Empowering

people with disabili3es to achieve the American dream

MISSION STATEMENT
RespectAbility is a new na8onal, non-prot, non-par8san organiza8on whose mission is to: 1- Reshape the aCtudes of American society so that people with disabili8es can more fully par8cipate in and contribute to society, and 2- Empower people with disabili8es to achieve as much of the American dream as their abili8es and eorts permit. RespectAbilityUSA will work to educate, sensi8ze and engage Americans to focus on what people with disabili8es can do, rather than on what they cannot. RespectAbilityUSA thereby will seek -- gradually, steadily, and in a prac8cal way -- to help increase the number and percentage of disabled Americans who engage in gainful employment, start and sustain their own businesses, liM themselves into the middle class, and par8cipate in their communi8es -- as fully as their abili8es and eorts will take them. 2

FOUNDING CHAIR, DONN WEINBERG

v Past chairman of the Harry and JeaneWe Weinberg Founda8on v Weinberg Founda8on distributes approx. $100 million a year, key areas include - Disabili8es - Work place development v J.D, University of Bal8more School of Law v Editor and chief of Law Review v Board member of Philanthropy iRoundtable and Jewish Funders Network
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BOARD OF DIRECTORS
v Doc Sweitzer, Co-founder and board member
- Top poli8cal consultant and AAPC leader - Past chairman of the Advancement CommiWee, and Pennsylvania State System of Higher Educa8on, which iiIrepresents 14 universi8es.

v Shelley Cohen, Secretary and board member

- Founder of the Jewish Inclusion Project - Co-ini8ated and led Na8onal Summit with Governor Jack Markell - Board member of the New Jersey YM/YWHA camps and Beit iiIIssie Shapiro, Israel's leading special needs organiza8on that iiIservices 30,000 people with disabili8es and their families iiiannually and founding board member of Kesher, a special iiineeds school in South Florida.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

v Louis Zweig, board member

- Leader of the Special Needs revolu8on in the Dallas - One of the founders and architects of the Special Needs Partnership at Jewish Family Service along being the Co- Founder of the Golman/Dallen Fund, which nances teacher training, specialized resources, and awareness in Dallas area schools. Serves on 10 non-prot boards in Dallas. - Zweig is Senior Vice President Marke8ng and Strategy and Chief of Sta at Glazers, one of the countrys largest beverage distributors. - Louis and his wife Robin are parents of David with Aspergers Syndrome, as well as a daughter, Lauren.

BOARD OF ADVISORS
v Kelly Buckland Execu8ve Director, Na8onal Council on Independent Living v Steven Eidelman H. Rodney Sharp Professor of Human Services and Leadership at the University of Delaware, and execu8ve director of the Joseph Kennedy Jr. Founda8on

BOARD OF ADVISORS

v Donna Meltzer CEO of the Na8onal Associa8on of Council on Developmental Disabili8es, and past chair of the Consor8um for Ci8zens with Disabili8es v Steven Tingus

Senior ocial for President Bush who not only led the research and policy eort at ED and HHS, but with bipar8san input craMed, unveiled and led the New Freedom Ini8a8ve
v Mark Johnson Director of Advocacy of the Shepherd Center

PRESIDENT, JENNIFER LASZLO MIZRAHI

v Past clients include, White House, prime ministers, more than 60 members of Congress v Proven non-prot leader who founded successful educa8onal/ advocacy organiza8on v Currently working pro-bono and Mizrahi Family has donated 50K for start-up costs v Dyslexic (could not read or write un8l she was 12), and proud parent of children with disabili8es

Shelley Cohen, Donn Weinberg, and Jennifer Laszlo Mizrahi

RESPECTABILITY IN-HOUSE TEAM

v Meagan Buren Pollster and strategist v MaDhew Joyce Press secretary v Daphna Oren Director of external aairs v Tonya Koslo Director of administraJon v Hillary Steen Fellow/web 2.0 designer/writer v Kenny Kalman Fellow/database & research v David Cohen Fellow/outreach

Nothing about us without us!

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v Stanley Greenberg, PhD Served as polling advisor to presidents and prime ministers, CEOs, and dozens of tough campaigns in the US and around the world, including President Bill Clinton and Vice President Al Gore, Bri8sh Prime Minister Tony Blair. v Neil Newhouse and Public Opinion Strategies Lead Pollster for Romney for President, Neil has twice been named Pollster of the Year by the American Associa8on of Poli8cal Consultants. v Frank Luntz, Ph.D. Time Magazine named him among 50 of Americas most promising leaders aged 40 and under. Best selling author. Top pollster/ wordsmith.

OUR RESEARCH PARTNERS

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CONSULTANTS
v Michael R. Shannon Expert in media training and has worked at the highest levels na8onally and interna8onally, helping clients understand how to communicate eec8vely with the media. v Mark Moskowitz Produced, wrote, and directed the media for winning campaigns around the world. v Dan Hazelwood Formed Targeted Crea8ve Communica8ons (TC2), which has worked for campaigns in virtually every state.

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THE CHALLENGE
v57 million Americans with disabili8es. vApproximately 70% of working age Americans with disabili8es dont have jobs. vThis gure has not changed in the more than 20 years since the passage of Americans with Disabili8es Act (ADA). vThe disability community can benet from scien8cally proven and unied messages.
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POWER VOTER GROUPS

Supreme Court Change Immigra8on Vote

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More than half of likely voters are connected to someone with a disability
Do you, a family member, or a close friend have a disability?

Yes!

No!

51

48

Yes, know someone with a disability

No, do not know someone with a disability

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Party iden8ca8on
Do you, a family member, or a close friend have a disability?

52

58 48 42 44

56

Yes

No

Yes

No

Yes

No

Democrats

Independents

Republicans
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Even split on whether government doing enough for those with disabili8es, but few strong feelings
Thinking about the current policies and programs the US government has to help people with disabili@es, how much is the government doing to help those with disabili@es lead a normal life? Is the government doing more than enough, doing enough, not doing enough, or not doing anywhere near enough to help those with disabili@es lead a normal life?
Doing more than enough Not doing anywhere near enough

+2
44 46

13 10

10 Don't know

Not doing enough

Doing enough

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No downside for candidates to support policies for those with disabili8es

Would you be more or less likely to vote for a Congressional candidate who is commiDed to making policies and programs to help those with disabili@es a na@onal priority, or would it make no dierence to your vote?
Much more likely! Much less likely!

+41 41 55

16

More likely

Less likely

No difference

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THE OPPORTUNITY
vToday, many nonprot disability groups are perceived to lean leM. Websites detail government ac8ons that can oMen be summed up as give us more money, instead of enable more solu8ons. vAmericans with a broad variety of disabili8es have more in common with each other than not. vWe will showcase best prac8ces and case studies of people with disabili8es who are working and making a dierence.

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PARTNER 1: DISABILITY LEADERS

v RespectAbility will partner with exis8ng nonprot disability organiza8ons and leaders.

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PARTNER 2: ELECTED OFFICIALS, POLICY MAKERS & POLITICAL CONSULTANTS

v Posi8ve change will require strong bipar8san coopera8on needed as well as public-private partnerships.
Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers

Congressman Brad Sherman and Lisa Sherman

Senator Tom Harkin

v Elected ocials need to see Americans with disabili8es as a powerful voter group. Congressman
Pete Sessions

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PARTNER 3: PRIVATE SECTOR

v Walgreens, Bank of America, Marriot, Disney, Time Warner and AMC Theaters among others have found they can do good and do well, at the same 8me.
v hWp://abcnews.go.com/WN/story? id=4272981&page=1#.UcyOVD7wKA0 v hWp://www.nbcnews.com/video/ nightly-news/19562689#19562689

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PARTNER 4: MEDIA
v Lens through which hundreds of millions of Americans see people with disabili8es. v Experiencing drama8c transforma8on - fewer reporters, thus relying more on informa8on packaged by outside groups. v We will shine a spotlight on companies that are using the talents of people with disabili8es to achieve a beWer boWom line. v RespectAbility will work with disability groups and experts to educate the media so that their coverage can inspire posi8ve change. 23

PARTNER 5: FAITH - BASED GROUPS

v Numerous leaders in religious tradi8ons had a disability or other limita8on in one form or another. v Religious leaders have previously been at the forefront of civil rights in America, and can do much more to help people with disabili8es. v Congrega8ons can be recruited and trained to be volunteer job coaches who can help teens and young adults with disabili8es get and maintain their rst internships and jobs. v Faith-based groups can do much by walking the walk on inclusion, not just talking the talk.
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PARTNER 6: PHILANTHROPISTS
vPhilanthropists play a major role in making the world a beWer place, however, few have yet to signicantly use their resources to benet people with disabili8es. vEven those who do not provide funding in this sector can make a tremendous posi8ve dierence if they request that their grantees explore ways of becoming more inclusive of people with disabili8es.

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PARTNER 7: INNOVATIONS/MAKE WORKING EASIER

v Research and technology facilitates independence v Assis8ve technology enabling people to talk v Note controversy between medical model vs. disability pride

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PARTNER 8: HOLLYWOOD/CELEBS

Murray Siegel

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RespectAbility TACTICS:
v Use top experts in strategic communica8ons and the latest in public opinion research (including focus groups and polls) to understand the hopes, dreams and challenges of Americans with disabili8es, and then translate that informa8on straight to policymakers in Washington and leaders across America. v Seek and vet cost-eec8ve best prac8ces to help people with disabili8es achieve independence. v Use sophis8cated strategic communica8ons to share best prac8ces with decision-makers including government ocials, other policy makers, campaign consultants, media, philanthropists, CEOs, human resource directors, job creators, clergy, nonprot and leaders in other arenas.

We will not lobby, do direct service or endorse candidates!

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TACTICS: RESEARCH, STRATEGY AND MESSAGE DEVELOPMENT

v Strategy and Message Development v Polling v Focus Groups & Dial Tes8ng v Press Advance v Spin-Control v Op-ed Wri8ng and Placement v Desksides v Booking Interviews v Social Media Campaigns
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President Bill Clinton

President George W. Bush

TACTICS: PAID MEDIA, PSAs & PRESS RELATIONS

v GeCng the Press You need Sean Hannity and fsto Win Meagan Buren v Media Coaching and Debate IPrepara8on v Podcasts & Radio IAdver8sing v Television Adver8sing v Campaign Organiza8on
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TACTICS: ADVOCACY & CAMPAIGN TRAINING SEMINARS

v Grassroots lobbying v Fundraising v Research Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz v Communica8on v Management v Media v What will win hearts and Ambassador John Bolton Iminds for your issue and Meagan Buren v Unlocking the poten8al of your ac8vist.
g

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 TACTICS: TRAINING TARGETING, VOTER FILES AND LIST DEVELOPMENT

v Campaign Literature: Brochures, LeWers and Leaets v Direct Mail v Web, Social Media and Newspaper Ads v Phone Banks & Robo Calls v Field, Rallies and Events v Get Out the Vote (GOTV) v Interac8ve Workshops/ Campaign Simula8ons
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Rep. Eric Cantor

Meagan Buren and President Bill Clinton

 TACTIC: INSIDER BRIEFINGS

Bill Kristol, Clarence Page and Eleanor CliM

Shelley Cohen and Gov. Markell

I have known and worked with Jennifer Laszlo Mizrahi for over two decades. She runs the sharpest seminars on what makes Washington and the media tick. -Eleanor Clift, Newsweek 33

TACTIC: PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES

Gov. MiW Romney

President Barack Obama Rep. Paul Ryan

Vice President Joe Biden

SoS. Hillary Clinton

Gov. Jeb Bush

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TACTIC: RECRUITING NEW LEADERSHIP

v Posi8ve change will require strong ibipar8san coopera8on needed as well as ipublic-private partnerships.
Senator Rick Santorum

v Elected ocials need to see iAmericans with disabili8es as a ipowerful voter group.
Gov. Sarah Palin and Anil Lewis David Axelrod Gov. Sarah Palin and Kenny Kalman

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POLITICAL CONVENTIONS AND DEBATES

Journalists and Guests

Stan Greenberg, PhD & Frank Luntz, PhD

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NATIONAL GOVERNORS ASSOCIATION AUG 2-5 DISABILITY EMPOWERMENT

Governor Jack Markell of Delaware Chair, National Governors Association

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JULY 16TH TRAINING EVENT

Nuts & Bolts of Winning Media & Political Strategies to Help People with Disabilities Achieve the American Dream A special training for CEOs and Communications Directors from National Disability Organizations
July 16, 2013 from 9 am-4 pm in Washington, DC

Confirmed Speakers include:

Lanny Davis An insiders look at how an evolving crisis can

be solved.

Rick Dunham How to Build Your Brand and Your Online

Community via Social Media.

Dr. Whit Ayres Winning Hearts and Minds of Conservative

Voters.

Erica Seifert Top issues for voters and Americans with

disabilities.

Doc Sweitzer Building a Winning Organization, Strategy and

Media.

Congressman Pete Sessions Empowering Americans with

disabilities to achieve the American Dream.

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HOW YOU CAN HELP

1. Spread the word to people who care www.RespectAbilityUSA.org LIKE www.facebook.com/RespectAbilityUSA FOLLOW hWps://twiWer.com/Respect_Ability 1. Get trained yourself 2. Volunteer full 8me in our oce 3. Recruit people of all abili8es for our board of directors 4. Donate now Empowering people with disabili3es to achieve the American dream

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TAX DEDUCTABLE DONATIONS VIA THE AUTISM-SOCIETY OF AMERICA

While RespectAbilityUSA is awai8ng a nal separate IRS approval we are opera8ng as a project of the Au8sm Society of America. Make checks to RespectAbilityUSA at:

RespectAbilityUSA, a Project of the AuJsm Society 4340 East-West Hwy, Suite 350 Bethesda, MD 20814

www.RespectAbilityUSA.org Phone: (240) 744 0546 Cell: (202) 365 0787 JenniferM@RespectAbilityUSA.org

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