PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Kathleen Collins, Coordinator of Downstate New York Adapt, on Proposed Legislation and Voting Accessibility
3:30:51
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152 sec
Kathleen Collins, a coordinator at Downstate New York Adapt and member of the Greater New York Council of the Blind, testified on various proposed legislation and resolutions related to voting accessibility and rights. She emphasized the need for amendments to ensure the needs of disabled individuals and non-English speakers are met in these proposals.
- Supported Intro 441 and Intro 565 with suggestions for amendments to address needs of disabled individuals
- Endorsed Resolution 0322 with a request for accessibility in multiple languages and formats
- Strongly supported Resolution 189-A to move NYC elections to even-numbered years
- Advocated for accessible voting options for incarcerated individuals with disabilities
Kathleen Collins
3:30:51
I'm sorry.
3:30:52
My name is Kathleen Collins, and I am a New Yorker who is a congenital quadruple amputee who uses a wheelchair.
3:30:57
I'm a co coordinator at Downstate New York Adapt and a member of the Greater New York Council of the Blind, grassroots civil rights organizations run by and for people with disabilities.
3:31:07
With respect to intro 441, we support this legislation, but we'd like certain tweaks to be made to it so that students with disabilities needs will also be met.
3:31:16
We support intro number 565 since many in the disability community experience domestic violence.
3:31:24
Here too, we would like it to be amended so that the needs of survivors of domestic violence who are disabled are met as well as the needs as a I'm sorry, of survivors of domestic violence whose first language is not English or metoo.
3:31:37
With respect to resolution number 033 sorry.
3:31:40
0322, we we support this resolution but request that the city council propose to the New York State Legislature that this proposed bill also required that materials not only be provided in a print format, but also be available in other formats that are accessible to New Yorkers with disabilities who speak Bengali, Punjabi, and Hindi.
3:32:02
With respect to resolution number 189 dash a, we fully support this resolution which calls on New York state legislature to pass and voters to approve an amendment to the New York state constitution to move New York City elections to even number years to coincide with the federal elections.
3:32:18
This is very important to voters with disabilities because it is only during federal elections that the protections provided by the Help America Vote Act of 2002, also known as HAVA, apply.
3:32:31
We would be we will be providing more detailed written testimony within the next 3 days on what we just spoke about.
3:32:39
Also, I would just like to mention one other thing.
3:32:42
We support getting voters who are incarcerated the right to vote.
3:32:48
And we are just a little concerned because it talks about absentee ballots, and we want those ballots to also be in an accessible format, such as having a ballot marking device available for those who are incarcerated, who are disabled so that they can vote and not have to use a paper ballot.
3:33:09
So that's something that I think, we need to work on.
3:33:12
Thank you again for your time and your attention.
3:33:16
I really appreciate it.
3:33:17
And you're we'll be sending you, further written testimony in the next few days.
3:33:23
Thank you.
Lincoln Restler
3:33:23
Miss Collins, thank you so much for your thoughtful testimony.
