Governor candidates facing off at Perkins

The five candidates in this fall’s governor’s race will each participate in a forum on disability issues Tuesday at the Perkins School for the Blind in Watertown.

“Disability issues do not get much attention during most campaigns,” Steven Rothstein, CEO of the Perkins School, said in a press release. “Having an opportunity to present our issues and get a response from candidates this early in the campaign is a leg up for the whole community.”

Incumbent Deval Patrick (Democrat), Grace Ross (Democrat) Charles Baker (Republican), Treasurer Tim Cahill (Independent), and Jill Stein (Independent) will all participate in the event, which Rothstein hopes will raise awareness of disability issues during the campaign. Bob Oakes, longtime anchor for WBUR’s Morning Edition will moderate the forum. Candidates were given a list of issues and questions to prepare for the event.

According to statistics from the Disability Policy Consortium, an estimated 20 percent to 22 percent of Massachusetts residents live with some disability. Some census information from 2000 puts the number closer to 30 percent.

The candidates forum is free and open to the public, and will be held Tuesday, May 18, from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. at the Perkins School for the Blind, at 175 North Beacon Street in Watertown. The forum will be broadcast at www.livestream.com/webshare and the Talking Information Center.