504 Democratic Club: Questionnaires (Candidate for State Committee of Assembly District 67 Elizabeth Starkey's response)

Candidate Name: Elizabeth Starkey

Assembly District: 67

Please describe any experience with disability you have had in your life or career.

I am an attorney and worked for many years as a hearing officer with the NYC Board of Education, adjudicating issues regarding proper evaluation and placement of children with special needs in the NYC public schools. My interest in this field came about as a result of a long battle to secure proper education for one of my children. That child went on to read, to obtain a Master's Degree in Reading and is working as a reading specialist in the NYC public school system.
Does the club to which you are affiliated have a headquarters that is accessible to persons with motor and sensory disabilities?

I am a long-time active member of Park River Independent Democrats (PRID). Our office space at 253 West 72nd Street has always been completely handicap accessible.
When choosing locations for meetings and fundraisers for your club, is physical accessibility a deciding factor?

PRID's monthly meetings are always held at a location that provides complete accessibility.

PRID's annual fundraiser has traditionally been held at the Rotunda in Riverside Park, in front of the 79th St. Boat Basin. Technically, the location was accessible, but barely and with some difficulty. This year, determined to have a completely accessible site, our president Eileen Weiss and female district leader Anne Rafael canvassed the Upper West Side to find a completely 100% accessible site. After a long serarch, they were successful. PRID's 2006 fundraiser will be held at O'Neal's Restaurant on West 64th St. on Sunday, Sept. 10. You are cordially invited.
Do you believe that local clubs are required under the ADA and National and State Party Rules to hold meetings and other public events in locations that are accessible to persons with disabilities?

Yes. The Rules of the NYS Democratic Party are clear. They provide:

Preamble: The purpose of these rules is to inspire and encourage the greatest number of Democrats to participate in the affairs of the Democratic Party...
- Art. I, Section 1 (b): No test for membership... shall be required or used (which has the effect of acquiescing in condoning or supporting) discrimination on the grounds of... disability.
- Art. I, Section 2 (a): All public meetings at all levels of the Democratic Party of New York are open to all members of the Democratic Party regardless of... disability.
Are there any persons with disabilities active in your club? Do you have any officers or Executive Board members with disabilities?

Yes. PRID has numerous, long-time, active members and executive board members with disabilities. PRID values their contributions, accommodates their disabilities when and if necessary.
Have you run candidates with disabilities for Party office, such as County Committee and Judicial Convention Delegates?

Yes. In addition, PRID supported Eve Rachel Markewich, our female district leader, in her recent race for Manhattan Surrogate.
Has your club made efforts to attract new members with disabilities?

PRID solicits new members on the street and is known to welcome all interested Democrats. We have long supported SHARE, the breast and ovarian cancer support organization whose executive director is Alice Yaker, a long-time PRID member.
Has PRID sought to replace inaccessible polling places in your area with accessible ones?

Yes. Led by Jerry Koenig, longtime Executive Committee member and Board of Elections employee, PRID has worked hard to assure complete accessibility to polling places, including making sure that the handicap accessible entrance is easy to locate and open to the public when the polling place is open.
Has PRID appointed persons with disabilities as election workers?

Yes.
Do you support a goal that 10% of the total New York State Delegation to the 2008 Democratic National Convention be comprised of persons with disabilities?

Yes.

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