504 Democratic Club: Questionnaires (Candidate for District Leader Male of Assembly District 79 Jose A. Padilla Jr.'s response)

Candidate Name: Jose A. Padilla Jr.

Address: 653 East 182nd (2F), Bronx, N.Y. 10457

Candidate for District Leader in A.D. 79 (male) Borough: Bronx

Phone: 718-563-4539

Email: josedocs@aol.com

Please describe any experience with disability you have had in your life or career.

Most recently in a personal medical matter deriving from a career/business/employment circumstance I have come into contact with both the term and definition of disability in my life. However, as a public servant with the New York State Department of Correctional services, as an officer, and then with the New York State Department of Labor, as an investigator. I have both worked with and assisted individuals with ongoing disabilities affecting their daily lives. While with the Department of Labor, I received training in Equal Opportunity is the law, in which the topic of The Etiquette of Inclusion Working with people with disabilities was covered. I consistently visit a relative in a nursing home facility where many individuals with ongoing disabilities reside and interact with them on a frequent basis.
Does the club to which you are affiliated have a headquarters that is accessible to persons with motor and sensory disabilities?

At the present moment, I am not affiliated with any club. However, it has been my experience from assessing the offices of presently elected officials that some do not have the accessibility to accommodate any individual with motor disabilities. With regard to sensory disabilities, I would have to research the said issue.
When choosing locations for meetings and fundraisers for your club, is physical accessibility a deciding factor?

No. Under normal circumstances, I would usually be vigilant enough to make sure that any one who will be attending any functions which I am involved with and are or have a disability would not be inconvenienced in any way.
Many local clubs and several Democratic County organizations (including Queens) have their headquarters in inaccessible locations. Do you believe that local clubs are required under the ADA and National and State Party Rules to hold meetings and other public events in locations that are accessible to persons with disabilities?

The New York State Human Rights Law prohibits discrimination on the basis of public accommodations. Under the American with Disabilities Act of 1990 people with disabilities are guaranteed equal access to public services and accommodations therefore it would be an act of discrimination if an individual with a disability would be excluded and denial participation in public events, forums, and/or meetings. Under this premise, both the National and State party should comply and hold meetings and other public events that are both accessible to and can accommodate persons with disabilities; failure to do so would violate existing laws under the exclusion and denial of participation rule. The choice to participate should be left up to the individual himself or herself arid not affected by any other underlining factor.
Are there any persons with disabilities active in your club? Do you have any officers or Executive Board members with disabilities?

As stated before, I do not belong at present to a political club.
Have you run candidates with disabilities for Party office, such as County Committee and Judicial Convention Delegates?

The present slate that I am running on does not have any selection for the county committee and/or judicial delegates.
Has your club made efforts to attract new members with disabilities?

Not applicable.
Have you sought to replace inaccessible polling places in your area with accessible ones?

At present, I have been attempting to identify those polling pieces which are not accessible so that the necessary steps can be taken to effectuate those changes.
Have you appointed persons with disabilities as election workers?

I personally do not get involved in the selection and appointment of any Election Day workers, However you can rest assured that bad I done so anyone with a disability who was qualified arid who with or without, reasonable accommodation could perform the essential functions of 'the position without causing an undue hardship and being a direct threat would he given ample opportunity.
Persons with disabilities have historically been under-represented within the Democratic Party leadership. According to the 2000 census, persons with disabilities comprised 20.6% of all residents in New York State and 23.1% of population 18 years and older. Previously, we were told that only those groups included in the Voting Rights Act were included in the goals and timetables for delegate selection. Yet the lesbian and gay communities were included for the first time at the 2000 convention and again at the 2004 convention. Would you support a campaign to set a goal that 10% of the total New York State Delegation to the 2008 Democratic National Convention be comprised of persons with disabilities?

I would support a campaign to make sure that persons with disabilities comprise the New York Stale Delegation to the 2008 Democratic National Convention through a campaign of inclusion and of assuring that the percentage of those chosen to attend the convention adequately reflects the population of persons having disabilities. Should that percentage reach the ten percent threshold then the goal has been achieved, However, I cannot at this time promise or lock into that 10 percent goal without having factual data/numbers available to make a meaningful and proper determination.

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