#CripTheVoteStories with Vilissa K. Thompson (01:29)

#CripTheVoteStories with Vilissa K. Thompson

On Tuesday, September 27, 2016, National Voter Registration Day, our friends at #CripTheVote hosted a Twitter chat on Storytelling and Voting with Rooted in Rights as a Guest Host. Rooted in Rights and the organizers of #CripTheVote created a series of short videos featuring the disability community.

Video visual descriptions
Each video begins with the same graphic as follows: Logo of #CripTheVoteStories with the text of the hashtag in rainbow colors (red, orange, yellow, green, blue purple and yellow) is placed at the top of every video player, and remains there during the video. During a music jingle, a graphic of a box with four quadrants with pictures of 1) the international symbol of access, a wheelchair sign, 2) Two hands signing, 3) A person using a white cane and 3) An image of a person’s brain. The box with four quadrants turns into a voting box with grey check that swipes across. An orange title screen draws in from both sides with the name of the person, and their city. Following each video, the music jingle plays again with the @RootedinRights Twitter handle as a title screen.

Vilissa K. Thompson | Winnsboro, SC (@VilissaThompson) transcript:
“Growing up, I was influenced by my grandmother who was a Great Depression baby, and grew up during Jim Crow era. She grew up during a time where African-Americans did not have the rights that we have today, and voting was one of those rights that we had to fight for. Hearing her stories about growing up in the rural South and her seeing the changes of America really struck me as to how our rights are not to be taken for granted, particularly when it comes to voting. The ability to vote is something that we as disabled people have to take full charge of. We are the largest minority group in this country representing over 57 million voices, opinions, and we can become a very powerful voting bloc this election season and from here on. For those who are still trying to figure out exactly who they want to vote for, that’s perfectly fine. Take your time. Being an educated voter is so important. Ask questions. Watch debates. Have discussions. Join Twitter chat that are online, to really hear other opinions and to help you gather what’s important to you. I know, for me, as a black, disabled woman, not voting is not a option This election season, please, please #CripTheVote. Your voice matters. Our voices matter and our lives matter when it comes to the political decisions that are to be made on our behalf by those we elect in office.”