My Letter to the Obama Campaign

Okay. First off let me start by saying that I am a definite Obama supporter and my family and I are doing all we know how to get everyone connected and voting in this election. So with that out of the way, let me get to the real reason of why I'm sending this email (and it's kinda long, sorry.)

I don't know if you guys will really read this or not, but I hope someone does because I have a concern that I don't believe anyone else in Washington is listening to. I'm a 22 year old black college graduate that was born with Cerebal Palsy, currently living in Maryland and interning with the federal government, specifically in the ODEP department, which is what brought my attention to this issue, though I have been thinking about it for a while.

I'm writing because I would like to know why Senator (and future President) Barack Obama seems like he's not touching a fairly significant slice of the voting population. Of all the minorities and demographics represented in the whole of the United States today, I truly believe that within all of the different mixes we have in this country, the one part that's left out the most are the people with disabilities, and I'm talking SPECIFICALLY about younger people with disabilities. Those in the 18-40 range like myself. I know that Obama and McCain talk about disability and health, they like everyone else I've heard, tend to focus on veterans, and the elderly, which makes good sense they are a significant portion of the vote. But just like what Palin was attempting to do when she accepting the nomination, why won't anyone look towards the other spectrum of that issue? Disability is one of those things that for some reason, just tends to have an age slant on it, and it seems like we're getting left out of the discussion.

I come from a family that is fairly well-off (through hard work, I assure you as we're all black) and as a black, gay, young man living with CP, it's hard enough trying to convince an employer that you're competent enough to find work. Yet, for some reason, the unemployment rate of qualified individuals with varying disabilities remains around 66-70%. Like myself, these people are still expected to work, pay taxes and contribute, yet we're not able to ask for a job (since not even McDonald's would hire me, quoting I wouldn't be able to perform the functions on the job, being in a manual wheelchair) and now we won't a say in the elections either? It doesn't seem right.

And as one of the biggest minority groups in America, with over 45 million Americans having one form of a documented disability or another, it's a large slice of the pie that Obama just seems to be ignoring. If you would consider that fact, think of how many people either have the disability or know someone, either personally through another connection, who has a disability, I just see the slice getting bigger and bigger. And this is something that I wish he would address.

Again, I don't know if you guys would even read or consider this, but as a young person who just moved here to DC, (I'm from North Carolina but I couldn't stay there since you have to have a car to get around, and I can't drive) looking for a job, it's an issue that is VERY real and VERY relevent.

Even if this never makes to the Senator's eyes, to whoever is reading, know I am supporting your efforts and I working my hardest to ensure that we have an Obama/Biden ticket in 2009.

God Bless.

D'Arcee.