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Disability Network holding political candidate forum to allow their voices to be heard

Published  October 15, 2018 10:46pm EDT
News
FOX 2 Detroit

(WJBK) - October is Disability Awareness Month, and many people with disabilities are ready and eager to vote in November.

They say that candidates are not listening to their concerns and they are taking action.

Sarah Nelson-Norwood is blind but doing her best to help others with disabilities

"I really like what I do," she said. "I like the idea of talking to people who are newly blind and letting them know that they can do it."

But it's not just the visually impaired they're advocating for at The Disability Network Wayne County Detroit.

From kids to adults to seniors the group deals with everything from autism to sleep apnea to diabetes, brain injuries, paralysis. The disability network provides links to services like housing, healthcare, transportation and much more.

Now they are getting political.

"We never talk about disability issues," said Paul Johnson, The Disability Network. "There's never a forum that is centered around that."

Paul Johnson says that's why this Friday they're asking everybody who's running for office on the ballot in Wayne County to come to their candidate forum. 

All seniors and people with disabilities are asked to attend, to have their voices heard about the issues that are especially important to the disabled.

"All of these candidates need to come," Johnson said. "We need to let people know that we have disabilities and we care. We are a voting bloc."

A big voting block - according to the U.S. Census. Nearly one in five people has a disability in the United States - that's a large percentage of the population of people who want the candidates to know what they want.

"People with disability deserve to have their seat at the table," Johnson said.

People like Sarah Nelson-Norwood - who won't let a disability get in the way of voting on Nov. 6th.

"It does matter - it does matter to us and we do have a voice in this state and in this country," Norwood said.

Organizers say they have close to 10 candidates who say they will be there - they just want any politicians on the ballot to come and listen to them.

The Disability Awareness Candidate Forum is Friday Oct. 19 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Considine Little Rock Family Life Center, 8904 Woodward Ave, Detroit, 313-923-1655.