ANKENY, Iowa — Throughout October, Disability Rights Iowa and the Iowa DD Council are hosting open legislative forums with congressional candidates for the disabled community to attend.

Catherine Johnson, the Executive Director of Disability Rights Iowa, said the legislative forums are a chance for congressional candidates to connect with the disabled community.

“It’s important to develop that relationship with the candidates. It’s a time for our community to come out and meet the candidates, explain the issues that they’re concerned about, and hear directly from people that are running what they think those issues are and the solutions to them,” Johnson said.

One such forum took place Wednesday night in Ankeny where issues around Medicare and Medicaid as well as area education agencies were raised.

Carol Grimm, a voter who attended the Ankeny forum, said that issues that affect the disabled community affect everyone.

“It’s not just the adults with disabilities of which there are many, but also people who have children with disabilities and how that impacts their lives because it’s a family affair. Yeah. If you have a child or an adult, a teenager with a disability, it’s not just an individual issue. It’s the whole family and the neighborhood,” Grimm said.

There are three more forums taking place this month:

October 17th, Waukee, Waukee Community Center at 6 p.m.

October 22nd, Des Moines, Des Moines Central Public Library 6 p.m.

October 24th, Ottumwa, Bridge View Center 6 p.m.

To learn more about the Disability Rights Iowa Legislative Forum visit Disability Rights Iowa’s website.