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!)
  
  
• Archived Webcast Coming Soon!

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.

WEBCAST: Please invite your consumers and local constituents to view this important, pre-primary event at your local office or another common gathering area with Internet access.  This webcast includes CART translation and an on-camera interpreter. Details to follow.

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

How to Access the National Candidate Forum Webcast:

The following instructions will to help you access the National Candidate Forum webcast on November 2nd, 2007:

1. You are not required to register for the webcast, nor do you require a username or password. IMPORTANT: If you visit the HOVRS website before November 2nd, you will be viewing their standard business site. HOVRS, which has generously offered to sponsor and host the webcast, is currently in the process of preparing their site to provide an excellent webcast experience. Your patience is appreciated.

2. The following equipment is required:

a. computer with sound;

b. web browser, such as Internet Explorer; and

c. high-speed Internet connection (cable, modem, T1/T3)— this is MANDATORY. Even if you have a high-speed connection, conditions on the Internet may affect your viewing. You cannot access the webcast with a dial-up connection.

d. no special software is required to view the webcast; it will open a window in your web browser.

3. On the day of the webcast, go to www.hovrs.com for specific instructions on how to access the webcast.

For further connection instructions, please read the frequently asked questions.

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.

FREQUENTLY-ASKED QUESTIONS

Where do I access the webcast?
Access the webcast at www.hovrs.com

Do I need to register and create a password?
No pre-registration or password is required.

Is specific log-in information required?
No log-in is required to view the webcast.

Is special equipment and/or software necessary to view this webcast?
You need a PC with sound, a web browser such as Internet Explorer, and a high-speed Internet connection (DSL, cable or T1/T3)

What time can the webcast be viewed? How long will it run?
The webcast begins at 9 a.m. Eastern Standard Time (EST) and will end at approximately 4:30 p.m. EST. You may start and stop your viewing as often as you wish.

Is the webcast accessible to deaf and hard-of-hearing viewers?
An ASL interpreter will appear on-camera with each speaker, and CART will be available on the webcast. A transcript of the event will also be available.

Will CART transcription be available in Braille after the event?
Braille transcription will be available.

Can I submit questions to the candidates by e-mail during the webcast?
Questions have been submitted by New Hampshire voters and representatives of the nation’s premier disability rights, advocacy, and education organizations. The organizers believe that the questions represent a broad cross-section of Americans with disabilities.

Where can I find the schedule of the day’s program?
The schedule for the day’s program can be found at www.gsil.org.

What if I am having technical issues?
The webcast is designed to be as easy to access as possible, but there are many variables that can affect accessibility. Local equipment, local Internet connection, Internet traffic and technical issues at the event site can all impact the webcast’s availability. If you are experiencing difficulties, check to ensure that you have the appropriate equipment and connection, then close the webcast window and reopen it. If you still cannot access the webcast, the entire program will be available via download at www.manchesteraccess.com within 10 days of the webcast. We will also offer the entire program on DVD—details will follow.