Attorney General Josh Shapiro
The social model of disability needs to be considered in tandem with the medical model. What could you do to improve this understanding and sensitivity for clinicians?
Insure ADA compliance in healthcare facilities that receive state funding.
Utilizing the voices of people with disabilities to develop training materials for frontline professionals in healthcare is powerful and effective.
This kind of awareness/sensitivity training should be offered not just to people in healthcare but those who work in law enforcement and are first responders.
Creating an intra-agency commission on this topic will allow for people with disabilities to work with government and healthcare organizations to develop proper training.
What would you do to increase the availability of home and community-based services?
Simplify the waiver process, allowing people to choose from a broader range of service options.
Incentivize someone utilizing in-home care instead in
Increase the amount of care workers in the workforce, but doing targeted recruitment and implementing retention plans that include employee bonuses and student loan forgiveness.
What kind of actions would you consider to support people with disabilities for attending and completing college?
Higher education institutions have programs and supports but the information can be hard to find. This must be improved so students can participate.
Students need to have their student loans forgiven and have the chance to participate in work study programs
Programs need to support students while they are in college and once they graduate and begin looking for a job.
What are your thoughts on Paid Family and Medical Leave?
Paid Family Medical Leave (PFML) people to create a balance between work and family, no one’s job should be jeopardized over a family health emergency.
PFML is a tool of empowerment for people.
What would you do to increase the availability and affordability of housing for people with disabilities?
The amount of funding in this area should be increased 3x of the current allocation.
Increase tax credits available for building affordable housing, specifically earmarked for people with disabilities.
Make grants available for down payment programs, particularly for first time buyers with disabilities.
Improve access to funding for modifications and retrofitting so people can stay in their current homes.
Make funding available for landlords and tenants home repairs program.
What would you do to address of eliminate employment barriers to people with disabilities?
People with disabilities should be consulted with directly when new employment related policies are being considered that will directly impact people with disabilities.
People with disabilities should feel like there are systems in place that encourage people being a part of the workforce in Pennsylvania.
People with disabilities should be rewarded for working in their communities.
Increase income limits for workers with disabilities who rely on medical assistance; current limits are about $42,000 in annual wages, increase that to well over $60,000.
What would you do to increase accessible rural transportation?
This issue is critical to Pennsylvanians with disabilities.
Provide funding to local transit authorities to provide more local transportation options to people with disabilities.
Combine funding sources (state and federal) to create micro-transit systems, doing this will provide more options that are efficient and effective.
How will you work to ensure students with disabilities continue to receive high quality primary and secondary education and support services as the pandemic continues?
Education is a big part of his campaign.
School buildings must be made safe and secure.
Teacher pay must be increased and emotional well-being must be a focus along with academics.
Funding for support services must be increased.
Important: The above bullet point lists area a summary of the response provided by the candidate.