During an emergency such as a hurricane or a public health crisis, there is not only a need to focus planning and response efforts on disability-specific aspects of the emergency, but also to seek the input and expertise of people with disabilities in the process. If elected, how would your office work to ensure that state emergency planning (i.e., health testing, sheltering and safety of congregate living populations, et cetera) is inclusive of Florida’s disability communities? How will you work to ensure that communications and other information from the state is accessible to people with disabilities?
The people with Disabilities should always be protected against Hurricanes. There should be more Hurricane Shelters in place for Disability people so they would be out of danger during a Hurricane.
In the event that the global pandemic lasts through the current school year or possibly beyond, how would you work with state educational officials to ensure that relevant state and federal educational guarantees for students with disabilities are adhered to, and do you believe that it is possible to appropriately educate students with disabilities remotely or through virtual education?
Since there might be a second wave of the Covid 19 Virus, people with disabilities need more testing which is paramount for disability students. The younger students are at risk because a 14 year old girl died of the Covid 19 Virus. You will have a state senator who will always protect the people with disabilities. I prefer home schooling if possible through virtual education.
In recent years, the state legislature has devoted much attention to the issue of mental health service delivery and crisis response systems in state public schools. In your opinion, how should the state work to ensure that the mental health needs of its students are met, and what reforms are needed to provide adequate mental health and crisis response services in our schools? When, if ever, is it appropriate for schools to initiate involuntary examinations for its students under the Florida Mental Health Act (“the Baker Act”)?
The state work to ensure that the mental health needs of its students are met should not be related to the Baker Act unless students commit crimes. Teachers and Social workers need to assess a student's situation. If a student does not cause any harm, the students should not be Baker Acted.
It has become apparent that COVID-19 spreads most easily in institutional and congregate living arrangements. If elected, how would you work to prevent the unnecessary institutionalization of persons with disabilities and reduce other forms of congregate living in favor of serving persons with disabilities in their own homes or the community both during and after the current pandemic? What will you do to ensure that people with psychiatric disabilities are afforded the services they need to succeed in their own homes and communities and avoid psychiatric hospitalization?
People with disabilities need to practice social distancing, hand washing, and also, wearing masks. Also, Social Workers need to intervene to make sure people with disabilities practice the rules of the CDC Guidelines. People with disabilities should have a private psychiatrist to ensure they are on the right track in order to succeed in their homes and communities to avoid psychiatric hospitalization. If elected as your state senator, I will always fight against psychiatric hospitalization.
Even before the pandemic began and massive job losses ensued, 2.7 million Floridians were uninsured. Research shows that under normal circumstances the uninsured have much greater challenges accessing health care, and these disparities are exacerbated during a health crisis. Do you support expanding the state’s Medicaid program to cover adults (19-64) with income up to 138 percent of the federal poverty level to provide more than 800,000 Floridians with coverage? Why or why not? Do you support proposals to utilize a “block grant” or “per capita cap” approach to contain Medicaid spending? Why or why not?
First of all, I support medicaid expansion. I would support the state's medicaid program i.e., if all the moneys were accessible to all Floridians. Today's cost of living as has risen but the ages of 19-64 is suitable for people with disabilities who cannot work anymore. I am for a cap for all Health care needs. This question is equivalent to a single payer plan for Florida for 800,0000 Floridians. My plan: People 50 and over should receive Medicare and Medicaid for the state of Florida.
Despite the protections of the Americans with Disabilities Act (the ADA) and related state and federal laws, the unemployment rate of people with disabilities continues to be much higher than that of people without disabilities. If elected, how would you work to promote meaningful opportunities for supported employment and competitive, integrated employment of people with disabilities in the state? What policies do you advocate to support the academic and career success of students with disabilities, especially for students from historically marginalized communities and backgrounds?
People with disabilities have a challenge to look for gainful employment My two favorite entities for the disabled are the March of Dimes, and the Salvation Army. These two entities, in my opinion, will create more Jobs for the disabled.
Nationwide it is believed that there are more than 750,000 people with disabilities who are incarcerated, and many of these individuals face substantial barriers to reentry when they complete their sentences and return home. What reforms do you support to ensure that returning citizens with disabilities have the resources, skills and mental health supports to succeed when they complete their sentences?
I firmly believe people with disabilities should be able to return home after they complete their sentences because they deserve a second chance in life. After a disabled person serves their time, social workers need to intervene to ensure that people with disabilities have the resources to find a job after they completed their sentences so that they will become productive citizens in their communities.
What is your experience working with people with disabilities or alongside disability-led organizations? Please provide examples of your experience addressing and responding to disability issues or describing disability advocacy efforts you have participated in either personally, professionally, or while in elected office if applicable. If elected, how would you integrate the input and perspectives of people with disabilities in your office’s planning and legislative efforts?
As a certified nursing assistant for Florida, I took care of numerous patients with disabilities which was a learning experience to me. The most difficult patient was a paraplegic, who never gave up with his disability. If elected, I will always make sure that people with disabilities are treated with respect and dignity. No one should cause any harm to a disabled person. The disability people I took care of were from Love land. I will always support Love Land for what they accomplish with disabled persons. All the workers at Love Land and other facilities do a great job for taking care of disabled people. We need more centers, like Love land, to continue the input and perspectives of people with disabilities.