Attorney Kat Hatz, is a representative for DISCO, a caucus that supports the disability community on behalf of the Harris Walz campaign. Disco collaborates with the disability campaign coordinator for the Harris Walz campaign.
DISCO has two arms, a political arm, which helps with voter protection and a fundraising arm, which has raised over $1.2 million for the campaign, according to Hatz.
She adds, in 2019 when Harris was also a presidential candidate, she was the first candidate from any party to have a disability platform, which was released on the 30th anniversary of the Americans with Disability Act.
Walz and his wife Gwen are aware of the importance of disability rights as they have a disabled son.
Since around 2020 Harris has been involved in voting issues with the disabled community including voter protection, inaccessibility, knowing how to vote, or the resources available to this community, added Hatz.
Hatz, who is also a member of the disability community says it is harder for the disabled to be visible, as they have higher rates of poverty, it is harder for them to raise money, the virtue of having limitations, which is why they have ramped up their efforts.
“I don’t think people don’t care [about the disabled community], but they don’t know because they don’t see it so much,” said Hatz.
According to DISCO, in Georgia 29% or 1 in 4 Georgians can decide the elections this year.
One important policy Harris is proposing is Medicare coverage for home health care givers, who are often paid too little for their work, admits Hatz.
In addition to voter protection, DISCO is also offering resources for those who may need help with emergency absentee ballots for those who are hospitalized or have family members who are hospitalized. You must request these emergency ballots by October 31, and they must be returned by 8 p.m. on November 5, election night.
If you need help with voting in Georgia visit: www.voteamerica.org/emergency-absentee-ballot, www.patientvoting.com/georgia, or www.iwillvote.com.
If you need general voting assistance in Georgia: call 888-730-5816, the national hotline is 833-336-8083, or for live texting assistance text vote in English to 70888 or in Spanish text voto to 70888.
To watch the full video interview, click here.