Candidate Views on Disability Policy

Candidate Views on Disability Policy

We asked candidates running in Winnebago, Stephenson, Boone, and DeKalb counties what laws, policies, or actions they would push for to support people with disabilities. Below are the full statements from the candidates who responded, organized by the office they are seeking.

U.S. Senate

Sean Brown – D (U.S. Senate, Illinois)

People with disabilities deserve more than accommodations — they deserve full access, independence, and respect in every part of community life. If elected, I will push for laws and policies that remove barriers rather than asking people to work around them.

As an attorney, I have represented individuals in civil rights and discrimination cases, fighting for those who were denied access, dignity, or equal treatment because of who they are. That experience shapes how I approach disability policy — not as charity, but as a matter of rights and enforcement.

First, I will support stronger enforcement and modernization of the Americans with Disabilities Act, including updates that reflect how people live and work today. That means ensuring digital accessibility, accessible housing, and reliable public transportation are treated as civil rights issues, not simply talking points.

Second, I will fight for fully funded community-based services so people with disabilities can live independently in their homes instead of being forced into institutional care. Expanding home- and community-based services, increasing wages for direct support professionals, and reducing waitlists must be a federal priority.

Third, I will advocate for universal healthcare that includes disability services, assistive technology, mental health care, and long-term supports without forcing families into poverty to qualify. Healthcare should support independence and quality of life, not create additional hurdles.

I will also push for inclusive employment policies, including stronger enforcement of anti-discrimination laws, expanded vocational training, and incentives for employers to create accessible, flexible workplaces. People with disabilities want to work, contribute, and be valued — and policy should support that.

Finally, I will work closely with disability advocacy organizations to ensure that people with disabilities are not just consulted, but meaningfully included in policy making. The most effective solutions come from listening to those with lived experience.

R. Cary Capparelli – R (U.S. Senate, Illinois)

As a United States Senator, Dr. Capparelli would be both a supporter of federal legislation to assist those with mental and physical disabilities and an advocate to provide essential assistance to those with mental and physical disabilities.

Pamela Denise Long – R (U.S. Senate, Illinois)

As you may know, my first career is occupational therapy (MIZZOU ’97). Although I’ve since completed a Master’s in Educational Psychology (taught in the College of Ed at SIUE), and earned a doctorate in organizational development (with a speciality in implementation), my policy focus is always about maximizing human functioning. I believe such is at the core mission of our constitutional republic.

As a United States Senator, my focus will be on strengthening enforcement where law already exists, modernizing reauthorizations where programs are outdated, and introducing targeted legislation where structural gaps remain. Below, I’m sharing with you my current outline for standing in the gap between current policy/practice and real world needs for those with disabilities. Please note, there are some shared jurisdictional authority within these actions…I can certainly investigate and advise about implementation too. That’s something Congress does in hindsight and usually after long periods of failure rather than proactively. I will change that during my tenure in the U.S. Senate.

  • Community Living Instead of Institutionalization
    • Problem: Federal law recognizes the right to live in the community, yet Medicaid home- and community-based services remain optional, capped, and subject to long waiting lists. Too many individuals are still pushed toward institutional care because community supports are insufficient or delayed.
    • Solutions: Stop-Gap: Enforce existing civil rights obligations more aggressively to prevent unnecessary institutionalization. Regulatory Improvement: Strengthen transparency and accountability rules within Medicaid to ensure real access to community services. Reauthorization / Appropriations: Expand federal capacity funding for home- and community-based services to reduce waiting lists and eliminate the institutional bias.
  • Personal Assistant (PA) Services & Workforce Stability
    • Problem: Even when services are technically “covered,” workforce shortages and low reimbursement rates make care unreliable. Families are left scrambling despite being eligible.
    • Solutions: Stop-Gap: Use existing Medicaid authority to review rates, ensure prompt payment, and address service gaps. Regulatory Nuance: Implement and enforce direct-care compensation standards in a way that stabilizes the workforce without reducing rural access. New Appropriations: Create federal workforce development grants for training, recruitment, and retention of personal assistants.
  • Accessible and Affordable Housing
    • Problem: Housing assistance, disability services, and accessibility modifications operate in silos. Affordable, accessible units are limited, and transition from institutions to community housing is often delayed by funding fragmentation.
    • Solutions: Stop-Gap: Improve coordination between housing programs and Medicaid transition services. Reauthorization: Expand and modernize disability housing programs to meet actual demand. New Appropriations: Fund accessibility retrofits and community reintegration housing grants.
  • Transportation Access
    • Problem: Legal protections exist, but reliability, service denials, and long wait times still prevent people with disabilities from accessing work, healthcare, and civic life—especially outside major metropolitan areas.
    • Solutions: Stop-Gap: Increase federal compliance oversight of ADA transportation requirements. New Appropriations: Modernize paratransit systems and fund accessible on-demand transportation pilots in suburban and rural regions. Regulatory Improvement: Standardize performance reporting for publicly funded transit systems.
  • Employment and Youth Transition
    • Problem: Federal workforce laws require transition services, but outcomes vary widely. Too many young adults with disabilities exit school without a clear pathway to competitive employment.
    • Solutions: Stop-Gap: Enforce delivery and accountability standards in vocational rehabilitation and transition services. Reauthorization: Modernize workforce development laws to prioritize competitive, integrated employment. New Appropriations: Expand evidence-based employment pipelines and job coaching supports that continue after placement. *as a sidebar, this ties to my invitation in 2024 to brief congressional staffers about my plan for an American labor sourcing plan so that every American who is able to work, can find a way to leverage their talents, gifts, and abilities.
  • Assistive Technology & Telecommunications Access
    • Problem: Digital systems move faster than accessibility standards. Equipment replacement, modernization, and broadband access do not always keep pace with technological change.
    • Solutions: Stop-Gap: Streamline eligibility and replacement cycles within existing assistive technology programs. New Appropriations: Fund modern accessible devices and digital tools for low-income individuals. Regulatory Approach: Require accessibility-by-default standards for government platforms and federally funded vendors.
  • Digital Government Access
    • Problem: Government websites and apps often remain inaccessible, creating barriers to benefits, housing, healthcare, and employment services.
    • Solutions: Stop-Gap: Enforce existing accessibility requirements for public entities. Regulatory Implementation: Fully implement updated digital accessibility standards with clear compliance deadlines. New Appropriations: Provide technical assistance grants to smaller local governments.
  • Mental Health and Crisis Response
    • Problem: Crisis response systems are often not disability-competent and default toward institutional pathways rather than community-based stabilization.
    • Solutions: Stop-Gap: Expand use of existing Medicaid authorities for mobile crisis and peer support services. New Appropriations: Increase community-based behavioral health capacity to prevent unnecessary institutionalization. Regulatory Improvement: Tie federal funding to measurable diversion from institutional care.

While I am poised to proofer the ACCESS Act, I may have to weave these measures into other legislative opportunities. If you are keen to join a coalition to contribute to or review my comprehensive approach to closing legislative gaps and regulatory standards, (tentatively called The ACCES Act), do let me know. I have several model legislation bills, including for Veterans, Heirs property and family land protection, FAIR Justice (so the exonerated are fully restored and bad actors are held accountable), and more.

Kevin Ryan – D (U.S. Senate, Illinois)

First and foremost, I firmly believe that people with disabilities are entitled to the same dignity, respect, and equal treatment — both morally and in the eyes of the law — as we all are.

Below are some of my views on this issue:

I believe the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was a watershed moment in our national political history. The ADA has crucially transformed physical accessibility, established critical civil rights protections, increased employment participation, and changed the culture in impactful ways.

That said, there is still more work to be done. The ADA today needs to be built on to meet continuing challenges: better enforcement, dealing with structural barriers in employment, and expanding digital accessibility, to just name a few.

As a U.S. Senator, I will work to continue building on the ADA’s noteworthy legacy.

I support ending work requirements for Medicaid eligibility, which disproportionately harm those with disabilities and reduce overall health care coverage for qualifying individuals and families. We need to make it easier, not harder, for those qualifying to obtain coverage.

Additionally, I support a number of current legislative initiatives to support those with disabilities. These include the following:

  • Stop the Wait Act, which accelerates the timelines for those qualifying for Social Security Disability Insurance to get the help they need and eliminates the onerous and counterproductive 24-month Medicare waiting period for those who can’t afford private insurance.
  • Veterans Accessibility Act, which improves accessibility for veterans with disabilities
  • Eliminating the Marriage Penalty in SSI Act, which ensures those with intellectual or developmental disabilities do not lose supplemental security income simply for marrying.

U.S. House of Representatives

Bill Foster – D (U.S. House IL-11, Boone/DeKalb)

It is critical that our nation uplift the community of people with disabilities and make every effort to destigmatize medical conditions. I was deeply alarmed to see Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. make false claims – which have been refuted by experts and the CDC – about the causes and effects of autism. Please know that I am committed to ensuring neurodivergent people have access to the same opportunities as every other American.

For that reason, I have long been a strong supporter of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), which guarantees every child with a disability has access to educational opportunities. I was a proud cosponsor of the IDEA Full Funding Act, which would more than double IDEA funding by 2033. Moreover, I signed a letter in support of over $16.6 billion in IDEA funding for Fiscal Year 2026.

I also understand the importance of ensuring our country is accessible to everyone, no matter their ability. Signed into law in 1990, the Americans with Disabilities Act is one of our nation’s most important civil rights laws, and we must continue to lead the world in creating an accessible future. This includes not only creating physically accessible spaces by building ramps, auditory cues, and the like, but also by making sure that programs meant to support people with disabilities, like Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI), are fully funded and working as intended.

To that end, last Congress I was proud to cosponsor the Social Security 2100 Act. This bill would increase benefits across-the-board, end the waiting period for disability benefits, and end the disability benefit cliff, allowing individuals with disabilities to earn an income while still receiving benefits. It would also ensure the Social Security Trust Fund remains healthy for generations to come by requiring the wealthy to pay the same Social Security tax rate as everyone else.

Additionally, I was a cosponsor of the Raise the Wage Act of 2023. This bill would gradually raise the minimum wage to $17 an hour by 2028 and would finally eliminate the sub-minimum wages allowed for workers with disabilities.

Lastly, in order to ensure access to transportation for people with disabilities, I voted for the Securing Growth and Robust Leadership in American Aviation Act, which President Biden signed into law. This piece of legislation set higher standards for accessible airplane boarding practices, created a stricter timeline for the Department of Transportation to investigate accessibility-related complaints, and required more workers to complete training on how to assist people with disabilities and handle mobility devices that need to be stowed under the plane.

Disability rights are critically important and I will keep your comments in mind as I consider future legislation.

Dillan Vancil – R (U.S. House IL-17, Winnebago/Stephenson)

If elected, I will fight for policies that respect the dignity, independence, and freedom of people with disabilities in our community. That starts with listening directly to disabled neighbors, families, and caregivers so Washington solutions actually match real ‑ life needs here at home.

First, I will work to expand access to meaningful work and small ‑ business opportunities for people with disabilities. That means protecting choice in employment settings, cutting red tape that keeps folks from working or starting a business, and supporting local employers who hire and accommodate disabled workers instead of punishing them with mandates. I believe independence comes from a good job, not a bigger bureaucracy.

Second, I will push to strengthen community ‑ based services so people with disabilities can live, learn, and age in their own homes and neighborhoods whenever possible. That includes backing reforms that shift resources toward home ‑ and community ‑ based care, expanding access to accessible housing and transportation, and supporting family caregivers with better training and flexibility instead of one ‑ size ‑ fits ‑ all federal programs.

Third, I will support improving access to quality, affordable health care for people with disabilities without putting Washington in complete control of their care. That means protecting coverage for pre ‑ existing conditions, expanding access to specialists and mental ‑ health services, encouraging innovation like telehealth and assistive technology, and giving states more flexibility to design disability services that actually work on the ground.

Lastly, I will ensure that small businesses are not threatened or forced to shoulder every cost alone when it comes to compliance. We must create and expand assistance funds, tax credits, and technical ‑ assistance programs so small employers can afford needed accessibility upgrades while staying open, hiring, and serving our community.

While this may not be a popular opinion in Washington, I will always be honest about this reality: our job creators and small businesses simply lack the funds or flexibility that huge corporations have to comply with every new law. My values mean standing with both people with disabilities and the small businesses that keep our communities strong, and building policy that works for both.

Jeff Walter – R (U.S. House IL-11, Boone/DeKalb)

If elected, supporting people with disabilities will be a priority grounded in dignity, independence, and practical outcomes. I am a disabled Veteran and, as a Mayor and fourth degree Knight of Columbus I have been somewhat involved in some issues but don’t profess to know it all.

So, at the federal level, I will push for policies that strengthen and modernize the Americans with Disabilities Act, improve enforcement where barriers still exist, and ensure federal programs actually deliver results at the local level. That includes expanding access to affordable, accessible housing; supporting competitive, integrated employment opportunities; and ensuring public infrastructure and transportation investments fully comply with accessibility standards from the outset, not as an afterthought.

I also support policies that improve access to healthcare, mental health services, and assistive technologies, while reducing bureaucratic hurdles that too often delay or deny services people depend on.

Federal funding should be flexible enough to meet local needs, but accountable for outcomes that improve quality of life and community participation.

Just as important, I recognize that effective policy starts with listening. I do not pretend to have all the answers.

If elected, I will actively seek input from local and regional organizations that work every day with people with disabilities—including groups like RAMP and other disability advocacy and service organizations—to better understand where federal policy helps, where it falls short, and what changes would make the most meaningful difference on the ground.

My commitment is to be accessible, engaged, and willing to learn, so that the voices of people with disabilities, their families, and the organizations that serve them directly shape the policies I advocate for in Congress.

Illinois State Senate & State Representatives

Dave Syverson – R (State Senator IL-35, Winnebago/Boone/DeKalb)

My history of supporting organizations like RAMP and others that serve the disability community is well established. Over the years, I have supported these efforts not only through legislation, but also through personal involvement, sponsoring and participating in activities organized by groups dedicated to improving the lives of individuals with disabilities.

It has been frustrating that while our state budget has grown by more than $18 billion over the past six years, only a minimal percentage of those dollars has gone towards supporting our developmental disability communities and individuals with physical disabilities with jobs and housing. I’m grateful for organizations like RAMP and others that consistently demonstrate real outcomes and measurable results for the dollars they receive; something many other programs are lacking.

Liz Bishop – R (State Representative IL-76, DeKalb)

If elected, I will support policies that expand access and opportunity for people with disabilities while ensuring programs are effective, transparent, and responsive to real needs.

That includes protecting access to healthcare and support services, improving coordination between state agencies and local providers, and reducing unnecessary bureaucratic barriers that make it harder for individuals and families to navigate existing systems.

I also believe employment and independence should be central goals of disability policy. I will support efforts that encourage workforce participation for those who are able, expand vocational and skills-based training, and partner with local employers to create inclusive job opportunities.

Just as important, I will listen closely to individuals, families, and advocacy organizations to make sure state policies reflect lived experience—not just intentions.

Veronica Garcia-Martinez – D (State Representative IL-70, DeKalb)

I have been working with people with disabilities for the past 15 years For 10 years, I worked as a director of Epilepsy services for Dekalb County. I actually started in the De Kalb office of the Rockford chapter of the Epilepsy foundation. I also work as a coach for Special Olympics, Illinois, and I have been doing that for the past three years. Although I am not a special education teacher, I do have student students with 504 plans and IEP‘s due to various learning disabilities.

For more than 15 years, I have worked alongside people with disabilities, as a service provider, educator, coach, and advocate. I previously served as a Director of Epilepsy Services, and today as a public school teacher I work daily with students who have IEPs and 504 plans. I also volunteer with Special Olympics Illinois and serve as a buddy with Miss Amazing, an organization that helps girls and women with disabilities build confidence and showcase their abilities.

These experiences have shaped how I view public policy: our job in government is to remove barriers and build systems that allow people with disabilities to live full, independent lives.

If elected, I will prioritize several areas.

  • Strengthening community-based services
    • Illinois has made important progress through Home and Community-Based Services waivers that allow people with disabilities to receive care at home instead of being forced into institutions. These programs provide services like home health aides, assistive technology, therapy, transportation, and employment supports. I will work to protect and expand funding for these programs so families are not stuck on waiting lists and individuals can live with dignity in their communities.
  • Expanding access to mental health care
    • Mental health services are critical for many individuals with disabilities and their families. When people cannot access early support, crises escalate and emergency rooms become the default option. I will advocate for stronger funding for community mental health providers, school-based services, and crisis response systems so people can receive care earlier and closer to home.
  • Stronger support in schools
    • As a teacher, I see firsthand how critical early support is. Students with disabilities deserve fully funded special education services, well-trained staff, and enforcement of protections like Section 504 accommodations so every child can access education and succeed. I will advocate for resources that help schools meet these obligations and reduce disparities for bilingual students and students with disabilities.
  • Employment, independence, and accessibility
    • Public policy should focus on independence, not limitations. I support policies that expand supported employment, job training, accessible transportation, and workplace protections so people with disabilities can fully participate in the workforce and civic life.
  • Listening to the disability community
    • Most importantly, legislation must be guided by the people directly impacted. I will continue working with families, advocates, educators, and disability organizations to ensure policies reflect real needs rather than assumptions.

People with disabilities are not defined by obstacles placed in their path. Our responsibility as leaders is to remove those obstacles and build communities where everyone can thrive.

Victoria Onorato – R (State Representative IL-89, Winnebago/Stephenson/DeKalb)

This is a great question, and as a retired police officer, I can tell you that these are some of our most important laws and policies that we must always try to improve. I can also say that in my 25 years as a police officer I have seen great improvements made to accommodate those with disabilities, whether someone is mobile or immobile.

We have accomplished many milestones over the years with many services and equipment for those who are disabled, but one of my greatest concerns for someone with a disability is to make sure they have access to reaching someone in case of an emergency via electronic equipment and devices.

Mobility is also of great importance. Getting to and from doctor appointments or grocery shopping, anyone with a disability needs to have access to services that will help them and accommodate their needs, even if it means having to go grocery shopping for that person and bringing the groceries back.

Medical equipment and medications are extremely important, so reducing the cost of equipment and medications is a very serious concern.

I will design a program for a team of people to do a well-being check on anyone with a disability.

I will research all the programs and resources available to see where we can improve our current laws, *but more importantly, I want to personally hear from each one of you in person to know what your concerns are and what your needs are. Your voice can guide me to let me know how I can make your life better.

I will come out and personally visit you so you can tell me what would make your life better and where we need to make improvements.

Your welfare and safety are my number one priority. Thank you for caring about wanting to make improvements that will make your life better.

Nothing is impossible. You just have to ask me, and we will work together to make it happen.

I will always be accessible to speak with.