John Fetterman Gives Emotional Speech on Disability Access
Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.), who suffered a life threatening stroke before the 2022 midterm elections, became emotional when speaking about the challenges people with disabilities face on Thursday.
During a hearing of the Senate Special Committee on Aging, the senator showed the room a transcription app he uses to help him communicate with staff and “fully participate in this meeting” — a common tool for people with auditory processing or hearing issues.
“Because I live in a political environment, I was ridiculed and made fun of because I wasn’t able to process things at times,” he said, his voice breaking as he addressed the witnesses testifying at the hearing.
“I’m so sorry that I’m sure many of you had to go through this kind of thing,” Fetterman continued. “I was lucky enough to go through my life, the vast majority of that, without this kind of disability that I have.”
At the hearing, “Unlocking the Virtual Front Door: Ensuring Accessible Government Technology for People with Disabilities, Older Adults, and Veterans,” he spotlighted the lack of awareness and understanding about accommodations necessary for certain disabilities.
Republicans in recent weeks have criticized and outright mocked the Pennsylvania lawmaker, from scrutinizing his choice to wear casual clothes in Congress to making bizarre body double conspiracy theories.
“I admire everyone that has to kind of live with these kind of struggles, and prevail over them,” Fetterman said on Thursday.
Fetterman then asked guests in attendance how he and his colleagues can “become more empathetic, more responsive, and more effective senators, to provide the kind of support and services” senators that anyone in disabled communities in the U.S. “deserve.”
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