The American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD) is a powerful national advocacy group with a strong political presence. As part of this political presence they have developed the REV UP! campaign intended to engage persons with disabilities in voting and elections.
REV UP! stands for Register, Educate, and Vote and its website is an abundant source of resources on registering and voting, state events related to elections, and even provides a process for local organizers to submit information about their events.
(FYI: The deadline to register to vote in the August 28 Florida primaries is July 31. Click here for more information on registering.) REV UP! coordinates a national Voter Registration Week July 16-20 with its state coalitions. Right now, Florida does not have an active REV UP! Coalition. Self-advocates interested in helping to organize a coalition can get in touch with REV UP!/AAPD here.
REV UP!, along with the AAPD, urges that for our voices to matter they have to be active rather than passive voices. While the effort to increase the number of registered voters is ongoing, the AAPD also has programs to educate voters by sending out answers to candidate questionnaires and other materials for their membership to read and digest. AAPD often will provide information on state and national legislation and analysis that impact persons with disabilities as well as contact information for legislators. You can sign up for their newsletter at www.aapd.com.
As we head into the mid term elections, remember that knowledge is power and with power comes great responsibility. AAPD sums it up with its REV UP! Mantra: “Vote as if your life depends on it. Because it does.”