Rights of the Disabled

Over  54 Million Americans have some type of disability, and that number keeps growing.

Steve believes that, as a nation, we should support research into future cures, while supporting those currently disabled through appropriate anti-discriminatory legislation and laws that truly make America accessible to all.

Steve supports the ADA restoration act. The Supreme Court has handed down too many decisions that have diminished the intended effect of the original ADA.  That requires remedial legislation.

Steve supports full funding of the EEOC to enable effective law enforcement of the ADA and anti-discrimination laws as well as vocational rehabilitation programs.  Steve wants to create tax incentives to encourage businesses to affirmatively seek out and hire the disabled in the hope of breaking negative attitudes towards those with disabilities.

Medicare must end the in-home restriction on mobility products, such as motorized wheelchairs. For many this is a key to employment, to going outside and to living a full life.

Mental illness is one of the most treatable illnesses of all disabilities, yet we have not achieved mental health parity. Steve's opponent has voted against parity time and time again, claiming that the premiums would go up. Yet, experience in other states shows that the cost only goes up by about 1.5 percent. By treating mental illness early and having parity, America can reduce the costs on the public system of SSI/SSDI and reduce incarceration rates in jails and prisons.  Steve supports legislation that would create mental health parity, psychosocial rehabilitation services and research .