“This year, many people are going to have disabling experiences due to COVID-19… that’s why voting by mail is such a huge issue right now,” says Sophie Levitt, the Outreach Director for Access the Polls.
Disability justice is the core of this podcast episode featuring Levitt. Of the organization, the teen says, “At our core is trying to increase civic engagement among the disabled people of America.”
Joining Levitt, Our Future Now co-hosts Natalie Mebane and Jonah Gottlieb discuss how Access the Polls is mobilizing disabled voters and making voting accessible.
Digging deep, they take a look at symbolism, like that of a wheelchair, and how it perpetuates the problem. Levitt defines the myriad forms disabilities — including those that are invisible — can take and how ableism can lead to discrimination. “It manifests itself physically, mentally, and culturally through things like segregating education,” she explains.
Disability Rights: Action Items
Application for your absentee ballot: http://www.vote4ourfuture.org/votebymail.html
Spotlight: Jackie Fielder — A Democrat running for State Senate in California. Learn more about her campaign at: https://jackieforsenate.com/
More Our Future Now Podcasts
PODCAST: Marching Against Environmental Racism
PODCAST: California Fires… Who Doesn’t Get an Escape Plan
PODCAST: Trump’s Actions Against Post Office Prohibit Voting
PODCAST: Behind the Scenes with Youth Activists
PODCAST: Say Hell No to HEALS Act
PODCAST: Back to School with COVID?
PODCAST: Young Political Advisor Explains Environmental Policy’s Impact on Climate and COVID
PODCAST: GRAMMY-Nominated Activist Declares — Vote!
PODCAST: Is Defunding the Police the Answer
PODCAST: Black Youth Share Experiences with Police
PODCAST: Our World’s New Leaders — Kids
PODCAST: Racial Injustice — Our World Is At a Precipice
PODCAST: Senate’s Stall of HEROES Act Will Hurt Education
PODCAST: Exploitation of CARES Act Could Harm Families
PODCAST: COVID’s Impact on Environmental Health and Our Health, Too
PODCAST: Teens Fight For Family Members on Frontlines #YourWorkersMyFamily
PODCAST: How COVID-19 Is Harming College Students
The Our Future Now Collaboration
Our Future Now, a National Children’s Campaign Podcast is co-hosted by Jonah Gottlieb and Natalie Mebane. Gottlieb and Mebane are also co-founders of NCC. Gottlieb, a high school senior from Petaluma, California, is also the captain of One Planet Living and the co-founder and president of Global Awareness. Mebane is the Associate Director of US Policy for 350, an international movement looking to end the use of fossil fuels while promoting renewable energy.
Our Future Now is a collaboration between Parentology, the National Children’s Campaign and Goal 17 Media.
The National Children’s Campaign (NCC) is a national nonprofit organization that amplifies the voices of America’s 74 million children and youth, making sure our nation’s political leaders prioritize issues –health, education, climate and environment, child welfare, gun violence, child immigration, LGBTQ+ rights, and youth civic engagement — that matter to those who are too young to vote. You can read more about today’s episode on the NCC blog here.
Goal 17 Media is a media network producing podcasts, videos and documentaries that inspire individuals and contribute to the common good.
Disability Rights: Sources
The Access The Polls Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/accessthepolls/
Access The Polls Website: http://www.accessthepolls.org/