ECIAL EDITION VOTERS GUIDE 
'PI 
("13 
DEMOCRATIC & REPUBLICAN CHAIRS EMBRACE GEORGIA VOTERS WITH DISABILITIES 
 
 Over 117,000 Georgians with disabilities want... 
Real Jobs 
Real Homes 
Real Learning Experiences 
& Real Choices 
 
Our job is to build a powerful coalition of advocates, organizations and state agencies that will work together to make it happen. 
 
(404)657-2126 www.gcdd.org 
 
GOVERNOR'S COUNCIL O N 
DEVELOPMENTAL 
D I 5 AB I LIT I E5 
 
 VOTING PROCEDURES 
4 Prepare to Vote 5 Voting Checklist 8 Get Out the Vote (GOTV) 12 Poll Access - The Difference of Lite & Choice 18 Georgia First State to Revamp the Voting System 
DISABILITY CONCERNS 
6 Know the Issues - Priority Legislative Agenda 7 Quality of Life Campaign 22 Know Your Voting Rights 
BECOMING INVOLVED 
10 Support Your Local Candidate 11 The Ultimate Advocate - Fabiola Armitage 16 Run with the PAC 20 Georgia Round up - Georgia Voter Profiles 
FEATURE -JOIN THE PARTY 
14 Meet Republican and Democratic State Chairs - Ralph Reed and Calvin Smyre 
22 Wiley Nixon: A man to know 23 Do You Know State Officials? 
- We'll see. Quiz Yourself 
0PINIONS/lETTERS 
24 The Power of Voting 
VOTING REsOURCES 
27 Resources 
CAN YOU IDENTIFY THESES SJATE OFFICIALS? 
Making AllRIBIE 3 
 
 BE PREPARED ! 
 
Knowing the rules makes voting easier 
 
Election Day is Nov. 5 , so there 's not much time to get registered, get informed and get to the polls. Following is a general round up of the deadlines, requirements and processes involved in exercising your right to vote. 
GENERAL ELECTION REGISTRATION 
Deadline: Oct. 7, 2002  
DON'T FORGET TO VOTE! 
Nov. 5 - General Election 
Register! 
To registe r to vote in the state of Georgia, you must be: 
A United States citizen  A legal resident of Georgia and the 
county in which you wish to vote  At least 18 years old by Election Day You may not register to vote if you are currently serving a sentence for a felony conviction or have been determined by a judge to be mentally incompetent. 
Three ways to register 
1) Registration forms can be found at the following locations: county board of registrars' or election offices, public libraries, public assistance offices, schools and other government offices. 2) You can register when you renew or apply for your drivers' license or identification card. 3) To request a voter registration form, call your county registrar or contact the Georgia Office of the Secretary of State at (404) 656-2881 , e-mail sosweb@sos.state.ga.us or go on line to www.sos.state.ga.us/ elections. 
You will receive your voter registration card by mail soon after you register. Check it for accuracy and to determine your voting districts. If you do not receive your registration card at least two weeks before the election , call your county registrar's office. 
 
Research! 
It helps to decide in advance how you will vote. You can obtain a sample ballot at your local library or county registrar's office. You may bring your ow n marked up ballot or list of selected candidates into the voting booth with you. 
Transportation 
If you need a ride to the polls, try to request it before Election Day. Ask a friend or neighbor if you can go with him/ her. Or, contact your county registrar's office, local candidates, political party or non-profit organizations such as the MRP, League of Women Voters or the NAACP. Whoever provides you with services should also be able to provide you with transportation to the polls. 
At the poll 
Your polling place is open from 7 a .m. to 7 p.m. The location is listed on your voting precinct card. Note: Due to redistricting, your polling place might have changed, and you might be in a new district. Verify your polling location before you go to the polls. For assistance or information on your voting districts, visit the SOS Web site. 
Bring identification 
Complete a voter's certificate w ith your name and residence address. In primary elections, you are asked to choose either a Democratic or Republican ballot. However, in the General Election you will vote for all candidates with a single ballot. Poll officers will check the precinct list for your name and issue you a control card for the voting machine. 
In the voting booth 
On Nov.5 , Georgia will introduce a new touch-screen system statewide. For an on line demonstration of the ne w electronic voting equipment, go to: 
www.georgiacounts.com . 
 
 ~OTING CHECl<LIST 
 
Vote! 
You will be asked to choose candidates for a numb er of races. You are not required to vote in every race, although the system will remind yo u that you have not cast a vote . Poll officers are ava ilable for ass istance . 
If you have a ny questions, stay in the voting booth and call for help. 
Voting assistance 
A vo ter w ho cannot read or who has a disability may obtain voter ass istance from fam il y members or caregive rs. For more information on voter assistance, see the SOS Web site. 
From 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., voters w ho a re 75 years of age or older or who are physically di sab led may request to vote immediately witho ut waitin g in line . 
Children und er the age of 18 may accompany a parent into the voting booth. 
Absentee ballot 
Yo u may vote by absentee ballot if: you wi ll be away from yo ur prec inct from 7 a. m. until 7 p.m . on El ection Da~, are at least 75 years o ld , have a physical disability w hi c h preve nts you from voting in person, are the co nsta nt caregiver of a perso n with a di sa bility, observing a religious holid ay, on duty in the precinct protectin g publi c safety or yo u a re an election official. 
Appl y to the co unty registrar in perso n, by ma il or fax , between seve n and 18 0 days befo re the electio n. Provide a n address to w hi ch the ballot is to be mail ed ; the reason for voting by a bse ntee bal lot; suffi cient inform a ti o n to id enti fy you as a voter a nd t he electio n in w hich yo u wish to vote. 
Questions? 
For detailed information a bout po lli ng locatio ns, candidates, procedures for voting and elected officials' duties, contact your county registrar or th e Georgia Office of the Secretary of State at (404 ) 656-2881 o r (80 0 ) 551-8029 (TDD ) o r online at www.sos.state.ga.us/ electio ns. 
(See Resources, p. 22, for more information.) 
NEED HELP? WHOM TO CALL? 
Plan ahead fo r smooth voting on Election Day 
How will I get to the polls? Ask a neighbor who is voting. Many organizations provide rides. Call your local service provider, political party offices, candidates, the League ofWomen Voters or your county registrar. Let them know if you need accessible transportation . If an organization offers rides, that commitment should include accessible vehicles. What if I have problems voting? Know the phone numbers of your county registrar's office and the Secretary of State's office. You can get that information in advance from the Secretary of State at (888) 265-1115. 
 
SEPTEMBER 
 
0 
 
17 Special El ecti o n, if needed 
 
0 28 Quality of Life Candidates Forum 
 
Macon College www.quailtyoflifevoter.org 
 
OCTOBER 
0 1 - 31 Attend public forum s to hear candidates 0 1 - 31 Contact at least one candidate to ex press your 
concerns via  e- mail  phone  letter  face-to-face contact 
7 LAST DAY to register to vote in the General Election 
8 QOL Voters Forum in DeKalb County: Maloof Auditorium, 1300 Commerce Dr. Decatur Sonia Kuniaansky (404) 508-7796 
15 QOL Voters Forum, at Warner Robbins: Middle Georgia Tec hni cal College, contact Lelia Anderson, (478) 542-2268 or landerson@hcbe.net 
20 Make sure yo ur voter registration card has a rrived. Check it for accuracy and correct address. 
24 QO L Voters Fo rum in Monroe County: Carver Middle Sc hool. Contact Teri Wommack at (770 ) 267-6594 or teri@walkerc hamber.org 
28 Last Day to request yo ur absentee ballot NOTE: Absentee ballots must be signed and received by the county board ofregistrars ' office on or before Election Day ! 
29 Call to arrange transportation to your voting precinct. 
 
NOVEMBER 
 
0 1 - 5 Continue to a ttend candid a tes' forums 
 
0 
 
Obtain sample ba llot from your county registrar 
 
or library. Check your voter registration card to 
 
identify in whi ch district races you wil l vote. 
 
4 Prepare notes to take to voting precinct. 
 
5 ELECTION DAY DON'T FORGET YOUR IDENTIFICATION & VOTE!! 
 
11 Veterans Day 
 
26 General Run off VOTE! 
 
JANUARY 2003 
 
0 
 
13 Georgia General Assembly opens; 
 
Swearing in of newly elected offic ials 
 
MARCH 2003 
lt'.J 13 Developmental Disabilities Day at the Capito l 
 
Making AlllffEllENCE 
 
5 
 
 l(NOW THE ISSUES 
 
Disability concerns 2003 Disability Legislative Agenda 
 
for 2002 elections 
 
1. Olmstead implementation & waiting lists for home- and community-based services. 
 
In the last decade, disability advocacy has made great 
 
2. Accessible transportation. 
 
strides in education, community life and services, but the issues still boil down to quality of life . Individuals still wait 
 
3. Fair wages for direct service staff. 
 
for service waivers, students still wait to be treated equally, 
 
4. Affordable, accessible and safe housing. 
 
potential employees wait for good jobs and families need help caring for their loved ones . 
By publicizing a political agenda and informing candidates and elected officials know that they vote, the disabil- 
 
5. Inclusive education for children . 
6. Medicaid buy-in for employed people with disabilities. 
 
ity community will be seen as a serious constituency to be 
 
supported . Legislation and funding (appropri- 
 
ations) are critical means to solutions. 
 
To find out howyour assure educational success that prepares 
 
Know the issues 
 
students for life. 
candidates will address  School-to-life transitions: High school 
 
To find out how your candidates will address these concerns, you must be prepared to raise questions at forums, discuss the issues 
 
these concerns, be prepared to raise 
 
students with disabilities need programs and plans to integrate successfully to adult life. 
 
and share them with like-minded voters. 
 
questions at forums,  Transportation: Accessible, flexible, 
 
 Unlock the Waiting Lists! More than 11,000 
 
Georgians with disabilities and elderly are on discuss the issues and and services are needed across Georgia. 
 
waiting lists for home-and community- 
 
share them with 
 
 More jobs and better choices: 78 % of 
 
based services (HCBS). Medicaid waivers and supports enable people to choose how 
 
like-minded voters. 
 
Americans with disabilities are unemployed or underemployed (National Organization on 
 
and where to live . 
 
Disability). The Department of Labor needs 
 
to strengthen employer incentives and programs to help 
 
 Fair wages, better training and better provider services: 
 
people with disabilities obtain and maintain jobs with 
 
Improved training, increased wages, better job opportu- livable wages . 
 
nities and service quality monitoring are needed to 
 
improve care and support services. Low wages and poor  Medicaid buy-in : A Medicaid Buy-in program would 
 
training lead to staff shortages and disruptions 
 
allow people to work and pay a premium to keep 
 
in critical services . These services enable people to live 
 
Medicaid Health Insurance, instead of staying unem- 
 
and independently. 
 
ployed to avoid losing benefits. 
 
 Inclusive education fo r child ren : 178 ,175 children are  Supports to work and live ind e pendentl y: A state 
 
enrolled in special education in Georgia, but only 56 per- 
 
Medicaid Plan Personal Care Option is needed to enable 
 
cent graduate from high school. Children with disabili- 
 
people with disabilities to enter or re-enter the work force 
 
and live independently. 
 
ties need the appropriate services and supports to suc- 
 
ceed in the regular class-  Housing: Affordable , accessible and safe housing is a 
 
room and participate in 
 
fundamental need across Georgia , but especially in 
 
the state's accountability 
 
metro areas , where housing is scarce for people with dis- 
 
and assessment system . 
 
abilities and mental illness. 
 
 Reau t horize IDEA: The I nc rease per capi ta spending: Georgia ranks 50th , in total 
 
reauthorization of the 
 
per capita spending for the number of people served in all 
 
Individuals 
 
w ith 
 
mental retardation community residential services. 
 
Disabilities Education 
 
It is important to let elected officials and those w ho 
 
Act should be ren ewed want the disability vote know the issues that are important 
 
w ith a commitment to to the disability community. 
 
Imperial Health Care resident Margaret Purdue has been an active voter for many years and continues to vote with assistance from Imperial. She is hoping for a specialized wheelchair, currently not provided by Medicaid to people in nursing facilities. 
 
6 
 
Making ADIFFERENCE 
 
 Candidates Forum 
 
QUALITY OF LIFE PROJECT 
By Eden Ja ckson Landow 
 
Public forums inform candidates 
 
Energizing voters to press candidates on the issues affecting the disability community is part of the umbrella mission of the Quality of Life Voter Education Project. 
"The Quality of Life Forum effectively brought disability and aging issues to the 1998 gubernatorial agenda, and we think today's forum has done the same for the 2002 campaign," says Project Manager Dawn Randolph . 
Following commitments made to forum attendees in the 1998 election cycle, Gov. Roy Barnes established the Blue Ribbon Task Force on Home-and Community-Based Services (HCBS), resulting in increased funding for waivers and services. 
"This election year, we are extending the Project and Forum to address quality of life issues for all disenfranchised and under-served Georgians," adds Randolph. 
In addition to the disabil ity and aging communities, the target audiences for this year's QOL campaign include ethnic and racial minority group members, women and girls and individuals needing access to comprehensive health care. 
"Our intent is to get more people out this time to vote, the 
Attend a forum, ask informed questions 
It's important to know the issues, and be ..prepared to ask probing questions, such as these: 
FUNDING ... Will you help restore funding in 2003 to pro- 
vide adequate health care, education, employment and housing for persons wi th disabilities, their families and caregivers? 
LIVING SUPPORT ... What would you do to assure 
access to HCBS for Georgians with and without Medicaid? What can be done to increase compensation for service providers and caregivers and to retain good caregivers? 
EDUCATION ... How would you ensure that all children 
have access to education in the most inclusive environment possible, and that assessment and accountability includes students with disabilities? 
EMPLOYMENT ... Would you support the cost of the 
Medicaid buy-in program in future budgets, to enable people with disabilities to work and protect benefits?? 
SAFE, QUALITY CARE ... Would you support more 
stringent reporting of nursing and personal home deaths to investigate signs of neglect or abuse? 
HOUSING ... What initiatives and efforts will you 
promote to increase affordable, accessible and safe housing for all citizens? 
QOL candidate forums are scheduled for Forsyth/ Dawson/ Lumpkin, Hall, Fulton (9/ 24), DeKalb (10/8), Cobb, Bainbridge, Douglas and 
Houston counties. For dates and details, visit the QOL Web site: www.qualityof1ifevoter.oryforums/foschedules.html 
 
rich and the poor, the involved and the disenfranchised , the educated and the uneducated. We' re trying to engage all of the people in the voting process and election activities this year," says Delois Scott, executive director, Georgia Mental Health Consumer Network. 
" By encapsulating the principles of social justice that our nation was founded on, we will be able to reach more Georgians to carry the message of involvement - and that involvement does translate into improved quality of life for all Georgians, " adds Randolph . 
Quality of Life Forum 2002 
On Sept. 28, about 500 citizens heard about how candidates for governor and lieutenant governor plan to address QOL issues. Attendees asked pointed questions and shared personal stories detailing how public policy decisions impact their lives . Candidates for Labor Commissioner, School Superintendent and Insurance Commissioner were invited to respond to the issues in writing. Responses are posted on the Web site and in the Quality of Life Voters Guide . 
Get out the vote drive 
Every vote counts in making a difference in the lives of Georgians . The QOL will provide incentives and technical assistance for agencies and organizations to implement voter registration drives, phone campaigns, voter education and transportation to the polls. 
15 Local candidate forums 
Organizing and attending local forums are effective in bringing disability issues to the political agenda ofyour candidates. Know the issues that impact your family's quality of life and pose them to the candidates through meetings , letters, calls and forums. 
"We are providing at least 15 mini-grants at $1 ,000 each so that events will have financial and technical support required to be successful. An easy-to use candidate forum planning guide is available on the Web site ," Randolph says. 
Voters Guide 
The project developed a guide to the issues, which include access to health care, economic sustainability, fair wages for direct service providers and independence for people with disabilities. The guide, including fact sheets and statements on electoral candidates' positions on the issues, is available at the QOL Web site and at various events. 
 
Contact The Quality of Life Voter Education Project for info, grants and voters guide. Dawn Randolph (678) 471-3804 ; cdrandolph@aol.com, or log onto www.qualityoAifevoter.org 
 
Making ADIFFERENCE 
 
1 
 
 Get Out the Vote! 
 
By Dawn Randolph, Quality of Life Forum 
Getting everyone to the polls can make a difference 
 
To be t ake n serio usl y, yo u mu st first be heard . Only about 35 perce nt o f eligib le vo t ers w ith di sa biliti es cast ballots in Georgia in 200 0. Low voter turnout weakens our poli tica l vo ice . 
Th e 2002 elections are o ur chance to 
 
GOTV phone calls 
Studi es sho w the most effective voter turnout progra m is the Get-Out-TheVote phone call , re m ind ing voters to vote. 
 
turn up the volume and make sure that GOTV mailings 
 
policymakers know the disability com- 
 
A simp le postcard mail ed to an orga- 
 
munity counts. 
 
nization's members urgi ng them to vote 
 
Get Out the Vote (GOTV) activities has significa nt impact. The eas iest 
 
can make the difference on Election m eth od is to send a pre-printed 
 
Day. Th e object is sim pl e - contact reminder postcard wit h the date and 
 
every voter yo u know and encourage hours of the pollin g places about 
 
th e m to vote. Yo u ca n spearhead 10 days before the election . 
 
a corps of volunteers and mount a 
 
You ca n a lso e-m ail 
 
GOTV campaign, or you can qui et ly wo rk wit hin your own c ircles to raise awareness about the importance of th e vote. 
Th e goal is for each 
 
"Don't forget to contact these organizations 
in advance and tell them how to access 
 
a ll yo ur friends, rem in ding them to register by O ct . 7 a nd vo t e Nov. 5! Tell them why it is important they a nd their fami ly vote 
 
perso n to do so mething wheelchair-lifr vans." this year. 
 
that cou ld make a differ- 
 
ence at the polls. 
 
Transportation to the polls 
 
Ifyou la unch a campaign, recruit vo l- 
 
No one sho uld be preve nted from 
 
unteers to boost its reach and success. voti ng beca use they lack transportation 
 
With phone banks, direct mail , door- to the poll s. The most effecti ve way to 
 
to-door canvassing and transportation get vo t ers to their pollin g stat ion to the polls, you can increase voter is to make sure they have suitable 
 
turnout in your area. 
 
transportation. 
 
Prioritize your GOTV program. It's The National Voter Registration Act, 
 
better to do one activity we ll than to or the " Moto r Voter" law, is designed 
 
scatter yo ur efforts among man y to reduce ba rri ers to voti ng, making it projects . Nursing hom e residents are eas ier to register. Federal and state 
 
often overlooked at electio n time , so funded service age nc ies must provide 
 
consider concentratin g your efforts at a voter registration and coordi nate trans- 
 
local institutio n. 
 
portation to the polls for consumers 
 
a nd family members. 
 
For rides to the polls, tap existing 
 
resources. The easiest solution is to ask 
 
a neighbor. Cand idates for local , state 
 
and national office, county political 
 
parties, the League of Women Voters 
 
and service centers for seniors and peo- 
 
ple with disabilities typica ll y provide 
 
transportation to the polls. Don 't for- 
 
get to contact these organizations in 
 
a dva nce and tell them how to access 
 
w hee lc ha ir-lift va ns. 
 
Find volunteers, delegate and coordinate!  Local electio n law ed ucation  Voting-mac hine demon strations  Absentee bal loting  Candidates Foru m  Li st deve lopm ent & maintenance  Direct ma il Tele ph o ne cam paigns Transportation  Voting assistance 
Absentee ballot 
If you know that yo u ca nn ot get to the polls on El ection Day, cal l yo ur co unty registrar or the Secretary of State's office for an absentee ballot, which mu st be rece ived by t he reg istrar on or before El ection Day. You may also vote at yo ur county offi ce 12 or mo re days before the election. 
GOTV checklist 
Start wi th little things ... Make sure you, yo ur fa m ily members and friends register o n time to vote , form o pin io ns about the candidates and talk to ne ig hbors a bou t the importa nc e of inform ed voting . 
Choose your own leve l of involvement, but remem ber, a successful campa ign has four major compo nents:  GOTV phone ca ll s  Mailings  Transportation to the polls  Absentee voter assistance 
If everyone does just a little bit, we cou ld make 2002 a record voting turnout in Georgia! 
Contact Grace Fricks at (706)348-6609 or fricks@alltel.net; or Dawn Randolph at (678) 47 1-3804 
or cdrandolph@aol.com 
 
8 
 
Making ADIFFERENCE 
 
 Gro\Vin 
 
Get Out the Vote! GOTV hone tree 
 
Im agin e a ca mp a ig n w here candi- registratio n d eadlin e a nd enco urage 
 
d ate s di sc us s di sa bility iss ues and th e m to register. 
 
make co mmitm ents to th e di sa bility Wo rke rs s hould be pre p a red to 
 
co mmunity becau se th ey' re a n impo r- a nswer qu esti o ns regarding th e vo t ing 
 
ta nt co nstituency. It can ha ppen, but process. If poss ib le , sc hed ul e volun - 
 
not until mo re peo pl e wit h di sab iliti es t ee r t ra inin g w ith th e new vo tin g 
 
understa nd t he impo rta nce of th eir mac hines so ca ll ers will be a bl e t o 
 
vo ices a nd go to t he po ll s. 
 
desc ribe th e m to vo t ers. (Con tact 
 
American Alli a nce of Peo pl e with Secretary ofState's office) . 
 
Di sabili t ies (AAPD ) enco urages citize ns 
to recruit age nc ies an d o rganizatio ns Prepare the Callers 
 
to s po nsor a vol un teer Get O ut t he Antic ipate qu esti o ns a nd prepa re 
 
Vo t e (GOTV) effo rt . W ith o ut enco ur- vo lun teers' with tra inin g materia ls a nd 
 
ageme nt , many Georgians will mi ss a n a nswer gu id e such as: 
 
t hi s im portant democratic rig ht . 
 
 Scripts, w hic h s houl d be rehearsed 
 
(on the right) ; 
 
Increase voter participation 
 
 In structi o ns d escribin g ho w to 
 
No n p rofit service provid ers can 
 
record information ; 
 
condu ct nonpart isa n GOTV ca m-  Requi sit ion fo rms to reco rd w ho 
 
pa igns to increase voter participatio n. 
 
need s wh at services; and 
 
A call from a famili a r se rvice provid er  ,Pol li ng informati o n, including how 
 
carries credib ili ty, a nd potenti a l voters a nd where to register, abse ntee voting 
 
will know th e ca ll er is som eo ne t hey rul es a nd deadlin es, laws th at co ncern 
 
can trust. 
 
voting a nd peo p le wi t h 
 
Recruitin g effo rts shou Id stress that vote r turnout a mong peop le with disa bilities is d ism a ll y low. A GOTV 
 
"Imagine a campaign where candidates 
discuss disability issues and make commit- 
 
di sab ilit ies, w here to vote, how to get t here a nd physical access ib ility. 
Make the calls 
 
ca mpa ig n ca n increase ments to the disability Th e phon e ca mpa ign 
 
voter turn o ut a nd make a di ffere nce in t heir cl ients' lives. It is a no npartisa n effo rt th a t does 
 
community because they're an important 
constituency" 
 
s ho u ld b egi n 1n September. Determin e if voters are registered, vote by a bse ntee ba ll ot, 
 
not endorse cand id ates. 
 
know the po ll locat ion, 
 
informed about voting laws and 
 
Work the list 
 
vot in g mac h ines and if they have 
 
Successful campaigns begin wit h a tra nsportatio n. 
 
good li st of na mes, which shou ld be A second round seven to 10 days 
 
current and co mp iled in an easy-to - before Electio n Day shou ld determine 
 
change database. As the campaign w hether the voter sti ll intends to vote, 
 
develops, prospective voters should be if they need assistance getting to the 
 
updated and rated according to: polls and what time of day they plan 
 
"regu lar voter," " needs a ride or assis- to vote. 
 
tance ," etc. Recruit frequent voters to 
 
Plans for voter assistance should be 
 
help with the effort. 
 
confirmed and assigned to volunteers. 
 
Begin calling nonvoters who are On Election Day, cal l registered 
 
most likely not registered prior to the voters and rem ind them. Callers and 
 
coo rdinators must co mmunicate regard ing tra nsportation a nd oth er needs so un expected probl ems can be handl ed qui ckl y. 
Fo r ma t eri a ls or information on AAPD's Disability Vote Project, 
call (202)955-6114 (V/ TTY) o r visit www.aapd .com 
or th e League of Wom en Voters a t www.lwv.org or (404)874-7352 
 
 SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL CANDIDATE 
 
By Anne Osborne with Jody Steinberg 
Campaign season is ripe for influencing policies 
 
"Advocacy is about building relationships, and what a great time to do it, during a campaign season ," says outgoing State Senator Mike Polak (D-Atlanta). 
" I am forever indebted to those volunteers that helped me in my political campaigns w hen I needed it the most. " 
" Many were advocates for the causes we mutually fought for, [but] they became my friends. I would do anything in my power to help them ," he adds. 
Want to win the loyalty of elected officials? Help them get elected. 
Volunteer for change 
Candidates need your time, talents, financial contributions and personal support to help get their message and ideas out to the voting public. 
By working on a campaign, people with disabilities affirm confidence in the candidate who represents their interests. Volunteers get to know the candidate and educate him or her about the issues and concerns for which he or she will eventually make policy decisions. 
"The people who volunteered on my campaign definitely give me sensitivity to the challenges they face daily," 
 
adds Polak, who regularly attended Developmental Disabilities Day at the Capitol. His volunteers, including those in the disability community, stayed in touch after the elections. 
"When they would call me to 
discuss issues, I would definitely 
be proactive in legislation." 
Leave lasting impressions . 
" My volunteers walked with me door -to-door or canvassed for me. They took notes so I could have more effective follo w-up with the constituents ," says Rep . Bob Snelling (D-Douglasville), whose bid for state representative included knocking on almost 3,000 doors . "They also manned the phone banks, reminding people to go to the polls and vote." 
Supporting a candidate does not mean that you have to canvass a neighborhood or log time at campaign headquarters. Polak recalls, by name, campaign volunteers with disabilities who made phone calls or sent postcards from their homes. 
Gain valuable skills 
You may be able to assist 1n many different tasks, depending on your 
 
skills; or you may even recruit and organize volunteers for the campaign. 
Develop a relationship with the campaign volunteer coordinator, who should know what you are doing. Volunteers should arrive prepared to do their jobs, use their volunteer time productively and avoid speaking directly to the issues. 
The best way to be effective is to choose a specific area to help. 
Whether you canvass (go door-to-door) in your own neighborhood , work a booth at a fair or run the phone banks or a team of canvassers. Make sure you track your activities so later on you can measure election results and their effectiveness. 
"Without volunteers, my campaign would not have been as successful , because there is no way I cou Id have made so many contacts and phone calls, knocked on so many doors or written and mailed so many postcards," Snelling adds. 
Make sure you are available to Get Out the Vote on Election Day. Don 't forget to find out about where the campaign party will be on Election Night and to pat yourself on the back for all you have done - Volunteers do make a difference! 
 
SUPPORT YOUR CANDIDATE & LEARN NEW SKILLS 
 
It takes a lot of hard work and money to help a candidate win an election . You can help in many ways. 
Volunteering is a great way to learn new skills, build your resume and make contacts that can lead to paying jobs. 
Many jobs are available according to the time and ability that volunteers have to offer. Volunteers can : 
 
 Stuff and address mailers 
 Answer telephones 
 Display and distribute bumper stickers and yard signs 
 Deliver flyers or sign postcards to endorse a candidate 
 Contact voters on behalf of the candidate 
 
 Attend and organize gatherings to meet the candidate 
 Write letters to local media for a particular candidate or issue he or she supports or opposes 
 Donate and raise funds for the candidate's campaign 
 Encourage everyone to vote. 
 
10 Making ADIFfERENCE 
 
 THE ULTIMATE ADVOCATE 
By Jody Steinberg with Fabiola Armitage 
Mom runs for school board 
to increase disability access 
 
A contentious effort to get Gwinnett County Schools to build ramps for her son prompted a relative newcomer to the community to run for the school board. 
Fabiola Armitage moved to Georgia two years ago with her five children , including Jason , who became quadriplegic after a soccer injury and now uses a wheelchair. 
Jason 's disability forced Armitage to become an advocate for her son's special educational needs from the beginning, but she didn't anticipate the battles she would encounter with the Gwinnett County school system when she arrived. 
" I real ized that the only way to change anything in my son's school system would be to position myself within , 
"In order to change society's treatment 
ofpeople with disabilities, 
more ofus need to join in and take action." 
rather than continue my advocacy from without. It wasn't a desire to be po litically involved that led me to run for Gwinnett County School Board . It is a desire to provide access to a decent and equal education for my son Jason , my four other chi ldren and all children whose voices are not being heard in the system. I also realize that in order to change society's treatment of people with disabi li ties, more of us need to join in and take action ," Armitage says. 
 
Sixth-grader Jason was placed in a seventh-grade classroom because his assigned class, scheduled in trailers, was not accessible. Because the Americans with Disabilities Act requires that all new buildings and renovations be accessible, Armitage deemed her son 's exclusion unacceptab le and asked for a ramp to be built to his assigned classroom. 
Armitage challenged the county for not building ramps to all of its 1,600 trailer classrooms. The resistance she met from her school principal and Gwinnett County superintendent, 
J. Alvin Wilbanks, who assert that modi- 
fications are cost-prohibitive, propelled the issue and the county into the media spotlight. 
Wilbanks, whom media has called " no friend of special education in Gwinnett," stopped Jason 's countyfunded school transport the last week of the school year, citing the need for an additional restraint, which Armitage refused. Responding to the outrage, private c1t1zens and elected officials chipped in to pay a private transport company to take Jason to school. 
 
A member of the Georgia State Advisory Panel on Special Education, Armitage has worked on statewide awareness issues. But, like other parents across the state, she has encountered opposition from her local school system and the Office of Civil Rights on issues of program accessibility. 
Armitage ran for a seat on the Gwinnett County Board of Education but was defeated in the primary election August 20. However, she believes that her campaign raised public awareness and support of special education. 
"Too often we spend a lot of time commiserating with each other rather than taking action. Hopefully, we can channel this new public awareness into action when the next board elections take place in two years," she says. 
"Opportunities abound , if we decide to get involved in the political process. This can be done through running for office, but even more easily by simply making sure we cast our votes for candidates, who from personal experience are aware of the needs of people with disabilities. I urge everyone to go out and vote! " Armitage adds. 
Ma king ADIFFERENCE 11 
 
 LIT EVERY VOTER COUNT 
by Aileen Harris Miller 
 
Poll access - the difference between Life &choice 
 
Anil Lewis saw the light on the impor- 
 
"This may seem an exaggeration ," he 
 
tance of voting when he lost his sight. told the senators. " But when consider- 
 
Losing his sight to a retinal eye disor- ing the ability for a person using a 
 
der at 25 years old created a pol itical wheelchair to cast an independent, 
 
agenda for Lewis, who had never before private ballot, steps may as well be a 
 
considered the world through the eyes 10-foot vertical leap. Narrow doorways 
 
of people with disabilities. 
 
may as well be a 5-inch clearing. And 
 
Formerly a non-voting political side- for a blind person, printed ballots 
 
liner, Lewis became a passionate voting may as well be written in Swahili ifhe or 
 
advocate after encountering barriers at she is expected to independently cast 
 
the polling place, a familiar experience a vote ." 
 
for voters with disabilities able to make 
 
Lewis' testimony did not go unheeded . 
 
it to the polls. The state ombudsman 
joined the ongoing push to extend Making voting accessible 
 
voting rights to all qualified Georgians . 
 
" Everywhere I went, there was Cathy 
 
" I realized how important the Cox telling them what I wanted to hear 
 
vote is," he says . " It determines the - people with d isabilities had the same 
 
people who are put in office. They draft rights, " Lewis says . Cox stressed that 
 
the legislation and statutes that develop any voting system the state implement- 
 
the polices that affect the public servic- ed had to be accessible . Legislators took 
 
es that we [in the disabled community] note . This year, the Georgia General 
 
depend on every day." 
 
Before casting his vote, 
 
Lewis independently 
 
researches 
 
each 
 
candidate's stands 
 
on issues of direct concern to him , not relying on adverti se- 
 
Assembly approved $54 mil- 
 
''The disability lion to purchase an elec- 
 
communt'ty 11aunched 
 
. . tronic touch-screen voting system suited 
 
a concerted effort 
 
for adaptive use, 
 
to overcome obstacles which will be in use 
 
h 
 
JJ in every precinct in 
 
to t e vottng process. the state beginning 
 
ments for information . But 
 
- Grossman with the November 
 
he had to depend on others to cast 
 
General Election . 
 
a ballot. 
 
The new voting system is a precedent- 
 
" Here I was a grown man , and I had setting feat , yet some people with 
 
to take my mothe r with me to the disabilities still face challenges to vot- 
 
polls ," he recalls. 
 
ing. Even registering can prove arduous, 
 
In the 2000 election , 94,000 Georgia especially for those who live in an 
 
votes indicated no choice for president, institution , such as a nursing facility. 
 
prompting Secretary of State Cathy Cox 
 
" In order to register, you need to have 
 
to push for an updated uniform voting access to your identification and access 
 
system . It also prompted Lewis to share to a previous address ," says Sheryl 
 
hi s story. 
 
Grossman , nursing facility transition 
 
In July 2001 , Lewis testified in U.S. outreach coordinator for disAbility 
 
Senate hearings, shedding light on the LINK, an independent living center 
 
difficulty people with d isabilities have in Decatur. 
 
engaging in the voting process. He 
 
"A lot of people in institutions don 't 
 
asked the legislators to consider what have immediate access to these, which 
 
they would do ifthey encountered insur- means advanced planning and 
 
mountable barriers on their next visit to forethought is necessary just to help 
 
the polls. 
 
residents register on time ." For example, 
 
picture identification takes several weeks to obtain . The individual often must appear in person to get the card , which is difficult for someone in a nursing facility with limited transportation assistance. 
According to Secretary of State Division of Elections Director Linda Beazley, checks and balances exist to prevent voting abuses. A previous address at which the voter was registered is requested. However they can use the nursing home as either a residence or mailing address. 
"Our office is committed to making sure that all Georgia voters have access to the polls and are allowed to exercise their constitutional right to choose our leaders," Beazley says. 
Getting to the polls on Election Day or obtaining an absentee ballot also is problematic for nursing home residents, Grossman explains, but a dedicated corps of professionals and volunteers is working to alleviate the obstacles. 
Volunteers reach out 
"This year, the disability community launched a concerted effort to overcome obstacles to the voting process, " says Grossman . "Volunteers are being recruited and deputized per county to assist absentee voters in nursing facili- 
Nursing home resident Addie Williams wants to go home. Her life depends on being able to vote, but she needs advocate assistance to make it happen. 
 
12 Making AlllFFEllENCE 
 
 "...the issues boil down to quality oflife" --Fricks 
 
Lewis told the U.S. Senate that Americans with disabilities want to vote independently 
ti es a nd to get accessibl e ve hicl es and tra ns port vote rs to th e po ll s o n El ection Day. It takes a lot o f t im e a nd effo rt, bu t it is we ll wo rt h it w he n it co m es t o e ns uring so m eo ne's ri ght to vote." 
Nursing ho m e person nel may al so help, ass isting as m a ny res id e nts as necessa ry w hen federal candidates are o n th e bal lo t. 
Voting for life 
Decatur Health care nursing fac ility res id e nt Addi e Wil lia m s uses a w heelc ha ir and requ ires ass ist an ce for th e tasks o f d a il y living. She has he r o w n ho m e, but s he lost he r Medi caid wa iver a nd ha d to m ove to th e nursing ho m e w he n s he needed more ca re than it co uld p rovid e. 
Now s he is back o n th e li st for a ho me care waiver w hile her fa m ily stru ggles t o keep her hou se, as her inco me m ust pay fo r th e nursing fac ili ty. 
William s wanted t o vot e in th e Au g ust prim a ry, but ha d no tra nsportat io n to th e poll s, no o ne to bring her an a bse ntee ba ll o t and no id ea w here to get assista nce. 
Bringing a ttenti o n to the iss ues th a t affect t he disa bl ed co mmuni ty is key, G ross ma n a dvises, t o bring ing a bo ut initiatives such as in crea sing fundin g for Medi caid wa ive rs so peopl e like Addie Williams have th e reso urces to li ve, fun ction - a nd vote - ind e pe ndentl y. 
"The vot ing process for th e p eopl e w hose lives d e pe nd on [th e o utco m e] is very diffic ult, but not impossibl e, " says Grossman. 
"We enco urage a ll vote rs to call ou r o ffi ce if t hey have qu estions a bo ut t he process o r need s pec ial ass istance," a dd s Beazley 
Now presi d e nt o f t he Na tion a l Fed erati o n o f the Blind of Georgia and c hairman o f the board of th e Di sability 
 
Law a nd Po licy Ce nte r of Geo rgia in Atl a nta, Lewis stresses th e impo rtan ce of vot ing to th e d isa b ili ty co mmuni ty. 
" O ne of t he b iggest c ha ll e nges is to re-e nergize th e po p u la ti o n of peo pl e w ith di sabiliti es w ho have bee n hi stori cally d isenfra nc hi sed from voti ng," he says. "We have to re-in te rest t he disa bl ed co mmuni ty o n how importan t t he vote is, how it di rectl y a ffects t he m ." 
Grace Fricks , p reside nt of Appal a chi a n Communi ty En terp rises in Cl evela nd , agrees th at c itize ns with di sa bilities mu st see t he link between voting and having th eir iss ues addressed . 
" For t he di sa bil ity co mmunity, th e 
 
issu es bo il d own to qu a lity of life," Fri cks says . "W ith o ut s ig n ifi ca nt improve m e nt in services a nd s upp orts a nd th e a pp ro priati o ns to fund th em, Geo rgia ns w ith d isa bil ities will co ntinu e to be relegat ed to th e periph ery o f soc iety with limited c ho ices. " 
Fri cks e nco u rages everyo ne to learn t he iss ues, dis c uss th e m w ith li ke mind ed vo t ers a nd ra ise th em in publ ic arenas suc h as candidat e foru m s. 
" By ra ising aware ness of po liti ca l co nce rn s a nd lettin g ca ndid ates and elect ed o ffi c ials know t hat we vote, th e disability co mmun ity w ill be t a ke n as a seri o us co nstituen cy," Fricks says. 
 
Write a letter to promote disability agenda 
Ind ividually-written letters are an effective way ro communicate your support or concerns for a legislative issue ro candidates and elected officials. Also, when alerted by a call or letter, elected officials often help people with disabilities clear administrative hurdles. Voti ng, comm unicating an d writing letters are all important parts of your relationship with your elected government. 
 
Rep: Jane Smith Georgia House of Representatives 
State Capitol Atlanta, GA 30334 
 
(introduce yourselfand let them knowyou live in their precinct) sample: My name is Alice I. Voter. I'm 36 years old and I have always lived here in Homerville, in your district. 
(state your name andyour situation, what type of services you need and why.) sample: I was born with disabilities. I live in Peach State Nursing Facility, but this is not where I want to be. I used to live in a house, and I could go places in my wheelchair. I need help getting out of bed , washing and fixing meals. But I can do other things. If I had a Medicaid waiver for home services and could find a good home care provider, I could live in an apartment on my own and be much happier. My roommate at the hospital is only here because she couldn' t get help to live at home safely. She had her own apartment and she misses it. We both want to choose how we live . 
It is important that you understand how critical it is for people like me to have access to quality services. Please Unlock the Waiting Lists! by increasing funding for Medicaid waivers for services. Our lives depend on it. 
(ask for a response or action) sample: Please tell me how you will help us if you are elected . M y friends and I will vote for someone who believes in helping us live independently. 
 
For address information on candidates and elected officials, go to: 
www.dnet.org or www.vote-smart.org or Georgia House Public Information Office: 
(404) 656-5082 or (800) 282-5800. 
 
Thank you very much, 
Ate 1. "P~ 
(provide address and phone) 1234 Chestnut Street Homerville, GA 32145 (912) 555-1 212 
 
Making AlllFJERENCE 13 
 
 jOIN THE PARTY 
ByJody Steinberg 
Democratic and Republican Party Chairs embrace Georgia voters with disabilities 
 
Calvin Smyre is a career banker and steward of foundations. Ralph Reed , former fiery leader of the Christian Coalition , is an author and political consultant. 
Smyre has spent decades as an elected politician , Reed , getting politicians elected. 
Political Party: n - group of 
people who work together to effect political change through a common ideal of governance. 
While Smyre's quiet demeanor belies his clout, Reed , an outspoken personality frequently seen and quoted in the media , is nationally lauded for his influence . 
Smyre leads the Democrat Party of Georgia while Reed directs the Georgia Republican Party. 
So , what do these opposites have in common? Each wholeheartedly embraces Georgia's diverse population, working to assure that their parties engage all citizens, including those with disabilities , in establishing policies. Both also maintain frenetic schedules, juggling professional , family, political and party responsibilities while redefining politics in Georgia . 
Both agree passionately that party politics in Georgia are not just for a privileged few. They are for anyone willing to work for change, and people with disabilities have much to contribute. Bringing the agenda of the disabil- 
 
ity community to the political realm is possible simply by joining a party and speaking up, say both Smyre and Reed. 
Making A Difference 
"The Georgia Republican Party works hard to provide access and opportunity to the disability community," Reed says. "Members of the disability community can and do play a role in our efforts , from contacting elected officials to getting out the vote. " Disability advocates even introduce and promote legislation. Reed cites party member Tiffany Fleming, who successfully worked to pass a bill in the General Assembly requiring insurance companies to treat autism like other neurological diso rders. 
Democracy: n - government 
by the people, exercised directly or through elected representatives. 
Pictured: Hillary Middleton, Athens voter with Smyre and Reed 
 
"The single most important thing people 
can do to influence their government is get involved in political parties." 
- Rep. Calvin Smyre 
14 Ma king AllFFERENCE 
 
 The mother of Connor, who has autism , Fleming is an activist for enriching the lives of people wit h autism. She and other citizens used political party ties, enlisting the help of Mark Burkhalter (R-Fulton) and Ben Harbin (R-Columbia) to cosponsor House Bill 565, which strengthens insurance benefits for autism treatments. 
"Their hard work paid off," remarks Reed . Working through political connections, "one mother brought forward an issue that changed public poli cy." 
Smyre also believes in the power of one. 
" I have always felt like we were put in this world to make a difference, and you can 't do that on the sidelines. That' s true in politics, it's true in life as wel l," says Rep. Calvin Smyre ( D-Columbu s), Democratic chair. 
Political influence begins locally. Id entify important issues, such as the issues that affect the disability community, build coalitions and coalesce around them. 
Smyre cites Decatur resident Eleanor Smith , w ho envisioned a world where new hou ses would be bu il t with accessible features. She works the political process tirelessly to achieve her dream. Today, her Concrete Change organization works with builders to co nstruct "visitABLE" homes across Georgia . 
"M any issues of the disability community transcend partisan politics, but the single most important thing people can do to influence their government is get invo lved in political parties. Organizational influence on politicians makes public pol icy. You have to get invo lved ," Smyre says. 
"When Governor Ba rnes appointed a bi-partisan Blue-Ribbon task force to study hom e-an d commu nity-based services (HCBS) , he didn 't have to look far for vol unteers. In add ition to professional experts, he a lready knew disability advocates who had been promoting the agenda all along through the Democratic party, " Smyre a dd s. 
Unle ss candidates a nd e lec t ed officials have th e opportunity to 
continued next page 
 
 jOIN THE PARTY 
 
continued from previous page 
learn the facts about an important issue, they cannot be expected to vote effectively or change systems that impact lives , both Reed and Smyre believe. 
"All things start with networking," explains Ed Thomas of Marietta. Thomas , who ran unsuccessfully his first time out this year in Cobb County for State House District 33 , Post 2, joined the Cobb County Democratic Party and attended breakfasts , forums and party meetings for a year before his first bid for office. 
" One person by themselves cannot do a lot, but working as part of a committee or a group, you are able to bring that human aspect to the issues. Education is primary, teaching other adults about disabilities. Being able to express your opinion to the community also is helpful, " he adds. 
How policy is made 
Political organizations such as the Republican , Democratic, Green , Libertarian, Reform and Independent parties involve everyday citizens to gather information and develop political platforms. Then , they select issues that represent their constituents and their theory of governance . 
Citizens are encouraged to join the party that best articulates their philosophy. Involved party members are chosen as delegates to conventions where policy is dec ided. Sometimes, candidates are recruited by the party to run for office on the policy ideals of the party platform. 
The competition between the parties assures that major issues are addressed. But for progressive, "special interests," such as the issues confronting the disability community, to make it onto the political agenda, concerned citizens have to become involved. 
"The competition forces each party to field the best candidates and put forward the most appealing agenda," explains Reed. "Smaller parties make a difference by raising issues that the Democrats and Republicans might otherwise neglect. " 
Think Global, Go Local 
" Loca l parties and local politics are where the action is, " continues Reed. " It is actually easier to inf1uence public policy the closer you are to elected officials. Most issues, like education, transportation and the environment are dealt with at t he local level. Even Medicare , Medicaid and welfare reform ultimately are state issues, given the increasing f1exibility granted to states within these federal programs. " 
It's a myth that inf1uencing public policy is only for the rich and powerful. In reality, many conversations at conventions, party dinners and political events are mini-training sessions; people who care about a particular issue leap at the chance to fill the ear of the candidate or elected official. 
16 Making ADIFFERENCE 
 
Run with the PAC 
Mothers Against Drunk Drivers. National O rganization for Women . National Council on Independent Living. Each began with a few passionate citizens who built grass-raots networks for political action and changed public policy in ways that affect lives every day. 
Organizations that work for change often establish an adjunct pol itical action committee (PAC) to use the electoral process to advance their cause. 
Georgia's most active disability advocates have banded together to launch People PAC, the state 's first PAC dedicated to supporting candidates who champion the critica l issues of the disability community. 
"We needed another tool to he lp us advance the legislative issues of people with disabilities in this state ," explains Grace Fricks , treasurer of the Cleveland-based PAC. 
The bipartisan PeoplePAC made its fi rst campaign contributions, from money contributed by Georgians interested in issues affecting a wide range of disabilities, to 14 Georgia legislato rs prior to the Aug. 20 primary election. 
"This is historic in terms of initial, activity and support for those who understand our issues," said Stan Jones, chairman . "We hope to bring attention to these worthy cand idates and to the new political action committee as well ." 
Traditionally, PACs use their fiscal and human resources to promote a political agenda among decision-makers and to support the campaigns of candidates they endorse. 
Citizens who support the PAC agenda contribute money and directed advocacy activities, such as letter writing and contacting legislators and the media. 
Because PACs are political lobbying organizations, contributions are not tax-deductible. 
For more information, contact Stan Jones, People Pac chairman at 
(404) 817-6133 or fricks@alltel.net. 
 
 NETWORK AT YOUR LOCAL 
PARTY EVENTS! 
 
But only by being there can they get 
 
the attention and commitment from "It is actually easier to 
 
the policymakers. Of course, reality is that family 
 
influence public policy 
 
demands, work and other commitments can interfere with our chance to become involved in local politics. 
 
the closer you are to elected officials." 
 
Voters can communicate concerns to 
 
- Ralph Reed 
 
policymakers in other ways . 
 
Reed recommends attending public forums and asking candidates directly 
 
about the issues or contacting them by letter, phone or e-mail, direct contact, 
 
and, of course, voting. Such tactics helped Reed , former director and driving 
 
fort:e behind the right wing Christian Coalition, built a political powerhouse of 
 
1.7 million voices in less than a decade and put Christian conservatism back 
 
onto the political agenda. 
 
Increasing voter participation is a huge goal of party politics, as well as advocacy organizations. 
 
"When only a small section of the population chooses to vote, others are left 
 
out of the decision-making process," Smyre says . 
 
"Voter participation makes all the difference in the 
 
world between having a democratic system of gov- 
 
ernment and not, " he continues. " In order for our 
 
~ ~ 
 
elected officials to truly represent our issues and our communities, we must constantly communicate our issues to them and 
 
.. I Green Party 
of the United States 
 
vote... to make sure representation at all levels reflects voter values. " Involvement comes in 
 
many forms ," Smyre adds. 
 
"Some people talk to their 
 
ne ighbors about politics, others 
 
volunteer on a campaign . All it takes 
 
is an interest in the political process." 
 
"The right to vote is on e of the 
 
birthrights of every American , a right 
 
for which our forefathers fought and died ... to participate [in the electoral 
 
processJ is not only to show appreciation for the gift of free citizenship, but it 
 
can make a huge difference ," Reed adds . 
 
Local political parties provide the training ground for future political leaders. Becoming involved at the organizational level with policymakers can bring the educational, health care, employment, independent living and transportation issues onto the agenda. 
Later, when policies must be enacted, funded and revised, the relationships you 've formed will make your advocacy efforts more effective . 
 Go to meetings, forums and state events: To get to know your local party leaders, candidates and activists, attend county and state committee meetings, meet party members and learn about the issues facing your community. 
Volunteer in the party office: Offer whatever time and talent you have to give. Begin with simple tasks and move up as opportunities arise. 
Build your own organization: Encourage friends and family to get involved . By building your own group ofactivists, campaigns will know they can call on you to mobilize volunteers or plan events. 
 Become a candidate: Run for party offices. Find out where candidates are needed for upcoming election races . Even when the odds of winning are slig ht, the opportunity to speak as a panelist at forums allows the issue of developmental disabiliti es to be fully aired within the community. 
Stay Informed: Kno w the candidates, the issues, the constituencies and political strategy. 
 
Making AlllfEllENCE 11 
 
 LESSONS LEARNED 
By Jody Steinberg 
Georgia revamps voting system following national election crisis 
 
The 2000 presidentia l election crisis a lerted 
 
Americans that the voting process in the United 
 
States needed improving. Pun ch ballots, cum- 
 
bersome lever systems a nd even some computer 
 
systems proved less than reliable in the very 
 
close race . Confusing ballots and the issue of 
 
access to t he polls a lso raised concerns . 
 
No system is 100 percent accurate, as was 
 
found in Florida, w here 572 votes changed the 
 
course of American history. Election officials 
 
were challenged to find a better method . 
 
" I hope one of the great lessons of the 
 
presidentia l election of 2000 is that eve ry vote 
 
does count," says Georgia Secretary of State 
 
Cathy Cox. "We had one state representative 
 
election wi th four reco unts, w hich turned on 
 
one vote! " 
 
Georgia took that challenge very serious ly, 
 
becoming the only state in the country to pass 
 
laws requiring a uniform , "fail-safe" system of 
 
voting, according to the Secretary of State's 
 
office. Most states in America w ill eventually 
 
vote with computer, as they have proven to be 
 
the simplest and most accurate vehicle for co llecting and tabulating votes. 
Georgia raced ahead, inves ting $54 million 
 
Virginia Harris, executive director of BA IN Center for Independent Living, Bainbridge, signals her approval after trying the touch-screen voting machines. 
 
on the first statewide, uniform computerized 
 
voting system in the nation . Because it meets all federa l t ion by a committee of elected and appo inted Georgian s 
 
criteria under pending Uniform Election legislati o n, 
 
evaluated nin e ve ndors for technical support, publi c 
 
Georgia expects to be fully reimbursed by the United States government. 
 
You will know 
 
education, backup, system reliability, transfer of data and physical accessibility. 
 
Better voting 
 
with confidence that 
 
"The vot ing machines are extreme ly simple to use, and you don ' t have to have 
 
Computerized voting machines are your vote will be counted any computer experience to use them 
 
goo d news for peop le with disabilities , says Cox, w hose office recentl y un ve iled the new D iebold Accuvote-TS, touch- 
 
for the candidate ofyour choice. 
 
w ith ease, " assures Cox. "The b iggest thing to overcome is the [voters'] fear of the unknown. 
 
screen computers. Diebold and the Secretary of State's office 
included people w ith disabili t ies in user studies to ensure that voter accommodations wo u ld be inc luded in the design and implementation of the machines. A 13-city pilot project during last year's loca l election a nd carefu l evalua- 
 
- Cox 
Voting independently 
For the first tim e, man y people wit h disabil iti es can vote independently. This rings true es peci a lly for people w ho are vis ua ll y impa ired or cannot read we ll. Every prec inct wil l have a headset that attaches to the voting machine to read 
 
18 Making AlllFfERENCE 
 
 the ba ll ot to the voter and a small , 
 
handheld keypad for entering 
 
votes. Each vote is repeated 
 
through the headset so the voter 
 
can push a confirmation button. 
 
"The machines are ve ry, very 
 
accessible to people of all abili- 
 
ties, backgrounds, education 
 
level. Even peop le who have never 
 
used a computer have probably 
 
used a touch-screen system at an 
 
information booth or exhibit," 
 
Cox adds. 
 
Each voter has multiple oppor- 
 
tunities to enter votes, review the 
 
options, make certain the votes 
 
have been recorded as desired and 
 
review any races that have been 
 
omitted . 
 
"This year, all precincts will 
 
have better training and a newlydeveloped training manual to better serve the voter. Enabling people 
 
Forrest Lester, Voter Education Coordinator for the Secretary ofState's office, demonstrates the new voting machines to Ellyn }eager ofthe National Mental Health Association of Georgia. 
 
to cast their ballot independently 
 
when they m ight have requ ired assistance in the past was 
 
T he ta ll y on ly becomes officia l after a ll the po ll managers 
 
one of the goa ls of the new machines ," she adds. In the 
 
have delivered the memory cards with tota ls to the central 
 
past, disab led Georgians have expressed frus- 
 
election office for confirmation. 
 
tration with the voting systems and lack 
 
The state purchased one machine per 
 
of accessibility at the polls. 
 
The voting machines 
 
200 voters, 20 percent more than manufacturer reco mm endat ions , and 
 
Addressing concerns 
 
are extremely simple to 
 
some counties wil l purchase add i- 
 
In spite of government officials ' excitement about the new voting machines, past problems with 
 
use, and you don't have to have any computer 
 
tional machines. "We are going overboard with 
train ing, and everyone responds 
 
voting counts cont inue to ra ise concerns . 
The Republican Party of Georgia expressed concerns that local control of the 
 
experience to use 
them with ease. 
- Cox 
 
how simple it is ," Cox says . A team of 12 trainers across the state continues to bring the machines to public places for demonstration , including the polls 
 
voting process be balanced , that sufficient machines 
 
at the primary elections. Over 300 Diebold staff 
 
be in each prec inct so that everyone gets to vote in a t ime- people will be spread out across Georgia to provide tech- 
 
ly manner and that vo ters be prepared to use the machines, nical support to the polls on Election Day. 
 
according to Ralph Reed , party chair. 
 
"You wi ll know with confidence that your vote will be 
 
The standalone voting machines are secure against inter- counted for the candidate of your choice," Cox says. 
 
ferenc e, assures Cox, with votes recorded in three different 
 
places, including a removab le memory d isk. When polls close, a tally tape is printed from each machine and the disks are all removed and placed into the accumulator machine, which computes the totals. These can be trans- 
 
For an on-line demonstration of the new system, go to: www.georgiacount.com/online_demo/index.html 
 
ferred unofficially by modem to the central election office. 
 
Making ADIFFERENCE 19 
 
 GEORGIA ROUND-UP 
ByJody Steinberg and Petula Lloyd 
 
Every Vote Counts 
 
Voters across the state participate in democracy 
 
Statistics show that people with disabilities vote at a substantially lower rate than the rest of the U.S. population. 
Self-advocates and other leaders in the disability community are anxi ous to have more citizens exercise their voting rights. 
 
We looked around the state for voters with disabilities who have become politically active through the vote. 
Here they describe in their own words why voting is an important responsibility of American citizenship. 
 
Janson Renee Kirksey, 28 
Vienna 
"Voting makes m e fee l importa nt . It gives m e a c ha nce to c hoose w ho I wa nt to be in offi ce, w hether t hat person wi ns or loses. Yo ur vote ca n make a difference. Everyone has a right to vote and shou ld. " 
Th is month , Kirksey celebrates her fourt h a nniversary as a wa itress at Marise Country Cooking in Vienna. Kirksey attends the First Baptist Church and lives in the Rufus County Ho m e for Wo m e n , ru n by Easter Sea ls, So ut hern Georgia. 
Easter Seals SWGA supports its clients in voting. Exec utive Director 
Kirksey used a lever voting machine for the last time in the 2002 August Primary Election. 
 
Beth Eng lish , enco urages a ll res idents. w ho are capa bl e to registe r a nd vote. Reg io nal Ma nage r Feli ta Brya nt fill ed o ut Kirksey's vote r regist ratio n for m , a nd t he age ncy provid es tra ns po rta t io n to th e po ll s. 
Kirksey was ass isted in the vo t ing process by her caregiver. She was very proud the first ti me she voted and he lped elect a can di date who was also a me mber of her c hu rc h. She e nj oyed te lli ng her fr iend th at s he had her vote. 
"My vote counts and it does make a difference when I vote, " Kirksey says. 
Arthur Valcourt Jr., 42 Savannah 
"As a person w ith a d isability, I feel ve ry strongly about vot in g for ca ndidates w ho w ill liste n to people wit h disabilities . I wou ld really like to see more people wi th disabilities ru n for office. This way we would feel like they would understand where we are coming from!" 
Valcourt, who is married, is a Partners in Po licymak in g graduate and member of People First through Coastal Center for Developmental Services in Savannah. 
" It was difficult the first time I went to vote. I was very nervous. I knew who I wanted to vote for but could not read the names on the ballot. My 
 
mo m was a bl e to help me . After I ha d p laced my vote, I felt very imp ortant . I felt li ke I co uld be m aking a di fference. I fe lt li ke I had a say in so m ethin g ." 
"Only a small number of people with disabilities get a chance to vote. Many 
of them can 't get to the polls." 
The self-advocacy group, People First, which helped Valcourt and other m embers register to vote, is planning to host a speaker at the Coastal Center, who will demonstrate the new voting machines to its members and encourage everyone to learn about the candidates. 
 
20 Making AIHFFERENCE 
 
 Hillary Middleton, 20 Athens 
"! listen to the campaigns before I go vote at the fire hall. I compare what the two sides are saying. I pick up the messages to find out who is 
important to me before I vote.'' 
In the weeks leading up to the e lection, Middleton pays attention to what the candidates say a nd discusses the issues with her pa rents, Kent Middleton and Melissa Moog. 
Middleton is interested in the environment, education, safety issues and world peace, says her dad . He and Moog often he lp Middleton mark a sample ballot from the newspaper so she can take it into the voting booth. 
Middleton is looking forward to voting on the new machines, which she saw at the Capitol rece ntl y when she met Ralph Reed , the GOP chairman in Georgia , an d Calvin Smyre, head of th e Georg ia Democratic Party (see cover story). 
In recent weeks Middleton has been di stributing flyers door-to-door for a friend of the family w ho is running for superior court judge. 
" I wo uld like education to be more access ib le for children with disabiliti es," s he says, although she feels that she herse lf had a good education at public schoo ls in Athens. 
Middleton, w ho has voted in several elections, co nsid ers voting an important part of bein g American. " I' m a U.S. citizen ," she says. " I think it's important for me to vote ." 
 
Judy Bearden Rossville 
Judy Bearden's husband was prepared to help her vote when she went to the polls , but the location was n't. It took 90 minutes before Bearden , who is legally blind , was finally ab le to vote with her husband 's assistance, because pollworkers couldn't locate paperwork for him to sign. 
" It was really kind of frustrating," says Bearden , of Rossville. 
"They just assumed that somebody who is blind is not going to go and vote. All polls should be prepared for any situation. " 
Bearden prefers voting at the polls because the absentee ballot has to be completed early, often before she has heard all the information necessary to make her decisions about candidates. 
The executive director of services for Bridges to Ind e pe ndence Inc. , a Center for Ind epende nt Li ving (C IL), says she wa nts more people w ith disabilities to vote and let legis lators know how they feel about the issues . 
" Many people look at peop le w ith disabilities as not being a complete person and [think] we don 't have the right to say that much . We have a long way to go. We' re headed in th at direction, but I think there's still lots more work out there," she says. 
She is looking forward to voti ng self-sufficiently on the new touchscreen voting machin es. 
" I trust my husband to do my marking, but it wo uld be so mu c h faster for me to do. " 
 
Kitty & Chuck McGarity 
Albany 
Kitty McGarity believes adults wit h disabilities, like her 37-year-o ld son Chuck, should vote - and that parents should ensure it happens. 
McGarity is g lad Albany ARC Director Annette Bowling encourages clients like Chuck, who has Down syndrome , to register and vote. Eve ry vote counts, and the disability community needs to support those who support our issues, she says. 
McGarity encourages other parents to register their c hildren with disabilities and vote together. 
"Their votes count. It is important to cast those votes so the candidates who care about our children 's future win. Those who have made it their 
business to find out about people with disabilities understand that they deserve an equal chance to 
prove themselves." 
Chuck, w ho li ves in hi s own apartment, may not understand everything about the vo tin g process, but he see ms to have a sixth se nse about si ncerity, McGarity says. "Since he was a boy, he could tell pretty quickly w ho was interested in him and his well-being ... and I can tell now, too ." 
Through voting, "We can promote the person who has shown a strong interest in helping us [create] a better environment, better housing, research , etc. " 
" I have seen the second-rate school buildings and fought for gro up homes in residential sections w hen people in my own church were against [it]," she explains . " I have fought ha rder for their rights than anything else in my life, in spite of my quiet, peace-lovi ng na ture ," McGarity says. 
 
Making ADIFFERENCE 21 
 
 Capito list 
 
proves 
 
loyalty 
 
pays off 
 
By Tonya Harris 
 
Wiley T Nixon 
 
Not since the old days of From Governor Barnes to stu- 
 
Georgia Secretary of State Ben dent interns to the Capitol Hill 
 
Fortson has there been a fi xture security detail , everyone has a 
 
at the State Capitol as central , kind tribute to Nixo n. 
 
respected and depended upon 
 
Though he commutes daily 
 
as Wiley T. Nixon . 
 
from Cartersville, until this last 
 
Nixon, whose career dedica- extended legislative session, he 
 
tion stems from his love of poli- never missed a day of work dur- 
 
tics, rose through the ranks over ing the legislature in 35 years of 
 
35 years from legislative page for state government. 
 
then future governor Lester 
 
"Wiley is an important part of 
 
Maddox to General Assembly our team , we are grateful to have 
 
Postmaster and Special such a conscientious and dedi- 
 
Assistant to legislators 
 
cated state employee in his 
 
under the Gold Dome. "This is one of 
the best jobs in the world, working with some of the most wonderfu I people 1n the world," Nixon says. 
 
N ixo n even 
 
position, " 
 
says 
 
leveraged h is re lat ionsh ip with Pres id e nt N ixon to help over 2000 
 
Governor Barnes. " He is trusted and depended upon by everyone here at the state capitol. 
 
Viet n am draftees He is a won derful 
 
o bta in h a rd s hip man and is greatly 
 
Through the years, 
 
di scharges 
 
valued" 
 
Nixo n has built relation- 
 
At home , Ni xo n , a 
 
ships in the Capitol and on the licensed collector and agent 
 
campaign trail. 
 
specializing in patriotic para- 
 
He has campaigned for Sen . phernalia, runs his own business 
 
Herman Talmadge; Presidents trading collectables. 
 
Jimmy Carter and Richard Nixon 
 
" Newly wed " for just four 
 
and many others. 
 
years, Nixon previously served as 
 
Nixon recalls flying to commander-in-chief of the 
 
Washington or walking down to Junior Forest Rangers of Georgia 
 
the governor's office , requesting and is listed in the Bicentennial 
 
assistance on behalf of "people Edition of Patriotic and 
 
with problems" from officials he Outstanding Americans. He has 
 
helped get elected. He even lever- received the General Douglas 
 
aged his relationship with MacArthur Duty Honor and 
 
President Ni xo n to help over Country Award and a Certificate 
 
2,000 Vietnam draftees obtain of Appreciation from the 
 
hardship discharges. 
 
U.S. Army. 
 
VOTING RIGHTS 
By EdenJackson Landow 
Civil rights ensure access, assistance for all voters 
After centuries of sanctioned exclusion, citizens with disabilities fought hard for civil rights. Today, many take for granted the right to physical accessibility, the right to inclusion in education, the right to independent living - and the right to vote. Many others still struggle to have their rights enforced. 
Nation wi de , the disability community has pushed for greater inclusion in the voting system , voicing complaints about obstacles to individuals' constitutional right to vote. 
Federal civil rights laws, legislative mandates and Georgia voting laws guarantee poll access and 
expand v~ting rights for persons with disabilities, 
with one exclusion: "No person who has been jud icially determined to be mentally incompetent may register, remain registered or vote unless the disability has been removed. " 
Voting access is a civil right 
Laws require that voting precincts be permanently or temporarily accessible to voters, and that voters with disabilities have the right to voting assistance. 
Georgia employers are required to grant workers up to two hours to vote on Election Day, but they may also designate the specific hours for voting time. 
Election reform lobbyists, including the American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD), say local and state voting protections are insufficient. They are lobbying Congress and state elections commissions to increase voter accessibility requirements and hire more pollworkers with disabilities. 
Washington-based AAPD, citing a U.S. General Accounting Office report (10/ 2001), estimates 35 million eligible voters have disabilities, but 84% of the nation 's polling places had one or more physical barriers prohibiting them from casting a private ballot. 
The U.S. Justice Department is responsible for protecting individuals' rights, and the Georgia Secretary of State, Elections Division , provides oversight at the local level for the duties of the county election officials. 
Ifyou have any problems, such as physical access or inability to understand at the polls, call a poll 
manager or county election superintendent (or the country registrar's office). If they cannot help, contact the Secretary ofState's office at 
404-656-2871 or 888-265-1115. 
 
22 Making ADIFfERENCE 
 
 Quiz TIME 
DO YOU KNOW YOUR STATE OFFICIALS? 
 
1. Sonny Perdue 
Candidate for Gov 
 
2. Calvin Smyre 3. Cathy Cox 
Democratic Party Chair Secretary ofState 
 
4. Tommy Irvin 
Comm ofAgriculture 
 
5. Mark Taylor 
Lt. Governor 
 
6. Barbara Christmas 7. Eric Jacobson 8. David Scott 
Candidate Schools Supt. Exec. Director, GCDD Senate Rules Chair 
 
(~ d) ::_) ol (8l d) cinJJ_ 5 (g d) cis 112.::1 g cinJJ_ L (Vl d) cis 112.::1 9 cinJJ_ ~ (17 d) cis 112.::1 17 (17 d ) cis112.::1  (zz: d ) cis112.::1 z: (zz: d) cis 112.::1  l 
:) "8 9"L 3 / ':)"9 O"~ H"17 \f" .::1z: E/ U" l :SJClMSU\f 
 
True or False? Tor F 
1) T or F? People with cognitive disabilities do not have t he right to vote. 
2) T or F? Poll sites on private property or those were built before 1940 do not have to meet Americans with Disabilities Act accessibility requirements. 
3) T or F? You cannot bring a sample ballot into the poll. 
4) T or F? Voters can register to vote at the poll on Election Day. 
5) T or F? Voters are permitted to take an aide with them to the voting booth to assist them . 
6) Tor F? Only candidates, elective officials and their staff ca n belong to a political party. 
7) T or F? Get Out the Vote organizations that offer rides to the polls must also offer accessi ble transportation for persons with di sab ilities (but t hey need time to plan ). 
8) T or F? Election s are never determined by a single voter? 
9) T or F? Yo ur group can request a demonstration of the new touch-screen vot ing machines being introduced by the state of Georgia by calling the Secretary of State. 
10) If voters have probl ems at their polling site, they should: 
a ) leave b) call the U.S. Justice Department c) contact the poll manager 
BONUS Challenge: 
Name fi ve candidates that wi ll be on the ballot at your polls and what offices they are seeking. 
Making AmFFERENCE 23 
 
 A quarterly magazine ofthe 
 
GOVERNOR ' S 
COUNCIL ON 
DE V EL O PM EN T A L 
DISAB I LI T IES 
 
The Governor's Council on Developmental Disabilities collaborates with Georgia's citizens, public and private advocacy organizations and policymakers to positively influence public policies that enhance the quality of life for people with disabilities and their families. The Council provides this through education and advocacy activities, program implementation and funding, and public policy analysis and research. 
Lynnette Bragg, Chairperson lynnettebragg@aol.com 
Eric E. Jacobson, Executive Director eejacobson@dhr.state.ga.us 
2 Peachtree Street, N.W., Suite 8-2 10 Atlanta, GA 30303-3142 
Voice (404) 657-2126  Fax (404) 657-2132 Toll free: (888) 275-4233 TDD: (404) 657-2133 www.gcdd.org 
Making ADIFFERENCE EDITORIAL TEAM 
Yao Seidu, Editor in Chief yaseidu@dhr.state.ga.us 
Janice Nodvin, Executive Editor May South Inc. 
Jody Steinberg, Managing Editor Stone Mountain Public Relations Eden Landow, Assistant Editor 
Valerie Manley, Layout & Design Digital Technologies Inc. 
Daniel Perry, Director ofCover Photography 
Alex Jones, Cover Photographer 
DeNatalie Phillips, Promotions and Publicity 
Making ADIFFERENCE ADVISORY BOARD 
Dave Blanchard Atlanta Alliance on Developmental Disabilities 
Karen Carter, M.D. Medical College of Georgia 
Lucy Cusick Families of Children Under Stress 
Don Pollard Self Advocate 
Patricia Solomon Georgia Department of Education Division for Exceptional Students 
It is the policy of Making A Difference to publish readers' letters and editorial 
cartoons. Content does not necessarily reflect the opinions ofthe GCDD, the editors 
or state government. Send your opinions to makingadifference@gcdd.org or call (404) 657-2127 fax to (404) 657-2132. 
24 Making ADIFFERENCE 
 
Voting is powerful 
 
"Our deepest fear is not th at we are inad equate, but that we are powerful ," says Nelso n Mandela. 
On Nov. 5, we have the opportunity and power to elect loca l, state and federal policymakers. From the U.S. Senate to yo ur loca l school board , the ca nd idates that we choose to support will dec ide policy and how to use tax doll ars for the next decade . 
By voti ng them into office, we charge t hose elected officia ls wit h power to make critical d ecis ion s that affect our 
li ves from in.e lu sive educ ation 1n our classrooms to making sure that adu lts with disabilities recei ve the necessary supports in their homes. 
I often hear from and meet with peop le affected by decisions made by local as well as statewide po li cy- makers. Parents frequently complain that local school boards are not respons ive to the needs of t heir ch ild ren with disabilities. As our conversation ends in frustrat ion , I often remind them of an important res po nsibility. 
Peop le with disabilities a nd their fa mily members are beginning to understand t hat electio ns are a ti me to get fr iends, family members and others to vote for candidates who have the right values that support their families . 
This means we have to ask candidates w here they stand on issues. If they do not have the right answers, we need to educate them. If they have th e wrong values , we vote for someone else. 
We must rem ember that if we do not exercise our ri ghts as American citizens and vote, then we have little right to complain a bout the decisions made by elected offic ia ls. 
We have the powe r to change poli cy in Georgia. It begin s o n Tu esd ay, Nov. 5, w hen we vote. 
Eric E. Jacobson, Executive Director, Governor's Council on Developmental Disabilities 
 
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR  Letters should 
include the writer's full name, address, phone number, and may be edited for purpose ofclarity and space. 
email us at makingadifference@gcdd.org 
fax us at (404) 657-2132 
 Or y ou can send your letters to: 2 Peachtree Street, N.W., Suite 8-210 Atlanta, GA 30303-3142 
SUBSCRIPTIONS/ BACK ISSUES  Subscriptions / back issues 
can be accessed at our web site www.gcdd.org or call us (404) 657-2126 
SPONSORSHIP  For sponsorship rates and our 
calendar visit www.gcdd.org or contact Tonya Harris at (404) 657-2127 tharris@dhr.state.ga.us 
 
 illI 
 
jl 
 
/ 
 
II 
 
OPINIONS 
 
It's out with the old and in with the new as Georgians with disabilities and their families vote in record numbers Nov. 5. 
 
 Everyone Is Equal In The Voting Booth 
 
LE I I ERS 
No Vote ... No Complaints 
 
I have voted sin ce I was 18 years old, but until I had a chi ld with a disability, I never realized that my voice mattered, that my vote matters. I thought that the people running for office were more than adequately qualified. 
Now I know that is not always true. Now, I know that the candidates and elected officials rely on me, th e constituent, to let them know what our co mmuniti es need . Now, I a m mu c h more voca l when I don't agree with them , or if I feel they need to be educated on a certain issue. 
I see myself more now as an educator than an observer. 
People with disabilities represent an important part of our communities and their voice an important part of the electoral process. Society needs to see that people with disabilities have an equal voice in this country's political process. 
I' m currently volu nteeri ng in a candidate's campaign. I want to know where he stands, that he believes in what I believe. I am also going to meet with his opponent to find where he stands on issues important to me, and I' m planning to attend forums during this election period. 
I have talked with other candidates' offices to learn how their platforms address issues related to people with disabilities. 
When my chi ldren are old enough, I wil l teach th em about the importance of voting, about their right to vote and truly be equal in t he decision-making process of our governme nt. Everyone is equal at the votin g booth , but our co ll ective vo ice is not as strong if we do not exercise our equality. 
Kathy Dillon Partners in Po licymaking Class of 2002 
 
Voting is a family affair 
Should peole with disabilities vote? Absolute ly! If a person understands right from wrong, good from bad, helpful from unhelpful, then they shou ld be encouraged and assisted to vote. Voting is my daughter' s right, granted in the Co nstituti o n, a nd even encouraged t hro ugh t he federal " Motor Voter" law. Few t hin gs have made me feel prouder than when I first took Natalie to the Voter Registration Office and she voted using the absentee ballot (she can't physically use the voting booth). 
Some might wonder if Natalie, who is functiona lly non-verbal and uses a communication device, understands what she is doing, but some will always "wo nder" about Nata li e! 
Voting is a family affair. I know that Natalie forms definite opinions about what and w hom she likes and doesn 't li ke. She understands the importance of voting and it is important to her. 
It is my responsibility to help her get information to make her own Natalie & Beth Tumlin decisions. Do I think I inAuence her? Probably, but maybe no more than my other ch il dren. Before the elections, we learn about the different candidates. Some I may know personally or have heard of, for others we read the papers! I te ll Natalie what I know and think about the candidates and if they seem to support t he issues that are important to us. We a lso ask Dad and her sisters. On voting day, I read her the choices a nd remind her about each of them . Voting has never been easier. Those who can shou ld go to the polls, where the new voting machines will make the booths more accessib le. I know I always feel proud when in the voting booth. It's also easy to vote by absentee ballot. Go online to www.sos.state.ga.us, or call (404) 657-2881 for an application and it will be mailed to your home. Complete it at home and mail it back. It can 't be any easier than that! There has never been a better t im e for everyone to vote. 
Beth Tumlin , Chair Unlock the Waiting Lists! Campaign 
 
 VOTING RESOURCES 
 
DISABILITY ADVOCACY 
 
GENERAL VOTING 
 
Alliance for Justice: Election Year Legal Guide for Nonprofit 202-822-6070 HNS866 @handsnet.org 
American Association of People with Disabilities Voter registration , polling access, etc. www.aapd .com 
AAMR Info on disability issues, advocacy www.aamr.org/ Policies/ policy_issues.shtml 202-387-1968 or 800-424-3688 
The ARC For people with mental retardation & related disabilities and their families www.thearclink.org 
Atlanta Alliance on Developmental Disabilities www.aadd .org 404-881-9777 
Georgia Advocacy Office Legal resource for voter discrimination/ accessibility issues www.thegao.org 404-88S-1234 or 800-S37-2329 
Georgia ARC Network www.arcga.org or 404-634-SSl 2 
Georgia Rural Urban Summit www.garus.org 404-S22-GRUS 
Governor's Council on Developmental Disabilities www.gcdd .org 404-6S7-2122 or 888-27S-4233 
National Organization on Disability Voter access and registration information www.nod.org or 202-293-S960 
People First of Georgia 
j manders@arches.uga.edu 706-S42-34S7 
Quality of Life Voter Education Project Dawn Randolph www.qualityoflifevoter.org 678-471-3804 
Self Advocates Becoming Empowered Voter registration and education www.sabeusa.org 
State Independent Living Council silcga@mindspring.com or www.georgiasilc.org 770-270-6860 
 
Action alerts, commentary and resources www.acce ss m a n . c o m 
ADAWatch www.adawatch.org/ index. asp 
Ballot Access News www.ballot-access. org/ 
Center for Voting and Democracy www.fairvote.org 
Civil Rights Information www.civilrights.org/ issues/ voting/ 
DemocracyNet Nationwide directory of elections and candidate info www.dnet.org 
Information for national, state and local races. www.politicsl .com 
Empowerment Zone Link to political sources including voter registration and accessibility www.empowermentzone.com 
Enable America www.enableamerica.org 
Federal Elections Commission Information on elections and voting www.fec.gov/ elections.html 
The League of Women Voters Comprehensive voting/advocacy Web site with links, issues and candidate information www.lwv.org 404-874-73S2 
Official site for U.S. Government info, services, transactions, forms www.firstgov.gov 
Vote Smart Program Find your candidates, issues and all your local information www.vote-smart.org 888-868-3762 
STATE OF GEORGIA 
Comprehensive Guide to Georgia Government www.georgia.gov/ gta/ cda/ front_door 
Elections Division Office of Secretary of State www.georgiaelections.org 404-6S6-2871 or 888-26S-111 S 
 
Georgia Voter Education Voting machine demonstrations and information www.georgiacounts.org 
Voter registration and information sosweb@sos.state .ga.us www.fec.gov/ votregis/ vr. htm 888-26S-111 S 
Statewide Voter Education Coordinator Alison Bracewell-McCullick abmccullick@sos.state.ga.us 404-660-1832 
POLITICAL PARTIES 
American Independent Party www.a1pca .o r g 
Democratic Party of Georgia www.georgiaparty.com www.democrats.org 1100 Spring St., Ste. 710 Atlanta, GA 30309 404-88S-1998 
Green Party PO Box S332 Atlanta, GA 31107 ggp @greens.org www.greens.org 
Libertarian Party 1874 Piedmont Road Ste.S90-E Atlanta, GA 30324 www.lp.org/organization/ GA/ www.lp.org 404-888-9468 
Reform National Committee www.reformparty.org 877-467-3367 
Georgia Republican Party S600 Roswell Rd . E. Bldg. Ste. 200 Atlanta, GA 30342 www.gagop.org or www.rnc.org 404-2S7-SSS9 
YOUNG VOTERS 
MTV encourages involvement www.rockthevote.org 
Young Politicians of America www.ypa.org 
Young Voters Project www.stateofthevote .org 
Freedoms' Answer w w w . f r e e d o m s a n s w e r. n e t 202 -78S-S920 
 
Important Note: Current information is critical in the election process. The Internet enables candidates, organizations and media to maintain up-to-the-minute information and comparative databases. Ifyou do not have Internet access, please consider accessing computers atyour local library for research. 
Making ADIFHRENCE 27 
 
 Making ADIFFERENCE Special Edition Voters Guide 2002 
is made possible by the generous support ofour friends 
For information on howyou can be involved, request a sponsorship package from Tonya Harris (404) 657-2127 / tharris@dhr.state.ga.us 
 
Down Syndrome Association of Atlanta 
October is National Down Syndrome Awareness Month Joi n us fo r ou r Buddy Walk on October 12 and our regio na l confere nce "Building Potential: The Unlimited Opportunities" October 3 1- November 2. For more detai ls, ca ll (404)320-3233 
or visit o ur We b site www.down-syndro me-atlanta.o rg 
Atlanta Alliance on Developmental Disabilities 
Promoting ablities and participation since 1956 
Heart of Gold Banquet - October 23, 2002 
'710/f/~~, wit (404) 88 1-9777 9l,xh 221 
VISIT OUR WEB SITE - www.aadd.org 
 
A Subsidiary ofthe May Institute, Inc. 
at A . - ""40<ViU ~ effedWe 
dbWLa4. ~ ~. adde414 ad a<ktt4. .,,id, a<di4Ht,. deudoft"'""tat t114al t'tlti&J. 
ad~~Ked4.. 
1 770 The Exchange, Suite 140 Ada nta, GA 30339 
tel' (770 )9S6-8S11  faic (770 )9S6-8907 www. mayso uth.org 
 
Alb 
Alba ny Ad vo cacy Reso urce Ce nter (Al bany ARC) , se rving o ur co mmuni ty sin ce 1963, p ro mot es t he 
ge neral we lfare of peo pl e wit h d isabi lities an d fosters t he d eve lo pm ent of progra ms o n t heir b eha lf. (229) 888-6852 (24- hour o n-call ) 
www.a lb a nyarc.o rg 
 
Walker County ARC 
Advocating for Georgians with Disabilities Georgia ARC Network Member 
P.O. Box 438 Lafayette, GA 30728 
(706) 638-1669 ARCWalker @aol.com 
 
A SOUTHERN COMPANY 
Energy to Serve Your World" 
 
Southern Company is the South's premier energy provider, serving customers in Georgia through Georgia Power, Savannah Electric, Southern LINC, and Southern Company GAS. Visit us at www.southerncompany.com 
 
Make sure you are on our mailing list to receive the next edition of 
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Contact Tonya Harris (404) 657-2127 or tharris@dhr.state.ga.us 
 
GOVERNOR'S COUNCIL ON 
DEVELOPMENTA L 
DISABILITI ES 
2 Peachtree Street, N.W . Ste 8-2 10 Atla nta, GA 30303-3142 www.gcdd .o rg