504 Democratic Club: Questionnaires (Candidate for Congress Reshma Saujani's 2010 response)

Candidate Name: Reshma Saujani

Candidate for Congressional District: 14

Contact Person: Kevin Lawler, Campaign Manager

Campaign Address: 145 Madison Avenue, 5th Floor, New York, NY 10016

Phone: 503-560-6301

Email: Kevin@reshma2010.com

Website: Reshma2010.com

Endorsements: SAFO (South Asians For Opportunity)

How have you incorporated people with disabilities into your campaign?

We do not currently have any disabled employees or volunteers on our campaign, and to my knowledge we have not received any applications from members of the disabled community. Our campaign believes strongly in diversity and we strive to ensure that our employees and volunteers represent the great diversity of New York City. Equality of opportunity is very important to me, and I would be extremely grateful to any disabled New Yorker who would be willing to volunteer or work for our campaign.
If there is a Campaign office(s) is it wheelchair accessible?

Yes. Our current campaign office is wheelchair accessible, and when we open our field office in Queens, that location will be as well.
What personal and professional experience have you had with people with disabilities in your personal life and in the workplace?

As the chair of the DNC's under-40 effort, I worked with people with disabilities to ensure their voices were an important part of our platform.
What type of jobs would you be willing to hire and to provide reasonable accommodation (e.g. flex or part time) for staff members with disabilities?

According to the fictional attorney Andrew Becket in the film 'Philadelphia,' formulating opinions about others not based on their individual merits, but rather on their membership in a group with assumed characteristics is the essence of discrimination. I believe that this quote addresses the heart of the matter: an individual's merit must be the only element taken into consideration for purposes of hiring or promotion. Furthermore, in order to provide individuals with disabilities access to the workforce, companies should take affirmative action by providing reasonable accommodations, such as flexible work schedules.
While in public office and/or prior to this campaign, what have you accomplished in regard to advancing disability rights? This can include work towards accessible housing, transportation, employment, health care, education, and including people with disabilities in the political process?

As the chair of the DNC's under-40 effort, I worked on the Democratic Party platform to promote health care reform including increased access for disabled patients, to improve facilities for disabled individuals, and advance educational opportunities for disabled Americans.
Will you commit to only attend and/or sponsor events that are accessible to people with disabilities including providing written materials in alternate formats, providing assistive listening systems, and sign language interpreters, as well as ensuring that locations are accessible to people who use mobility aids, like wheelchairs and walkers?

Increasing access to the political process for disabled New Yorkers is very important. I will make every effort to only sponsor events in locations that are wheelchair accessible and to provide accommodations such as sign language interpretation and assistive listening devices.
Do you pledge to use your office to affirm or strengthen, rather than weaken, civil rights protections to persons with disabilities?

I believe that of all our rights as Americans, equal protection under the law is perhaps the most fundamental. As a member of Congress I will fight to ensure that all Americans receive equal civil rights protections.
How do you propose your active involvement/availability to the disability community?
1. Will there be a specific person in your office responsible to this community?
  
  Yes. One of my district liaisons will be responsible for maintaining correspondence with the disabled community. One of my plans for improving the functioning of the 14th Congressional District is to provide greater resources to community outreach. Currently there are only two staff members responsible for maintaining relations with the 600,000 residents in the district. This is grossly inadequate. I plan on having a team of district liaisons who will each have a portfolio of community groups and neighborhoods.
2. Will have regular office agenda meetings on these issues?
  
  Yes. Providing for the people of the 14th district will be my top priority. My office will hold regular meetings to address the specific concerns of the disabled community and to develop strategies for working with state and local government to improve accessibility, as well as advocating for additional legal protections on the federal level.
3. What would you do to have direct contact with our community?
  
  Please see the following answer.
How will you work closely with the disability community to assure passage of vitally needed legislation? What will be your strategy?

One of the primary functions of a Congressional representative is to listen to the concerns of their constituents and advocate on their behalf in Washington. Most representatives in Congress do not devote adequate resources to this important function and have very little direct contact with their constituents. In order to better represent your interests I will:

Hold weekly office hours in the district for which constituents will be able to sign up for a meeting online. Each month, I will also hold an online town hall, enabling anyone to ask questions and raise concerns.

Expand the number of district liaisons to maintain contact with each neighborhood in the district. I want to hear from every member of the community and I plan to make it easy for people to get involved.

In order to pass important legislation we must work to make our government work again. Our government was designed to move quickly when there was a broad consensus on an issue, and slowly when such accord was lacking, but now Congress barely functions at all. Representatives block legislation for political gain and because of allegiance to special interests instead of their constituents. As a member of Congress I will always vote based on the interests of the people and I will work with others who are tired of the dysfunction in order to pass vital legislation.
If you are not an incumbent,
1. Is your office accessible to persons with disabilities?
  
  Yes. Our current campaign office is wheelchair accessible, and when we open our field office in Queens, that location will be as well.
The IDEA (Individuals with Disabilities Education Act) Fairness Restoration Act would permit parents and guardians who successfully bring an action or proceeding which enforces IDEA to be awarded expert witness fees and certain other expenses. Will you sponsor this legislation?

Bringing an action or proceeding which enforces IDEA often requires expensive expert medical testimony. This bill would require the defendant to reimburse the complainant for such testimony if they lose the case. I believe that this legislation will bring a greater equality and affordability to the legal process for those who have been denied their rights. As a member of Congress I will support this bill and vigorously fight for greater enforcement of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.
The proposed Community Choice Act would allow persons with disabilities and older Americans equal access to community-based attendant supports rather than nursing home placement. Will you sponsor this legislation?

In addition to providing additional access to community-based long-term care services, this act creates a 'Race to the Top' style contest which will provide grants to states that provide a greater capacity for caring for community members with disabilities and the elderly. I am a strong proponent of Race to the Top, which has done more to reform the education system in America than any other initiative in the past two decades. I believe this bill has the potential to similarly improve the state of long-term care in the United States, and as a member of Congress I would proudly support this bill.
Persons with disabilities have historically been under-represented within the Democratic Party leadership. According to the 2000 census, persons with disabilities comprised 20.6% of New York State residents and 23.1% of those 18 years and older. Previously, we were told that only those groups included in the Voting Rights Act were included in the goals and timetables for delegate selection. Yet the lesbian and gay communities were included for the first time at the 2000 convention and again at the 2004 and 2010 conventions. Would you support a campaign to set a goal that 10% of the total New York State Delegation to the 2012 Democratic National Convention be comprised of persons with disabilities.

Delegates are elected officials who act as representatives for the various congressional districts at the National Democratic Convention. I believe it is of the utmost importance that the diversity of the State of New York is fully represented by our elected delegates. The best way to accomplish this goal is to encourage underrepresented minorities to run for this important position.

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