How Candidates With Disabilities Can Develop a Political Campaign
Patrick Young writes blog posts for The Job Search Center about special topics in career development for professionals. His insights come from his experience as an educator and activist for persons with disabilities. You can find out more about him and his work at https://ableusa.info/.
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Orchestrating a political campaign is a big job. From creating a team to support your political goals to getting to and from events, you’ll need to be creative when running for office if you have a disability. But thanks to trailblazing politicians and community resources, you can make it happen. Check out these insights.
Develop Your Team
You likely have tons of great ideas about your political campaign and how you’ll spend your time in office. But before you can get there, you’ll need the support of a cohesive and dynamic team, simply because nobody has the time and energy to do it all. Even if your social network is small, there are ways you can grow your campaign team.
For example, you can hire someone to handle tasks like speech writing, social media posts, and more. If you’re new to politics in general, research will also be a significant part of your pre-campaign prep work. In that case, hiring a highly skilled freelance researcher to learn more about the opposition and research policy initiatives could prove invaluable.
If you lack manpower or funds for all the help you need, there is, as they say, an app for that. Software can fill in other holes; Tatango helps send texts for timely messaging to your constituency, and TrailBlazer can act as a digital campaign manager. When push comes to shove, electronics can help.
Know Your Platform
Like many other individuals with disabilities, you have plenty of unique knowledge about the challenges people in your community face. Though Quartz notes voters with disabilities are an often-overlooked demographic, your campaign should go beyond inclusion. Use your unique perspective to create a platform that speaks to all people, including diverse communities and populations.
As an example, you might advocate for stronger accessibility on the web and talk about your own experiences. If you feel uncomfortable discussing the issue, taking some classes in information technology can boost your confidence and knowledge base. Plus it will impress voters with your dedication to the cause.
Be Sure to Network
Once you develop your team and start your campaign, the need for networking doesn’t end. After all, you can’t expect voters to recognize you or vote in your favor if they’ve never heard of you. Here are some networking methods:
Via social media pages specific to people with disabilities. Make sure to make your messages about connecting—not just about getting support for your campaign. Think of ways you can help others before contacting them and take time to get to know them, too.
By canvassing door-to-door. Many political campaigns rely on grassroots campaigning, Thoughtworks explains, which involves starting in your local community and working your way up. This type of campaigning often means walking around a neighborhood, speaking with voters, and handing out fliers.
Through professional connections. Talking politics with your co-workers isn’t always fun. But when you’re passionate about a cause, spreading the word can garner support for your campaign.
Follow in the Footsteps of Politicians with Disabilities
While politicians with disabilities are a minority—only one in every 10 politicians—they do exist. Looking at how these politicians handled their campaigns and advertised their platforms can help you develop a political plan, too.
Past politicians have had disabilities such as epilepsy, blindness, combat injuries, and a long list of other conditions. One noteworthy example is Senator Tammy Duckworth, who sustained injuries in the Iraq War and is now a double-amputee and wheelchair user. Senator Duckworth has helped impact change in the form of policies to support veterans, families, and more.
Like Senator Duckworth, you can use personal experiences to inspire your platform and campaign.
Spearheading a political campaign is challenging no matter who you are—or whether you have a disability. You’ll need the support of your team, your community, and donors to organize and implement a strong campaign. But with hard work and determination, there’s no reason you can’t go on to become a successful politician.
The Job Search Center is dedicated to helping you prosper; connect today for more tips and information that can help pave the way for your success!