"Ohio Valley Goodwill Supports Project Vote Initiative!"

Ohio Valley Goodwill was delighted to work collaboratively with the National Disability Rights Network and Self Advocates Becoming Empowered (SABE), on the 2012 Project Vote initiative on Wednesday, November 7th and Thursday, November 8th. The purpose of the Project Vote initiative is to collect data about the voting experiences of individuals with disabilities on Election day and then, to provide this data to governmental agencies for planning purposes. Survey teams met with individuals at Goodwill’s Employment and Training Center headquarters in the village of Woodlawn as well as its Westwood location. The questionaire utilized by the Project Vote survey team focused on the accessibility aspects of the election experience including physical barriers as well as attitudinal challenges. Members of Goodwill’s Self Advocacy group, the Consumer Advisory Council, met with survey team members as well as many of its other program participants. All survey results are anonymous and just reflect the personal experience of each respondent. “At Ohio Valley Goodwill, one of our important responsibilities is to support individuals in learning to speak up for themselves and to be included in all aspects of civic activities including exercising their right to vote,” said Leslie McCurley, Asst. Director of Developmental Disabilities Services. Ohio Valley Goodwill serves more than 3100 individuals annually and through its partnerships with four County Boards of Developmental Disabilities, approximately 700 are individuals sponsored by the Boards in Hamilton, Butler, Clermont and Warren counties. Ohio Valley Goodwill is pleased to support individuals with disabilities in participating in the election process and applauds the National Disability Rights Network and Self Advocates Becoming Empowered for their leadership on enhancing the accessibility aspect.