Iowa disability rights organizations to host candidate forums addressing challenges of disability community

Two disability rights groups in Iowa, Disability Rights Iowa and the Iowa Developmental Disabilities Council, are hosting candidate forums focused on issues faced by individuals with disabilities. The forums will feature candidates for the Iowa Legislature and aim to bring attention to important disability-related issues. The executive director of Disability Rights Iowa, Catherine Johnson, emphasized the importance of connecting with lawmakers early on to discuss disability issues, as many legislators may not always have these issues at the forefront of their minds when passing bills. Piper Haugan, a voting rights advocate, highlighted the impact of legislative policies on individuals with disabilities and emphasized the need for candidates to consider the disability community when reviewing bills. The forums will provide an opportunity for attendees to learn about candidates’ experiences with disabilities and their policy priorities related to disability issues. The events will also offer voting information to participants and will feature American Sign Language interpretation and captioning. The forums are scheduled to take place in various locations throughout the state from October 1st to October 24th. Overall, the forums aim to bring the disability community together and create a platform for discussion and advocacy within the political realm.

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