2020 Presidential Primary Candidate Survey on Disability
Tim Ryan’s Responses
Employment: What are your views on paying a subminimum wage based on disability?
Every American, including people with disabilities, deserve to earn a livable wage. People with disabilities should have opportunities to work alongside their peers in a job and community of their choosing. And they should receive the same wages and benefits as other employees. No one should be paid less for having a disability.
Assistive Technology: What do you plan to do to increase access to assistive technology for people with disabilities who need it to effectively and independently engage in their communities?
Investing in our students is an investment in our future, and this is true for all children. The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) made incredible progress, but there is still work to be done. I believe we must strengthen IDEA to address the continued challenges for local school districts and those seeking higher education. It starts by investing in our public schools and supporting our teachers so that they have the resources needed to provide educational programs to meet the needs of students with disabilities. And for higher education, we must continue to make that accessible for anyone who wishes to pursue it.
Special Education: How would you propose to strengthen the IDEA when it is reauthorized so that it truly fulfills its stated purpose of preparing children with disabilities for post-secondary education, employment, and independent living, including children with the most significant disabilities?
Investing in our students is an investment in our future, and this is true for all children. The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) made incredible progress, but there is still work to be done. I believe we must strengthen IDEA to address the continued challenges for local school districts and those seeking higher education. It starts by investing in our public schools and supporting our teachers so that they have the resources needed to provide educational programs to meet the needs of students with disabilities. And for higher education, we must continue to make that accessible for anyone who wishes to pursue it.
Mental Health Services: What is your vision for a system of services to support people with mental illness?
As a nation, we must realize our mental and emotional health is just as important as our physical health. I strongly believe everyone should have access to quality and affordable healthcare, and this includes mental health services. The Affordable Care Act (ACA) added mental health and substance abuse treatment as one of the essential health benefits, and federal parity laws protect that coverage by saying it must be offered at the same level as other medical or surgical services. But unfortunately, many insurance companies have found ways to add additional red tape for those needing mental health services. I believe we need to add an enforcement mechanism to strengthen federal parity laws so that everyone truly has the ability to access mental health services.
Workforce Shortage: Please explain how you would address this immediate and growing workforce shortage?
Throughout the country, we are seeing this same trend in a variety of fields. Jobs are available, but potential workers lack the education or skills needed to fill the positions. I believe we must invest in our workforce to address these growing challenges with a shrinking workforce. This is why I am introducing a plan to help encourage workers to seek additional training by giving them a voucher towards the training and by taking care of additional barriers such as childcare or transportation. I believe in supporting our workers in order to strengthen our workforce.
