From the Boston Globe:

Massachusetts State Rep. Thomas P. Kennedy, one of a small number of quadriplegics in elective office in the United States, is running unopposed for the state Senate.

That no one in either party is competing with Kennedy for a highly coveted office is an indication of Kennedy’s political stature.

On Beacon Hill, Kennedy is known as a thoughtful and savvy legislator. Representative Frank M. Hynes, a Marshfield Democrat who has served in the House with Kennedy for 25 years, said lawmakers stop what they are doing when Kennedy rolls down the aisle and takes a microphone next to the podium.

“He commands attention,” said Hynes. “What he says gets heard.”

While Kennedy says he is sympathetic to disability issues, he does not portray himself as a leader of the cause when compared to longtime disability advocates. He says he encounters few obstacles while fulfilling his duties, and draws support from the Disability Foundation, an international organization of elected officials with disabilities.

(Disability Foundation photo)

This entry was posted on Monday, June 30th, 2008 at 5:08 am and is filed under accessibility, physical disabilities, politics, public attitudes, wheelchair. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.