Mission

The mission of the Disability Voting Coalition of PA is to increase the power of Pennsylvanians with disabilities by establishing the disability community as strong and mobilized voter bloc.

History

“The vote is the most powerful instrument ever devised by man for breaking down injustice and destroying the terrible walls which imprison men because they are different from other men.”
– Lyndon Johnson

Voting does more than elect politicians. Through the act of voting, people become dynamic players in the political arena where policy decisions are made and both their political and personal power grows. They become active citizens, connected with the community of voters.

Unfortunately, people with disabilities, including mental health disabilities, are less likely to be registered to vote and less likely to vote if registered. Consequently, our issues take a back seat to those associated with groups who have more political clout, groups more likely to turn out voters.

In 2004 the Disability Vote Coalition of PA (DVC) was formed to address this distressing trend and to empower people with disabilities through greater participation in the electoral process. It’s a free membership organization that has been steadily growing over the past several years.

DVC is hosted by an administrative host organization – Mental Health America - Allegheny County - since 2009. DVC is supported by a ten-member Steering Committee representing a cross section of Pennsylvania’s organizations that provide services to or advocate for people with disabilities.