What policies will you propose to address the opioid crisis without eliminating pain management options for those who live with chronic pain?
I would look at creating a system whereby those with proven, diagnosed chronic pain are given an ID or some means to show that they are using it for a legitimate purpose and then audit those that prescribe it to ensure they are only prescribing to these individuals.
Would your proposed policies account for the needs of some individuals to utilize both medical marijuana and pain medication in different facets of their treatment? If so, how?
Yes, it would allow physicians and law enforcement to identify those that use it for legitimate reasons.
What changes will you make to ensure that people who require pain management services can access and receive services that center their individualized needs?
Those needs are based on a doctor's recommendation and should be reviewed periodically to ensure that the doctor is practicing in accordance with normal medical tenets.
Do you plan to address the disparity in equitable pain management treatment experienced by those in the Black, Indigenous and People of Color or multiply marginalized communities? If so, how?
I would first have to see demonstrable data that showed where the disparities are and why they are occurring. You cannot solve a problem if you do not know the facts of the problem.
What policies would you implement to ensure people with disabilities receive comprehensive, high quality, and equitable mental health services and insurance coverage?
I would work with physician, law-enforcement and social workers to determine what is needed and seek a way to provide it.
Share your thoughts on co-responder programs (mental health & law enforcement joint response to mental health crises).
I believe that it is important that law-enforcement are trained on these issues and when faced with it, seek out the assistance of mental health professionals. Most law enforcement officer are trained in basic life support so I only seems appropriate that they are trained in mental health procedures for dealing with the mentally ill.
How would you work to eliminate the disproportionate connection between being disabled and becoming entangled in the criminal justice system as opposed to being given necessary and equitable mental health treatment?
See my answer to number 6.
In your opinion, what can be done to identify and mitigate disability bias in the treatment of mental health? How would you work to address this?
The bias is there because there are many that take advantage of the system and therefore build a mistrust from some. Being able to separate the imposters from those that are in true need is the first step. Then better training for all agencies is needed. No one wants to impede a truly disabled person from getting the necessary treatments they need, unless they are just cold-hearted or mean.
What policies would you propose to encourage public investment in improving accessibility and implementing universal design?
Everything in business is about money and the return on the investment. If the taxpayers want this, the Government should help business owners with the cost of it. Most business owner see it not only as their investment, but an investment by the public and therefore both should share in the cost. Mandates are Orwellian and should be avoided at all cost in a free state.
What policies or incentives will you promote to encourage private business owners to make their buildings accessible?
I will work to get funding to assist them in doing so as I mentioned in question 12.
How can housing data be utilized to better account for the needs of people with disabilities and to promote increasingly accessible living spaces?
I am, by trade, a data person so I would have to research the best way to do that before giving a viable answer.
What policies would you implement to provide people with disabilities with equitable access to upward economic opportunity?
I will work with communities to identify ways to place disabled people in positions that will give them the opportunity to thrive.
What changes to the current social safety net would you propose to implement a more all-encompassing framework that allows people with disabilities to receive needed services that are not currently covered by private or employer-based insurance, such as personal care and other uncovered assistance they may require, while not limiting the ability to pursue economic opportunity? If so, how?
I would need to research all aspects of the current safety net to determine where it could be improved. Then I would work to find ways to improve on them without encumbering businesses and vital resources.
How would you work to promote and incentivize equal opportunity for those with disabilities in employment?
By providing information to the general public on the advantages of hiring the disabled.
How would you propose to address the barriers that unequitable access to transportation create to economic opportunity for those with disabilities?
I would review current modes of transportation in areas where the concern is an issue and work with municipalities to get the funds to provide better transportation services for the disabled.
What policies will you propose to better protect the rights of parents with disabilities and to ensure they have needed supports?
I would work to establish a parental rights advocacy group that would research potential instances where parental rights, regardless of whether they are disabled or not, are being violated. I would also work to stiffen penalties on those agencies that promote such discrimination.
Research shows that removing a child from their parents should only be used as a last resort. How might you work to ensure this standard is adhered to equally when parents with disabilities are involved and adaptation isn’t conflated with neglect or abuse?
This may take some more research, however, I suspect that a means of avoiding having to remove the children may be in assigning a live-in monitor that is trained in observing and dealing with any issues that arise from whatever caused the problem in the first place is resolved.
What policies would you propose to further address bias against parents with disabilities among child protection workers?
I would need to determine where this bias is coming from first before formulating a plan to minimize or completely stop it.
When support is needed to guarantee that individuals with disabilities can exercise their parental rights, how will your policies ensure such supports are easily accessible to the family?
As I mentioned earlier, an advocacy group could work to ensure they have what they need, when they need it.
What policies do you propose to protect the reproductive rights of people with disabilities?
I will work with physicians to determine the ability of the parent to provide the proper care for a child and when the physician deems that they are, their rights will be supported by law. This is a very complex issue and it will take discretion to face it in the proper manner.