Posted on October 22, 2024
Derek Hamburg, Pearce Riggin, Danielle Gattine, Jenny Brower, attending the Maryland Works Event.
Derek Hamburg worked with Penn-Mar’s supported employment team to find a warehouse job with Snavley Forest Products in New Windsor, MD and a custodian and food prep position with Buffalo Wild Wings in Westminster, MD.
He heads to his jobs five days a week and likes having the ability to earn a paycheck. “When get older you have to work for your own money and manage it well,” he said. He uses his take home pay to “buy food for me and my mom but I also save some for the future.”
Derek has a keen interest in the upcoming presidential election and had the opportunity to sit in on a voting session at Maryland Works 15th Annual Employment Awards event that he attended last month with Danielle Gattine, Penn-Mar’s Day Supports Administrator out of Westminster.
The sessions broke down all the information people with disabilities and their support teams and families need to know in plain language. They also went over the requirements to be able to vote.
“These sessions really provided a great overview to all in hopes of spreading voter awareness, their rights, tools to best prepare, and provides an open space for conversation in a group or privately,” said Danielle.
And because of the incredible movements put in place to help support the IDD community, their voters have been showing up at the polls more than ever. In 2016, 56% of people with disabilities voted. In 2020, it increased to 62%.
“It’s important for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities to vote because our vote matters and can make a difference,” said Derek. He hopes these supports will help his peers “have more information and confidence about voting in this election.”
There are many laws and policies that directly impact issues important to individuals with disabilities, such as housing, transportation, health care and many others. “Voting empowers them by giving them a say in who will be the officials making the laws and policies that directly affect their daily life,” according to Danielle.Â
When Derek heads to the polls on Election Day, Tuesday, November 5th, he will go there with his mother or someone from his Penn-Mar support team. If a person with IDD decides to go it alone, they can obtain assistance from an election judge when they check-in. If they are using the audio ballot, they can tell an assistant or the election judge which numbers to press on the keypad and their audio ballot will remain private.
Both Maryland and Pennsylvania have accessible Polling Sites and Ballot Marking Devices (BMD) voting machines for individuals with disabilities.
Should they prefer Voting by Mail, they can request a mail-in ballot online, in person, or by mail, by October 29, 2024, for the general election. The form can be returned by email, FAX, in person, or mail. The ballot and prepaid envelope must be returned by mail, drop box or in person by 8 PM on election day.Â
Another available option is to send a request online to receive an email link to access a ballot from the State Board of Elections. The link goes to a portal where a blank ballot can be printed out, filled out by hand, and returned by mail, in person, or drop box.
Lastly, a ballot can be filled out online with a Ballot Marking Device tool. Filled-out ballots will still need to be returned in person, by mail or drop box. (In Maryland, voted ballots cannot be returned online). The deadline to request a ballot online for the general election is November 4. Ballots can also be FAX’d on request and will need to be marked and returned by mail or in person by this same date.
For the IDD community, it has never been easier to have their voice heard on election day!
Sign up today to receive Penn-Mar's latest news.