PHOENIX — As the November general election approaches, Arizona is taking a significant step toward ensuring voters with disabilities are fully prepared to participate in the democratic process.
On Monday, First Place AZ and the Foundation for Blind Children co-hosted Spark the Spectrum, a workshop to equip voters with disabilities with the knowledge and tools needed for Election Day.
The event, which aligned with National Voter Registration Day , was designed to familiarize attendees with voting equipment, accommodations and the overall voting process. It also served as a reminder of the Oct. 7 voter registration deadline .
“We are incredibly proud to be partners in this initiative to help increase awareness about voter registration and voter accessibility,” said Jared Kittelson, CEO of the Foundation for Blind Children. “Access for some is not OK, it truly is about access for all. There’s strength in all of us pushing in the same direction and supporting each other.”
The workshop comes at a pivotal moment, following the Arizona Court of Appeals decision in Wood v. Coconino in May. The ruling clarified that individuals under guardianship should not automatically lose their voting rights, a major shift from previous practices that had disenfranchised many voters with disabilities.