CPAC Connecticut Parent Advocacy Center
Connecticut's Resource for Children with Disabilities Connecticut Parent Advocacy Center
Connecticut's Resource for Children with Disabilities;
Empowering and Educating Families

Inclusion? When you hear this word, what does this make you think? For me, I think that everyone, regardless of disability being included in activities in schools.  But currently, I do not feel like this is being accomplished in today's day and age. This is because non-disabled individuals, schools, and workplaces do not truly integrate individuals with disabilities into the activities and courses that non-disabled individuals have access to in High School. Yes, we do have unified activities but I truly do not believe that this is enough.  I believe that individuals that have disabilities are not given the opportunity that they deserve to shine.  A lot of times, severely disabled individuals are told they can only participate in Unified activities, even if some of these individuals can handle the normal activities that non-disabled students can participate in.  With the right help and support, anyone regardless of their disability should and can participate in activities that neurotypical peers typically participate in.. The more people that are included the more people will feel that they belong, which makes the activity more engaging and fun for everyone. Another major reason why I think those with disabilities are excluded from certain activities is that individuals often decide to look at the “dis” portion of the word instead of looking at the “ability” in the word disability.  I am not saying that this happens in every single scenario, but this has happened and can happen again. Individuals that are non-disabled often look to see where and what the individuals that have a disability need assistance on, not where they can include them in normal activities. So, inclusion is not just including these individuals with disabilities in normal activities that non-disabled students get to participate in. It is honestly also truly about how they are treated. Now, there are two ways that you can treat an individual with a disability. I can refer to them as roads. You can take the high road the more responsible and mature road or the low road treating these individuals the wrong way. So the way one is treating these people like their normal is not reminding them that they have a disability. Making them feel that they are wanted and cared for by friends is crucial for those with disabilities. On the other hand, the other road is completely treating these people like they're different like they're not equal as you are. If you treat individuals with disabilities as non-equals then you are feeding into the oppression that has happened throughout time to numerous different groups. So  I urge you to be on the right side of history when it comes to the inclusion of individuals with disabilities.

In my opinion, disability pride means being unapologetically accepting of your differences. For example, I have worn leg orthotics and other forms of braces since I was a young child. I have used a wheelchair since kindergarten. While I hated going to my doctors’ appointments to get my AFOs made, the process of doing so was fun. My wheelchair was and always will be my largest difference. It may just be a way to get around to others but to me, it is a door to my independence. Before having a power chair, I was reliant on others to get from place to place.

Life can be difficult for me, but I have done fun things like adaptive sports, and gone on a trip to Disney World through a wish granting foundation for disabled kids. Recently I did a segment for a project that CT Public Radio partnered with the CT Council on Developmental Disabilities named Able Lives. Through my interview, I was glad I could reach a wider audience and show that disabilities, just like one’s LGBTQIA+ identity is something to be seen and heard.

The negative, the positive, the neutral, it all meshes together to make up my life as a disabled person and this Disability Pride Month I am proud to embrace that. 

In the state of Connecticut, there are different ways to complete your ballot and vote. The article below describes these different methods:

Manual Ballot

In Connecticut, the most common way to vote in an election is by paper ballot also known as a manual ballot. On this ballot are the names of the candidates who are running for election and, occasionally, referendum questions. To complete the manual ballot, voters fill in small ovals by the names of the candidates they choose and their response to any referendum questions. The voter darkens the circle or oval next to the candidate’s name using a black or blue marker. They also mark their responses to the referendum questions. Once the voter completes all their choices, they place the ballot in the optical scan tabulator where it is counted and securely stored. 

Advocacy Tip:  If the voter makes a mistake, they can request a new ballot as many times as necessary.

Ballot Marking Device

The Ballot Marking Device is designed as a way for voters to mark a ballot when they cannot access the ballot due to disability or the inability to read the ballot choices.  Anyone, however, can use the ballot marking system!  The ballot marking device includes a tablet, a keypad, and headphones.  A voter can either complete a ballot by using the touchscreen on the tablet or by using the audio system which requires the voter to listen to the ballot through headphones and make choices on a keypad.  

If the voter chooses to use the tablet, the names of the candidates appear on the touchscreen and the voter touches the name of the candidate they want to choose. A check mark will appear in the box in front of the name of the candidate indicating the voter’s choice. If a voter makes a mistake, they can touch the box again to remove the check mark. To vote for a write-in candidate, the voter touches the box to the right of the words, WRITE-IN. A keyboard pops up, and the voter types in the candidate's name. The voter can review the ballot and make changes. When they are satisfied with their choices, they will be prompted to complete the ballot. The ballot marking device will then print the voter selections on a manual ballot. The ballot is then put through the tabulator to be counted and stored. 

The audio system provides verbal cues to guide the user through the voting process. These cues will require voters to push different buttons on the keypad to make their choices. When the voter has finished the ballot, there is an opportunity to review their selections. Like the tablet feature, the voter will be asked to complete the ballot, the ballot is printed and goes through the tabulator to be counted and stored.  

The ballot marking device has no memory. Once a ballot is printed, it is automatically erased from the system.  Therefore, if the voter reviews the ballot and is not happy with the selections, they can request a new ballot but will have to start all over again.  

Advocacy Tip: If you want to use the ballot marking system, let them know when you check in.  A poll worker will activate the device for you and ensure that you have the proper ballot.

Absentee Ballot

An absentee ballot is a manual ballot that is completed by the voter who is unable to be present at the polls on Election Day. To be eligible for an absentee ballot, a voter must meet one of the following criteria:

●       Will be absent from town during all hours on voting day;

●       Have an illness which prevents them from voting at the polling place;

●       Have a permanent physical disability which prevents them from going to the polls;

●       Active duty in the US Military and away from home;

●       Have a religious tenet that forbids activities on Election Day.   

A voter who needs to vote by absentee ballot must first complete and submit an absentee ballot application. The applications are available through the local Town Clerk. After the absentee ballot application is received, the voter is given or mailed the actual absentee ballot. That ballot is completed by the voter and may be mailed, placed in a ballot box at the voter’s town/city hall or given to the Town Clerk. REMEMBER: Absentee Ballots must be received before 8 PM on Election Day. 

Advocacy Tip. Be very mindful of  the date of the election.

Emergency Ballot – This is an absentee ballot that may be requested by a voter who experiences a health crisis within 6 days of Election Day and the crisis prevents the voter from going to the polls. A voter can obtain an emergency ballot application by contacting their local Town Clerk’s office. The completed form must be returned to the Town Clerk's office. Once the application is approved at the Town Clerk’s office, they will provide an emergency ballot for the voter. The ballot is taken to the voter, completed and returned to Towns Clerk's office.  The emergency ballot must be completed and returned by 8:00 PM on Election Day. 

Curbside Voting  - If a voter has a disability or illness that prevents them accessing the polling place on Election Day, may arrange for curbside voting at the polling place. The ballot is brought outside to the voter by two designated polling officials.  The voter completes the ballot and the officials bring the ballot into the polling place and deposit it into the tabulator.  Curbside voting is only to be used on rare occasions when a voter can’t access the polls due to illness or injury that occurred close to the time of the Elections.

Advocacy Tip: If the voter needs to used curbside voting, they should contact the Registrar of Voters and arrange for assistance.

If you have questions about any of the ballots or would like to see samples, contact your local Registrars of Voters.

All polling places must be physically accessible to persons with disabilities. The route from the accessible parking to and through the polling place must be able to navigated by individuals using mobility devices such as wheelchairs, canes, and crutches. The process or methods of voting must also be accessible to voters with disabilities.  Some of the other rights of voters with disabilities include:

●      Access to a sample ballot in large print.

●      Any videos for use by voters must be closed captioned.

●      Voting privately and independently – voting equipment for voters who cannot use a paper ballot to vote privately and independently. 

●      Moving to the front of the line if the disability prevents the voter from waiting.

●      Unlimited time in the polling place to complete the ballot.

●      Have someone assist you with marking your ballot – There are some exceptions to this rule.

●      Vote using any method at the polling place.  Currently, voters can manually complete a paper ballot or use the ballot marking device that must be available at all polling places and the Election Day Registration location.

●      Bring a service animal into the polling place. 

If you are a person who has a guardian or conservator of the person, you cannot be denied the right to vote unless a probate court has issued a specific order stating that your right to vote has been taken away.

Advocacy Tip: If your polling place is not accessible – on Election Day, contact the Elections Division of the Office of the Secretary of the State at (860)509-6100.  

After Election Day, you can file a complaint with State Elections Enforcement Commission at:

State Elections Enforcement Commission

55 Farmington Ave

Hartford CT 06105

Phone Number: 860 256-2940

Website: https://portal.ct.gov/seec

Are you registered to vote? Are you eligible? To be eligible to vote in Connecticut, you must be a U.S. citizen and 18 years of age by the day of the election. You must also be a resident of a town in Connecticut. That’s it!  

There are a lot of options for voter registration. One of the fastest and easiest ways to register is online through the Secretary of the State’s website: http://voterregistration.ct.gov/OLVR. You also have the option of registering at the Department of Motor Vehicles and many other organizations offer paper registration forms. Some of these locations include your local Town Clerk's  and Registrars of Voters Offices, colleges and universities and public libraries as well as the Departments of Rehabilitation Services, Social Services, Developmental Services, and Public Health. 

It is Election Day and you forgot to register to vote. It’s NOT too late! You can still register and vote on the same day!  You don’t do this at your polling place. You register and vote at your Town’s Election Day Registration location or (EDR). The EDR location is open during the same hours as the polling place, 6:00 AM to 8:00 PM. Because you are registering to vote on the day of the Election, the ID requirements are more stringent. Some of the acceptable forms of ID include:

●      Driver's License

●      Birth Certificate

●      Learner's Permit

●      Utility Bill Within 30 Days of Election Day

●      Paystub

●      Paycheck

●      Current Bank Statement

●      Social Security Card

Advocacy Tip: If you are registering to vote on Election Day, check with your local Registrar of Voters about the location of the EDR and the requirements for IDs.  Get there early – they can be very busy places on Election Day!

Inspiration porn, a term describing the objectification of disabled people by people without disabilities, is an ablest concept. There are several different forms including videos, articles, and memes. It is used to motivate non-disabled while completely stripping the subject of their personhood. Oftentimes, it is acute child shown walking without their mobility devices. “If they can do it so, can you!” Other examples include portraying disabled people doing normal things like going go to prom or playing sports. The phrase “No disability in life except a bad attitude.” is especially harmful because it strips away all of the societal and structural barriers people with disabled people face. Sensationalizing an able-bodied person asking a disabled person to prom is harmful because oftentimes all the focus is placed on the able-bodied person and there is little mention of the disabled person.

Inspiration porn is detrimental to the disabled population because more often than not, people who share it are well-meaning individuals. Inspiration porn means putting unrealistic expectations on people with disabilities just to prove to non-disabled that their lives may be hard but “at least they are not disabled.”  Inspiration porn is so normalized in society nowadays that people do not realize how hurtful it is to people with disabilities. Something as simple and benign as a stranger saying, “So nice to see you out and out about.” when someone in a wheelchair is going about their day is actually quite passive aggressive. It is as if to say people are lucky to be out in public.