Local opinion: The choice is clear for the disabled

The hastening of liberty and the saving of democracy is a short time away. The most vulnerable citizens will suffer with a wrong choice. I am in a unique situation, as an 18-year-old born with disabilities; which are deceiving because they inhibit my ability to accurately display my empathy, understanding and competence. I have a rare form of muscular dystrophy and a depressed immune system that fails to make most antibodies. I also have non-speaking Autism.

Donald Trump’s recent remarks about Kamala Harris being “mentally disabled” prompted this opinion. Not only was his comment false, it is offensive to Harris and to those with mental disabilities. Trump was also accused of telling his brother to let his disabled child die to ease his “burden.”

Both statements show Trump’s insensitive and disconnected nature.

When Trump was elected in 2016, my mother sat me down and told me that I was valuable, despite what the most powerful man in the world might say. I have held onto her words and see the same conviction for equality in Kamala Harris. She has proposals that boldly show her support of the disabled community.

Harris plans to bolster support systems and special education with more funding, expand affordable health care by providing more access to mental health services, help in the workplace by supporting policies that promote equality and reduce discrimination, and invest in innovation that aims to make independent living a real possibility.

Harris also wants to protect and expand the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The ADA is a law, signed by George H.W. Bush. According to the most recent Census data, 61 million people in America have a disability.

This means that about 1 in every 4 people is protected by the ADA. In 2008, George W. Bush signed the ADA Amendments Act, which further strengthen the law. During Trump’s term, he proposed negative policy changes to the bipartisan supported ADA, weakening the law. Project 2025, which Trump appears to favor would weaken the ADA further.

Harris has proposed streamlining Social Security.

This is valuable to me because I applied for federal Social Security Insurance (SSI) in December 2023 and am still waiting to receive benefits. F

or the disabled, SSI helps with basic living expenses. About 8 million people rely on SSI.

Trump has proposed reforms to SSI that will likely change eligibility and reduce benefits. Trump has previously insinuated that people with disabilities are lazy.

I am not lazy, but I do need support. Tim Walz, Harris’ running mate, lives with a disabled son, who he says has superpowers. I consider this statement kind, putting aside the struggles his son and family must encounter. Walz knows firsthand how people with disabilities are put at a disadvantage.

Accommodations are hard to access or non-existent, many areas are inaccessible, and we are misjudged, stared at, and underestimated.

Americans should not again support someone who places more of a stigma on the disabled, in effect making life harder for those already struggling.

When a leader mocks a talented, intelligent man who is cannot control his body, and makes excuses about it, it feels like he is attacking me. It feels like he is making fun of my friends and, sadly, allowing it to be acceptable for anyone to do it. Trump’s mocking is still painful for people like me to recall.

Trump’s attempt to repeal and his continued ideas to change the Affordable Care Act to exclude those with pre-existing conditions, would alter many disabled peoples’ access to Medicaid and other health care options. He previously made changes to disability employment and training programs that did not adequately support those seeking employment.

Trump’s words and actions are never going to be voted down by his most staunch supporters and they last forever.

Another four years of punishment for disabilities that I did not choose to have is not what our country needs. We need a leader who values equality, fairness and compassion.

Kamala Harris is the leader we need for these and many other reasons. A vote for Trump is a vote against any disabled person you know and a vote against me.