What policies will you propose to address the opioid crisis without eliminating pain management options for those who live with chronic pain?
I want to exempt those with chronic pain. As someone whom suffers from multiple chronic conditions, I have been on pain management for over a decade. I know what works and how to stay safe. I hav head the same doctor, I go to the same pharmacy, and all my specialist communicate. I take my meds as written and they give me the ability to run for one of the Top offices in Florida, and help my children with their homework. We cannot punish people who are in pain.
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, simple put, the doctors know what’s best for their patients. There isn’t a one size fits all solution. Some patients needs a combination of different therapies.
What changes will you make to ensure that people who require pain management services can access and receive services that center their individualized needs?
Legislation that clearly protects pain management patients and gives them a special designation to exempt them from the scrutiny associated with the meds they need.
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?
Prosecute those doctors and pharmacists, and strip them of their licenses.
What policies would you implement to ensure people with disabilities receive comprehensive, high quality, and equitable mental health services and insurance coverage?
Work with the disability caucus to identify opportunities to improve in this area.
Share your thoughts on co-responder programs (mental health & law enforcement joint response to mental health crises).
I think it’s a great Idea. I’m my role as a school resource officer, I find myself overwhelmed at times by the mental health needs of those whom I protect and serve. Mental health professionals would make law enforcement more effective.
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?
Develop programs to educate members of the criminal Justice system to recognize someone who offending because of a disability, and identity ways to get them the help the need, and get them out of the system.
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?
Again, we must educate those working in this field, and legislate results.
What policies would you propose to encourage public investment in improving accessibility and implementing universal design?
I would propose the building over a certain size have disabled persons included in the building codes.
What policies or incentives will you promote to encourage private business owners to make their buildings accessible?
Make it law if their building is over a certain size and give existing structures tax incentives to retrofit.
How can housing data be utilized to better account for the needs of people with disabilities and to promote increasingly accessible living spaces?
I would work with the various housing authorities to identify opportunities. They are best equip to handle that type of data dissemination and implementation.
What policies would you implement to provide people with disabilities with equitable access to upward economic opportunity?
I would give tax incentives to business who recognize the value in people whom have disabilities as well as create y programs to improve their skills
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?
We need to allocate more funds to disabled persons period. At current safety net levels, the disabled populations needs are not being met. More money, and more advocates and social workers.
How would you work to promote and incentivize equal opportunity for those with disabilities in employment?
Incentives for employers via tax credits.
How would you propose to address the barriers that unequitable access to transportation create to economic opportunity for those with disabilities?
Any new investments in transportation would have a quota for people with disabilities. I would also give existing publicly funded programs and aggressive deadline to retrofit their programs to be more inclusive or loose their funding.
What policies will you propose to better protect the rights of parents with disabilities and to ensure they have needed supports?
Parents decided what’s best for their children period. I’m ready to put that into law.
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?
Agency’s that have the ability to separate parents from their children would be required to under training to address this issue and their case work undergo monthly audits.
What policies would you propose to further address bias against parents with disabilities among child protection workers?
Educate their supervisors and give them the backing to remove anyone found to have a bias.
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?
Create a website that is user friendly and encompasses all of the resources in their area, with their specific needs. Also distribute literature at schools, hospitals, and libraries.
What policies do you propose to protect the reproductive rights of people with disabilities?
Legislation period. Disabled people are just that. People.