March 13, 2008

Judge Paterson only on his abilities

Chris Hilderbrant
Guest essayist

David Paterson will be the first African-American governor of our state and the first blind governor in our nation's history.

Some people already are questioning his ability to be governor simply because he has a disability. Paterson has lived a life of challenge and achievement. He has demonstrated that he can handle a demanding schedule, and we can expect that he will continue to do so. Whether or not he will be a good governor has nothing to do with his ability to see.

Some in the disability community have assumed that disability issues now will be addressed at the highest levels of state government. While Paterson as a state lawmaker was a strong advocate for the voting rights of people with disabilities, he never led on other crucial disability issues.

In the days ahead, he will have an incredibly challenging job. When he does well, he deserves our support. When his ideas are not the best, he should be held accountable. This is what we should expect of all our leaders, whether or not they have a disability.

Advocates for people with disabilities hope to work closely with Paterson to address critical disability issues. People with disabilities face barriers in housing, transportation, voting and employment. Seniors and people with disabilities are forced into nursing facilities and other institutions because they can't get community-based services. We hope Paterson will work with the disability community to address these issues and make New York a state where people with disabilities have equal opportunity, for success or failure, based not on their disability, but on their abilities and accomplishments.

Paterson 's rise to the highest position in New York 's government demonstrates what can be achieved by a person with a disability, given the needed supports and accommodations. We hope his leadership will create a New York where having elected officials who have significant disabilities is the norm and no longer newsworthy.

While Paterson 's disability will make his transition to the governorship unique and historic, he will have to perform. He will be lauded or criticized depending on his actions. That's all any of us can ask for.

Hilderbrant is director of advocacy, Center for Disability Rights.