Trump or Clinton:  My Son Jimmy Explains

Recently, Hillary Clinton described people with disabilities in the U.S. as a group who are “too often invisible, overlooked, and undervalued.”  Carol Glazer, President of the National Organization of Disability (NOD), said that this was the first time a presidential candidate had taken a whole campaign event to focus solely on people with disabilities.  That blew my mind.  While Glazer said that addressing the potential of this community is an economic imperative, I might add that it is also a political imperative.

In an increasingly tight presidential election such as the one we are witnessing at the present time, establishing a relationship with the disability community is a game changer.  Data from the Rutgers School of Management and Labor Relations show that more that 35 million Americans with disabilities are now eligible to vote.  This is a larger voting bloc that African Americans, or Latinos, or Asian Americans.  Add to this bloc caregivers, parents, and family members of people with disabilities.  To many of them, Trump’s and Clinton’s position on key economic, educational, social, and health issues for this population will carry a great deal of weight.  Clearly, people with disabilities could make a difference, especially in key states that will determine who becomes our next President.

My son is a middle-aged man who also happens to have autism.  But he is also a keen judge of character.  Once in a while, I ask Jimmy about current events and people in the news.  During the last few months, we have been talking about the upcoming presidential election; who is running, who might win, and the importance of voting; something Jimmy knows his mommy and daddy take very seriously.  Jimmy’s apparent interest in voting led me to ask him, “Would you like to vote?”  Often Jimmy is noncommittal or wishy washy when I ask him to make a choice.  Not this time.  His answer was an emphatic, “Yes!!”  Before we started planning all the details, I had to assure him that it would cost him nothing to vote.

Jimmy is 39 years-old, and for the first time this year, he will be exercising his right to vote for the President of the U.S.  He just became a registered voter.  As the election draws closer, we have discussed both Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton, what they stand for and their backgrounds.  Also, we have talked about why it is important to vote.  Recently, I contacted the Board of Elections and made plans to do a “run-through” ahead of time.  If I need to follow Jimmy into the voting booth, I will.  But Jimmy alone will decide which candidate he prefers.  After all, that is his right as an adult.

Not too long ago, I asked Jimmy what he would like to know about each candidate for President.  When he hesitated, I rephrased the question.  How should a person running for President of the United States act?  That triggered four interesting responses from Jimmy

1. Kind
2. Nice
3. Polite
4. Good behavior, not rude or mouthing off.

Two weeks ago, we continued this discussion over lunch at a local restaurant.  I posed the question, “What makes a president a good president?”  After giving it some thought, he simply said, “a good listener.”  When I complimented Jimmy on his excellent answer, he smiled from ear to ear, and so did I.

One of the so-called “core deficits” of autism is an inability to communicate.  Sometimes, I wonder about that.  When we talk, Jimmy has a way of zeroing in on the really important stuff.  He is one of the few people in this country who has not been affected by media coverage.  Like many voters, the debates, commentary by political analysts, and campaign speeches by the candidates have left me searching for more.  During our limited conversations, Jimmy has helped me sort out what really matters.  Thank you son, for sharing your insight and wisdom.

Go to Diversity Consciousness on Facebook for current issues involving diversity and inclusion.