In 2015 and 2016, the DFC Advocacy Committee produced a Voters Guide that surveyed how candidates running for office in Lehigh and Northampton counties view issues that are important to people with disabilities. In 2015, the guide tested the stand of candidates in contested races for County Commissioner/County Council and Allentown City Council on issues of housing and government services. In 2016, the Advocacy Committee performed a more comprehensive study of issues on the state and national level which it used to survey 22 candidates in Lehigh and Northampton counties running for U.S. Senate, the U.S. House and the Pennsylvania House of Representatives. The 2016 Voters Guide also included a synopsis of how the two national party platforms view people with disabilities and the programs that support them. The Advocacy Committee is using the Voters Guide as a first step toward engaging the political sector more directly on issues that are important to people with disabilities.
Contact: Bob Wittman, program coordinator: bob4dfc@ptd.net