI and REV UP NJ are both non-partisan groups. We don't endorse or criticize any candidate. The purpose of our efforts is to educate NJ's disability community in voting and the election process.

ACI Holds the First Meeting of REV UP New Jersey

Thank you to everyone who attended the first meeting of REV UP New Jersey, an effort led by the ACI to engage NJ's disability advocacy organizations in increasing the participation of people with disabilities in the elections process. Our first planning meeting included representatives from the NJ Council on Developmental Disabilities, Disability Rights NJ, DAWN, Inc., Moceans and the Camden City Center for Independent Living. If you would like to be a part of the REV UP NJ planning committee, please contact Luke Koppisch at lkoppisch@adacil.org.

REV UP NJ is part of a national ‪REV UP‬ effort. Be sure to like the REV UP NJ Facebook page for updates on our upcoming REV UP NJ Kickoff at the NJ State House on July 25th, as well as other events.

To register for the kickoff, please visit: adacil.org/upcoming-events/rev-up-nj-kickoff

Tuesday, June 7th is Primary Day in New Jersey...Don't Forget to Vote!

The Alliance Center for Independence is working with other organizations throughout the state to increase the turnout of voters with disabilities this election year. ACI has formed a chapter of National REV UP (REV UP New Jersey) to lead this effort in NJ.

What is Being Decided?
Voters will decide the Republican and Democratic candidates to run in the general election in November. The candidates will be for president and members of the House of Representatives from NJ.

Who Can Vote?
New Jersey has "closed" primaries. This means that only Republican voters can nominate Republican candidates, and only Democratic voters can nominate Democratic candidates.Voters in New Jersey who are unaffiliated with any political party or group can declare either Republican or Democrat at the polls on the day of the primary and vote in that party's primary.

Where Do I Vote?
All registered voters should have received a sample ballot that indicates where your polling place is located. If you are unsure, click here: voter.njsvrs.com/elections/polling-lookup.html 

What Do I Do if My Polling Place is Not Accessible?
All polling places are required to be accessible. All voters have the right to vote in private, independently and in a location that is accessible. If you experience problems voting, contact your county board of elections. For a list of the county board of elections, click here: http://www.state.nj.us/state/elections/voting-information-local-officials.html. Voters with disabilities experiencing problems can also contact Disability Rights NJ on Election Day at 800-922-7233 or mciccone@drnj.org.

If you are voting for the first time, you must be registered and you must bring identification, or a document that has your current name and address on it.

For more information on voting and your voting rights or if you would like to be involved in REV UP NJ, please visit our website or contact Luke Koppisch at 732-738-4388 or lkoppisch@adacil.org.

ACI Advocates for People with Disabilities at Donald Trump's Edison HQ

View fullsize

ACI's CJ Dodge and Luke Koppisch recently visited presumptive Republican President Nominee Donald Trump's NJ Campaign Headquarters in Edison. The purpose of the visit was to present to the headquarters's staff a list of questions on disability-related topics, ranging from healthcare to employment to education, complied by RespectAbilityUSA, a national disability organization, based in Maryland. The questions were sent to all the presidential candidates, all of whom responded, except for Donald Trump. To see the questions and the candidates' answers, go to respectabilityusa.com.

ACI urges the the Trump campaign to respond to the questions posed by RespectAbility. Contact the Trump national headquarters at donaldjtrump.com and let them know how important it is for the 54 million Americans with disabilities to know his position on disabilities issues.

"Having a campaign office that is accessible and accommodating towards people with disabilities sends a message that we are valuable to you" - CJ Dodge

CJ and Luke also checked the office for accessibility. ACI urges all campaign offices to be fully accessible to visitors as well as volunteers. "Having a campaign office that is accessible and accommodating towards people with disabilities sends a message that we are valuable to you", says Dodge. "We are happy that the Trump campaign chose an accessible location for their NJ headquarters."

ACI Becomes a NJ Partner for REV UP Campaign

ACI has teamed up with Bob Kafka and the Texas Disability Project to become a NJ partner in the REV UP Campaign (Register, Educate, Vote, Use our Power)! The campaign is designed to get more people with disabilities and our supporters registered and voting!

We cannot rest on our past victories. We must build on the past and move forward using the power we have acquired. This power can be exerted by Making the DISABILITY VOTE Count! Policymakers are influenced by large numbers of people turning out to vote in the primaries and the general elections. Together we have the power to change our communities!

More than at any time in memory: Issues important to people with disabilities must be part of any candidate’s platform running for public office.
To Vote: First you must Register. Get Educated on the issues.
Then most important you must Vote.
USE YOUR POWER! Together We Can Make a Difference!" - Bob Kafka, ADAPT
 
Join thousands of New Jerseyites with disabilities, family members and our supporters in this important historic election! Join us in the REV UP Campaign of New Jersey!

For info contact Carole Tonks at ctonks@adacil.org.

ACI Recognizes National Voter Registration Day 2015

In recognition of National Voter Registration Day, ACI sponsored a workshop, entitled "Voters Rights for People with Disabilities," presented by Mary Ciccone, Esq, of Disability Rights New Jersey. In addition, Seth Stevenson from the Middlesex County Board of Elections demonstrated one of the county's accessible voting machines. "This was very informative, I will feel very confident the next time I vote," said Cheryl Schweitzer, one of the attendees.