From the American Association of People with Disabilities:
This September we’ll celebrate the 7th annual Disability Voting Rights Week (DVRW), September 9-13, 2024.
DVRW is a crucial initiative focused on building power within the disability community by ensuring people with disabilities are registered and ready to vote. People with disabilities are a significant voting bloc, and are a part of all political parties and demographics. Systemic barriers and voter suppression continue to prevent many disabled voters from accessing the ballot, and DVRW is also about continuing to fight to improve election accessibility and raise the visibility of our community as an important voting bloc.
This year’s DVRW will highlight three key issue areas that impact our community: accessible housing and home and community based services;, economic justice; and democracy.
Last year, DVRW was a tremendous success. We sent over 60 free swag boxes to partners nationwide and supported more than 50 events across 31 states. Our community registered voters, made voting plans, collaborated with elected officials, advocated for improving election accessibility, and created songs and art about voting.
The disability vote has the power to strengthen our democracy at every level, from local school boards to the U.S. Congress.
Learn more about Disability Voting Rights Week on our launch page, and sign up to join the DVRW movement to gain access to our community resources folder.
If you’re hosting a DVRW event, let us know using the Join the Movement form by July 29 and we’ll send you a box of swag!
Disability Voting Rights Week Community Resources
Fill out this form to get access to your community resources folder! The folder includes: social media graphics, a plan to vote, sample press releases, template proclamations, and more.
Accessibility Audit Toolkit
Check out this accessibility audit toolkit! While polling places are required by law to be accessible, we know that many people still experience access issues on Election Day. By reviewing, or auditing, polling places we can collect important information to help local election officials improve election accessibility. The National Polling Access Audit Coalition created this free toolkit to support organizations in the process of conducting an audit. The toolkit has information on training volunteers, ideas on strategy, and a sample questionnaire and data template to help you collect information.
Plain Language Voting Guides
Review how, where, and when to vote using AAPD’s plain language state voting guides. On our Voter Info page, you can also find plain language definitions related to voting – which are yours to use.