I am a regular 27-year-old woman. I just happen to have cerebral palsy, use a wheelchair, and communicate with my eyes. But guess what? I have the same rights as everyone else, including the right to vote!
Voting is especially important to me because I am both a person with a disability and part of the LGBTQ+ community. The decisions our government makes can directly affect my life, from disability rights and healthcare to Medicaid and LGBTQ+ rights.
Of course, voting looks a little different for me, so I thought I would share how I do it!
First, I do my research! I found a sample ballot for my county so I could see exactly what I would be voting on. Then I researched each position, what that person would be responsible for, and the candidates running for it. Honestly, politics can be confusing, especially when there are so many different positions and names!
Once I finished researching the candidates and deciding who I wanted to vote for, I created a special page on my communication software, Grid 3. I made pre-programmed buttons with the candidates’ names and the positions they were running for. I organized everything to match my sample ballot so I could easily find each candidate when it was time to vote. I even made buttons that say “Skip” in case I do not want to vote for anyone in a particular race! That way, instead of typing out every answer at the voting booth, I can simply select the button for my choice, and my assistant can read my selection on my computer screen.
Because of my cerebral palsy, I need some physical assistance when voting. In Texas, the person helping me must take something called the Oath of Assistance, also known as the Oath of Person Assisting Voter.
Basically, this is a legal promise that they will respect my choices. They cannot suggest who I should vote for, pressure me into choosing someone, or tell anyone how I voted.
At the polling location, there is an accessible voting booth that is lower than the regular ones. This makes it easier for me to see the screen while sitting in my wheelchair. Something as simple as the height of a voting machine can make a big difference!
Once I am at the voting booth, my assistant reads each question and the candidates’ names to me. I select my button on my computer, and my assistant enters my choice into the voting machine. We repeat this process until I finish the entire ballot.
Yes, it takes a little longer than it probably takes most people to vote. But who cares? I am still voting, just in my own way!
And that is how I vote! With a little preparation, technology, and assistance, I can participate in elections just like everyone else.
I may be nonverbal, but my vote still gives me a voice!
