Susan LoTempio, writing on the website of the Poynter Institute, offers journalists a list of questions that should be posed to politicians about issues of concern to the more than 54 million Americans who have disabilities. “Unfortunately, it’s rare that a reporter asks a disability-related question, but it’s time to start,” she says.

[No such questions were asked during last night's vice presidential debate. Palin's pledge to "work with families of children with special needs" was mentioned in passing but not explored.]

Among the questions on LoTempio’s list are queries about health care; the high rate of unemployment among Americans with disabilities; the lack of funding and enforcement for the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA); low graduation rates for students with disabilities; services for veterans; lack of accessible and integrated housing; Medicare and Medicaid regulations; and community-based services and supports. An excerpt:

Digging deeper means not just reporting that vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin has a baby with Down syndrome, but also reporting on what families in that situation need to raise their children. For many families, the need is great.

… You’re not covering the presidential campaign? Politicians seeking local and state offices should also go on the record on these issues.

LoTempio is the readership editor at the Buffalo News. The non-profit Poynter Institute is a school for journalists, future journalists and teachers of journalists.

(Photo from Poynter.org)

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