Presidential Candidates’ Forum: A National Forum on Equality, Opportunity and Access

Friday November 2, 2007: 8:30 am to 4:00 pm EST, Agenda

• Transcripts Now Available! (New!)
  
  

Press Coverage:

• Vying for voters with disabilities: Forum held at center for independent living (Concord Monitor)
  
  
• Candidates Address Disabilities Forum (CBS News)
  
  
• Candidates Try to Persuade Undecided New Hampshire Voters (Video News)
  
  
• Disabilities, rights grab spotlight at forum (Associated Press, Nashua Telegraph)
  
  
• New Hampshire for Hillary Announces the Endorsement of Granite State Disability Advocates
  
  
• More from the NCIL Election News Center
  
  
  
  

More than 600 people participated in the Presidential Candidates’ Forum: A National Forum on Equality, Opportunity and Access in Manchester, hosted by Granite State Independent Living, the National Council on Independent Living, and some 28 organizations on behalf of Americans with disabilities.  Candidates who participated in the Forum included: Senators Clinton (D-NY), Biden (D-DE), Dodd, and Gravel (R-AK), Representative David Bonior (D-MI) on behalf of Senator John Edwards (D-NC), and Representative Dennis Kucinich (D-OH). Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) participated in the Forum by phone from the campaign trail.  All Presidential candidates were invited to participate.

Ted Kennedy, Jr. moderated the daylong forum. With the delayed arrival of a candidate, Kennedy had time to share his experience as a person with a disability. Rep. Tony Coelho (D-CA), one of the authors of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, and Cheryl Sensenbrenner, an ardent advocate for the ADA Restoration Act of 2007 that her husband, Rep. James Sensenbrenner (R-WI) sponsored in the House, gave brief remarks about the importance of voting and shared their personal stories about their disabilities. Caroline Dodd, Senator Dodd's older sister, an educator who is blind, introduced her younger brother Chris Dodd who remarked on what an inspiration his sister was for him.

Each candidate spoke about their policy agendas to enhance the lives of people with disabilities and then answered three questions from New Hampshire attendees.

Made possible by generous support from: Hands On Video Relay Services, Inc. & Manchester Community Television. Hosted by Granite State Independent Living. The Presidential Candidates’ Forum is co-hosted by:

NH Developmental Disabilities Council (NH DDC)
NH Disabilities Rights Center (NH DRC)
NH Institute on Disability (NH IOD)
NH Chapter, National Spinal Cord Injury Association
Greater Boston Chapter, National Spinal Cord Injury Association
People First of New Hampshire
TASH

Program Agenda

8:30 a.m.                     Registration

9:00 a.m.                     Opening Ceremonies

• Presentation of Colors
• National Anthem

• Welcome - Clyde Terry, JD, CEO, Granite State Independent Living and Grace Sullivan, Executive Director, Manchester Community Television

9:25 a.m.                    Opening Remarks

• Andrew Imparato, President & CEO American Association of People with Disabilities

9:35 a.m.                    MODERATOR - Ted Kennedy, Jr. -  AAPD Board Secretary

9:45 a.m.                    NH State Senator Lou D’Allesandro

9:55 a.m.                    CANDIDATE: Senator Hillary Clinton (D, NY)

10:30 a.m.                  Entertainment:  Keith Jones

10:45 am.                   BREAK

11:00 a.m.                  CANDIDATE: Senator Joe Biden (D, DE)

11:30 a.m.                  CANDIDATE: Senator Chris Dodd (D, CT)

12:00 Noon                 Entertainment:  Keith Jones

12:30 p.m.                  LUNCH

1:30 p.m.                    CANDIDATE: Governor Bill Richardson (D, NM)

2:00 p.m.                    CANDIDATE:  Congressman Dennis Kucinich (D, OH)

2:30 p.m.                    CANDIDATE:  Former Congressman David Bonior, Campaign Manager for Senator John                                    Edwards (D, SC)

3:00 p.m.                    CANDIDATE: Senator Mike Gravel (D, AK)

3:15 p.m.                    BREAK

 3:30 p.m.                   CANDIDATE: Senator John McCain (R, AZ)

 4:00 p.m.                   CANDIDATE: Invited — Governor Rudy Giuliani (R, NY)

 4:15 p.m.                   Retiring of the Colors

 4:25 p.m.                   Wrap Up

Special Thanks:  To the Disability Policy Collaboration, Ted Kennedy, Jr. and All-Ways Accessible for their assistance with this forum.