Posted on October 5, 2004 at 9:00 a.m.
BIRMINGHAM, AL — A program under way at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) aims to increase voter participation among people with disabilities in the state.
“There are 871,000 people with disabilities in Alabama who are of voting age,” said Carol Braithwaite, consumer consultant with UAB’s Civitan International Research Center. “Less than 40 percent voted in the last national election, according to national census figures. Increased participation could have a huge impact on elections.”
The Civitan Center initiated the program in response to the Help America Vote Act of 2002 that mandates all states have certain voting reforms in place by 2006.
“Individuals with disabilities may have difficulty registering to vote, accessing polling sites and voting machines, and reading and understanding the language used on ballots,” Braithwaite said. “The program is designed to address these kinds of barriers.”
The program is funded by the Administration on Development Disabilities (ADD). “The organization accepts and channels federal funds to various state agencies,” Braithwaite said. “The funds are used to provide information, training and opportunities to register to people with disabilities and their families.”
One activity of the program involves soliciting the State Elections Office to reformat materials with larger print, better contrast and simpler language. “These changes would allow some people with low vision and low reading skills to vote without the help of an aide at the polling site,” Braithwaite said.
Secretary of State Nancy Worley also has been proactive in the effort, making the Alabama Voters Guide and the new Voter Bill of Rights available in audio book and Braille formats. “The Montgomery office of the National Library for the Blind will mail these to any registered member on cassette (talking book),” Braithwaite said. “Braille documents are available at regional centers of the Vocational Rehabilitation and Alabama Institute for Deaf and Blind.”
The Civitan Center has designed a poster to increase voter awareness among people with disabilities. The poster, available on the Web at www.circ.uab.edu/advisory/vote5.pdf, reads: Your vote is your tomorrow. Power is Alabama’s 871,000 voters with disabilities. “We are distributing the poster to 25 sites throughout the state, including such places as regional Alabama Institutes for Deaf and Blind centers, rehabilitation centers, and hospitals,” Braithwaite said.
Voter registration displays also contain information in Braille and a survey for people with disabilities and their family members. “Questions are aimed at helping us identify and address challenges most often faced by these voters,” Braithwait said.
The program also targets teens in special education classes who are approaching voting age. “We are finding that many children with cognitive impairment and severe physical disabilities and their parents are not aware that people with such disabilities have the right to vote,” Braithwaite said.
More information about the Help America Vote Act and this program of the Civitan Center is available online at www.circ.uab.edu/advisory/hava.htm.