Encouraging Civic Engagement at CP Unlimited
Updated October 31 with Kibu video preview
Meet Hattie, Iyonna, and Derrick who are voting for the first time this upcoming Election Day!
With November 5 on the horizon, CP Unlimited team members have been working to encourage and register the people we support to vote. The result of CP’s get-out-the-vote campaign has yielded new opportunities to engage in this important public tradition and created connections for persons with disabilities to make their voices heard.
In the Bronx and Manhattan, twenty people with disabilities will be casting their votes for the first time marking a new level of civic participation that was previously closed to them. These folks are learning more about each candidate and the ballot proposals on the docket in New York City while also preparing to fill out voting forms and/or visit their local polling station to do so in person. Alongside each of them is a dedicated Direct Support Professional and other CP employees ready to be of caring assistance and guidance.
Beyond personal voting options, CP Unlimited is also working to help people with disabilities vote in local and national elections across the country. Building on an existing course to help viewers learn to vote, two CP self-advocates in the Hudson Valley worked with online learning platform KIBU to create an updated, more expansive offering that highlighted the process of voting and disability tools to utilize, additional voting considerations for persons with disabilities, online resources, and more. This online course is previewed in the video below:
Get involved to increase support and create more resources for the disability field:
Visit our Advocacy page to send a letter in support of the Traveling with Dignity Act to your local official.
You are also encouraged to urge Congress to support the new Standard Occupational Code (SOC) Bill (S.1332/HR2941) creating a standard occupational classification for direct support professionals. While the bill has passed the Senate, your help is needed to urge the House to pass the bill as well.
