Group seeks to give disabled Iowans more of a voice

The “American Association of People with Disabilities” is targeting Iowa with a voter turnout campaign for this fall. Association Vice President Jim Dickson says they’re trying to get 65-thousand new disabled voters to the polls November 5th. Dickson says studies show disabled people are 10 to 15 percent less likely to vote. He says there are physical barriers to voting, but more important, no-one targets the disabled as a voting block to encourage them to vote. Dickson says the campaign is designed to educate disabled Iowans about the importance of voting.They’ll teach them there’s a connection between the services they get, or don’t get, based on whether or not they vote. He says of their slogans is “Vote as if your independence counts on it.” Dickson, who is blind, knows first hand the difficulties facing disabled person in the voting booth.Dickson says he’s never cast a secret ballot, as someone helps him and always knows how he votes. Dickson says federal legislation has funds to place talking voting machines at every polling place in the country. Iowa is one of five states chosen for the disability voter project.