ARSILC REVUP Arkansas 2017 highlights

The REV UP Campaign coordinates National Disability Voter Registration Week each year to increase the political power of people with disabilities while also engaging candidates and the media to recognize the disability community. REV UP stands for Register! Educate! Vote! Use your Power!

This year, the Arkansas State Independent Living Council (ARSILC) is again taking the lead to help in organizing events throughout the state of Arkansas. The ARSILC’s Executive Director, Sha Stephens is working with other organizers from other states in providing information that can be useful for states to have successful events.  Arkansas is pleased to be among the many states that have formed voting coalitions in order to promote the power of the disability vote. The power of the disability vote is more than just people with disabilities - it also includes our family, friends, advocates, educators, professionals, providers, bureaucrats, and more.  It is a ripple effect.

The REV UP Campaign   recently hosted a National Organizing Call to prepare for National Disability Voter Registration Week (NDVRW) 2017. NDVRW is an annual effort to get more people with disabilities registered to vote while making the media and political candidates aware of the disability community as a powerful voting bloc. In 2016, according to Rutgers University, people with disabilities and their families (within the same household) accounted for 25% of the total electorate (62.7 million eligible voters).

There are several events planned for the NDVRW in Arkansas. The kick off for the week will be held at Mainstream Center for Independent Living in Little Rock on July 17 and a press conference hosted by the Arkansas SILC will take place on Wednesday, July 19.  The following is a list of organizations that will be hosting voter registrations and educational events or partnering with other organizations during that week.

·       The Center for Exceptional Families, Jonesboro, Arkansas Multiple Sites

·       Disability Resource and Advocacy Center (D-RAC), White Hall, Arkansas

·       SOURCES, Fayetteville, Arkansas

·       SAILS, Hot Springs, Arkansas

·       Arkansas SILC, Little Rock, Arkansas  Press Conference at State Capitol on July 19

·       Disability Rights of Arkansas, Little Rock, Arkansas

·       Governor’s Council on Developmental Disabilities, Little Rock, Arkansas

·        DHS- Division of Services for the Blind

·       Partners for Inclusive Communities, Little Rock, Arkansas

·       Partners Community Advisory Committee, Little Rock, Arkansas

·       Philander Smith College, Little Rock, Arkansas

·       Pathfinder, Inc. Jacksonville, Arkansas

Updates to event locations will be posted on the ARSILC website: www.ar-silc.org and Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/arsilc1994.

If your organization would like to be added to the list of participating organizations, please contact the Arkansas SILC at 501-372-0607 or by email - Arkansasilc@att.net.