During an emergency such as a hurricane or a public health crisis, there is not only a need to focus planning and response efforts on disability-specific aspects of the emergency, but also to seek the input and expertise of people with disabilities in the process. If elected, how would your office work to ensure that state emergency planning (i.e., health testing, sheltering and safety of congregate living populations, et cetera) is inclusive of Florida’s disability communities? How will you work to ensure that communications and other information from the state is accessible to people with disabilities?
I would make sure that all planning processes include an expert on the needs of the disabled. As for accessibility of information, again, I would include an expert on communicating with the disabled.
In the event that the global pandemic lasts through the current school year or possibly beyond, how would you work with state educational officials to ensure that relevant state and federal educational guarantees for students with disabilities are adhered to, and do you believe that it is possible to appropriately educate students with disabilities remotely or through virtual education?
I don't think that it is possible to educate all students with disabilities remotely/virtually. It is important to work through the problems with a group composed of parents, educators, and disabilities experts to come up with a workable solution.
In recent years, the state legislature has devoted much attention to the issue of mental health service delivery and crisis response systems in state public schools. In your opinion, how should the state work to ensure that the mental health needs of its students are met, and what reforms are needed to provide adequate mental health and crisis response services in our schools? When, if ever, is it appropriate for schools to initiate involuntary examinations for its students under the Florida Mental Health Act (“the Baker Act”)?
Our schools are understaffed in terms of mental health professionals, and students do not receive enough education on mental health issues. This must be addressed. In terms of schools initiating involuntary examinations for students, unless the situation is an immediate crisis, I feel that the order should come from a psychologist or psychiatrist. Further, it should be noted that a mental health is never solved in the 72-hour window specified by the Act.
It has become apparent that COVID-19 spreads most easily in institutional and congregate living arrangements. If elected, how would you work to prevent the unnecessary institutionalization of persons with disabilities and reduce other forms of congregate living in favor of serving persons with disabilities in their own homes or the community both during and after the current pandemic? What will you do to ensure that people with psychiatric disabilities are afforded the services they need to succeed in their own homes and communities and avoid psychiatric hospitalization?
While some patients respond well to institutionalization, it is not the solution for the majority of mental health patients. The fact is that succeeding in their own homes (for disabled persons) is better for the mental health of the patients while costing the state less for institutionalization. Society is richer, in my opinion, with the inclusion of all its members in standard community settings.
Even before the pandemic began and massive job losses ensued, 2.7 million Floridians were uninsured. Research shows that under normal circumstances the uninsured have much greater challenges accessing health care, and these disparities are exacerbated during a health crisis. Do you support expanding the state’s Medicaid program to cover adults (19-64) with income up to 138 percent of the federal poverty level to provide more than 800,000 Floridians with coverage? Why or why not? Do you support proposals to utilize a “block grant” or “per capita cap” approach to contain Medicaid spending? Why or why not?
As a proponent of "Medicare For All," I definitely believe that Florida's Medicaid program needs to be expanded. I am opposed to both block grants and per capita caps in Medicaid spending, as it defeats the purpose of expanding Medicaid: ending the high cost of emergency services, which get passed along to the insured and those who earn enough to pay their own medical costs out-of-pocket. When people are able to seek medical attention to maintain good health, they no longer need to rely on emergency services as their primary healthcare option.
Despite the protections of the Americans with Disabilities Act (the ADA) and related state and federal laws, the unemployment rate of people with disabilities continues to be much higher than that of people without disabilities. If elected, how would you work to promote meaningful opportunities for supported employment and competitive, integrated employment of people with disabilities in the state? What policies do you advocate to support the academic and career success of students with disabilities, especially for students from historically marginalized communities and backgrounds?
I'm not sure what areas are currently lacking, so I would need to be educated on this. I can say that I have worked over the years with people of various disabilities, and they have all been successful in their jobs/careers. This has probably been due to the fact that they were not underestimated by their teachers over the years and allowed to fall behind.
Nationwide it is believed that there are more than 750,000 people with disabilities who are incarcerated, and many of these individuals face substantial barriers to reentry when they complete their sentences and return home. What reforms do you support to ensure that returning citizens with disabilities have the resources, skills and mental health supports to succeed when they complete their sentences?
I believe firmly in rehabilitation rather than punishment in our criminal system. The programs needed for incarcerated individuals to successfully re-enter society should be provided during incarceration, not after release, although post-release mental health support should be mandatory.
What is your experience working with people with disabilities or alongside disability-led organizations? Please provide examples of your experience addressing and responding to disability issues or describing disability advocacy efforts you have participated in either personally, professionally, or while in elected office if applicable. If elected, how would you integrate the input and perspectives of people with disabilities in your office’s planning and legislative efforts?
I have worked over the years with someone blind, someone deaf, disabled veterans, and some autistic individuals. In each instance, the workplace had strict policies of workplace inclusion and nondiscrimination. I believe in equality and justice for all. Any legislation I back or propose would need to reflect this. Further, I will back all laws and policies that redress current shortcomings.