House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda

Disability is a natural part of the human experience. Nearly 30 million United States citizens are living with some form of cognitive disability, which includes intellectual disability; severe, persistent mental illness; pervasive developmental disability; learning disability; brain injury; stroke; and neurodegenerative disorder such as Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s disease.

To ensure that individuals with cognitive disabilities are entitled to inclusion and equal treatment in our society, numerous federal, state and local laws and court decisions have been made. These protections apply to education, employment, housing, independent living and also technology. In the 21st century, access to technology and information is the most important tool for individuals with cognitive disabilities so they can be independent.

At least two-thirds of Americans are smartphone owners and 96 percent of working Americans use information and communication technology. Despite our society being immersed in technology, the vast majority of individuals with cognitive disabilities have limited or no access to comprehensible information and usable communication technologies.

Please join me, through a concurrent resolution with the Senate, in declaring our commitment to equal rights for individuals with cognitive disabilities to technology and information access and for the deliberate and immediate implementation of these rights.

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact my Harrisburg office at 717-705-1925.