What policies will you propose to address the opioid crisis without eliminating pain management options for those who live with chronic pain?
I would work with my fellow legislators and craft a bill that would work to curb opioid addiction by addressing the root cause of it. by partnering with addiction therapist, we can see what all that entails. for me, only concern would be regardless of documentation, there should be options for folks with severe pain management.
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?
I believe just like in every other facet of our state. treatment between doctors and patients are multi layered. it is not a one size fits all approach. I support a both and mentality. I trust doctors to make decisions about their own patients.
What changes will you make to ensure that people who require pain management services can access and receive services that center their individualized needs?
more accessible centers that focus on different types pain management.
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?
by working in those communities and talking to experts in their field as trained doctors who understand the Intersectionality of Healthcare.
What policies would you implement to ensure people with disabilities receive comprehensive, high quality, and equitable mental health services and insurance coverage?
I will be a voice for Medicaid expansion across our state which will include mental health services. I will not continue to shrink our access to mental health services. mental health is Healthcare. everyone should be able to get the care that they need. as a person with disabilities, I understand the need for coverage for all level of Healthcare system. I will be a voice for coverage including mental health.
Share your thoughts on co-responder programs (mental health & law enforcement joint response to mental health crises).
I believe that we should expand the program and eventually only use mental health trained people to go out on those types of calls.
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?
being disabled is not a crime. as special education educator, I see it everyday in the school system. our folks are targeted. we need intervention early on to stop them from being targeted later on. coping skills, social skills especially with our non verbal children will help overall. disabled folks are more likely targets for abuse, neglect, and all sort of other factors. we must end the stigma of disabled people and mental health services as a viable alternative .
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?
by working with folks on the ground who are trained in the area. also some educational review of mental health materials that are bring used to teach it to students who become mental health counselors.
What policies would you propose to encourage public investment in improving accessibility and implementing universal design?
when it comes to construction, I would work contractor and developers to see how we could get accessibility to the next designs. infrastructure accessibility is one of my top priorities.
What policies or incentives will you promote to encourage private business owners to make their buildings accessible?
I will work with private sector to see what can be done.
How can housing data be utilized to better account for the needs of people with disabilities and to promote increasingly accessible living spaces?
Housing is a human right. We need to see the data on Housing especially apartments to better understand the needs of the disabled communities.
What policies would you implement to provide people with disabilities with equitable access to upward economic opportunity?
I will work with businesses and also the employees to see what can be done about this issues. living wage jobs, adjustable disability ssi benefits, and accommodations for folks in the work place.
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?
adjustable disability benefits to go with age that a person is now and not when they were first approved.
How would you work to promote and incentivize equal opportunity for those with disabilities in employment?
my staff if elected would be surprised young people and folks with disabilities on staff working together. modeling how it should be.
How would you propose to address the barriers that unequitable access to transportation create to economic opportunity for those with disabilities?
I would work to teardown barriers that affect public transportation and give incentives for private transportation.
What policies will you propose to better protect the rights of parents with disabilities and to ensure they have needed supports?
by actually supporting them. as a child of disability, I understand the needs that they have. we work together around legislation to protect our children.
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?
I would work with law enforcement and dcf to ensure protections.
What policies would you propose to further address bias against parents with disabilities among child protection workers?
Bias training for for DCF workers when it comes to children with disabilities
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?
Making sure that the website and information is equally disseminated to everyone in the family
What policies do you propose to protect the reproductive rights of people with disabilities?
I believe in body autonomy that includes folks with disabilities. They have the right to do what they want with their own bodies.