504 Democratic Club: Questionnaires (Candidate for Congress Joyce S. Johnson's 2010 response)

Candidate Name: Joyce S. Johnson

Candidate for Congressional District: 15

Contact Person: Mike Oliva

Campaign Address: Park West Finance Station, P.O. Box 20445, New York, NY 10025

Phone: 212-662-3032

Email: joyce@joyceforcongress2010.com

Website: www.Joyceforcongress2010.com

How have you incorporated people with disabilities into your campaign?

My campaign has primarily used volunteers. While I don't screen for this, I am quite sure several volunteers are people with some form of disability.
If there is a Campaign office(s) is it wheelchair accessible?

At the moment my campaign office is my home, which is wheelchair accessible.
What personal and professional experience have you had with people with disabilities in your personal life and in the workplace?

When I worked at Seagram's, I was in charge of EEO and thus had the responsibility to work with people from various protected classes including people with disabilities. I have friends and family with disabling conditions.
What type of jobs would you be willing to hire and to provide reasonable accommodation (e.g. flex or part time) for staff members with disabilities?

I am happy to hire individuals with disabilities for any job for which they are qualified.
While in public office and/or prior to this campaign, what have you accomplished in regard to advancing disability rights? This can include work towards accessible housing, transportation, employment, health care, education, and including people with disabilities in the political process?

I have long been a community activist, advocating for services to children and seniors, many of whom had disabilities. As a member of the Obama campaign team, I regularly worked with staff and volunteers with disabilities. I have friends in the field of disability rights and they keep me aware and up to date on disability issues.
Will you commit to only attend and/or sponsor events that are accessible to people with disabilities including providing written materials in alternate formats, providing assistive listening systems, and sign language interpreters, as well as ensuring that locations are accessible to people who use mobility aids, like wheelchairs and walkers?

Yes.
Do you pledge to use your office to affirm or strengthen, rather than weaken, civil rights protections to persons with disabilities?

Absolutely, that's what it's all about.
How do you propose your active involvement/availability to the disability community?
1. Will there be a specific person in your office responsible to this community?
  
  I will assign liaison duties to one person, but expect that all staff are sensitive to and work toward full access.
2. Will have regular office agenda meetings on these issues?
  
  My tendency is to make sure that these issues are always part of our regular agenda. I am not entirely sure at this juncture how I will staff my office. I am focusing at this point in getting elected.
3. What would you do to have direct contact with our community?
  
  Reach out to the 504 Democrats and other colleagues in the disability community for advice and guidance, and then follow it!
How will you work closely with the disability community to assure passage of vitally needed legislation? What will be your strategy?

As noted above, I will look to 504 Dems for guidance as well as colleagues in the field. In addition, I will work with interest and advocacy groups to ensure that the needs of people with disabilities are appropriately and proactively addressed in legislation; neither an afterthought, nor a stepchild.
If you are not an incumbent,
1. Is your office accessible to persons with disabilities?
  
  Presently running campaign out of my home, which is accessible.
The IDEA (Individuals with Disabilities Education Act) Fairness Restoration Act would permit parents and guardians who successfully bring an action or proceeding which enforces IDEA to be awarded expert witness fees and certain other expenses. Will you sponsor this legislation?

Yes.
The proposed Community Choice Act would allow persons with disabilities and older Americans equal access to community-based attendant supports rather than nursing home placement. Will you sponsor this legislation?

Yes.
Persons with disabilities have historically been under-represented within the Democratic Party leadership. According to the 2000 census, persons with disabilities comprised 20.6% of New York State residents and 23.1% of those 18 years and older. Previously, we were told that only those groups included in the Voting Rights Act were included in the goals and timetables for delegate selection. Yet the lesbian and gay communities were included for the first time at the 2000 convention and again at the 2004 and 2010 conventions. Would you support a campaign to set a goal that 10% of the total New York State Delegation to the 2012 Democratic National Convention be comprised of persons with disabilities.

Yes.

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