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His parents are now getting some help with the staggering health care costs, thanks to a New Hampshire program which allows people with higher incomes to qualify for Medicaid coverage.

"I have a good job," said Gary Dietz of Brookline, Alexander's father and the marketing manager for a software company. "But without this help, I don't know where we would be."

Dietz was one of more than 150 people yesterday at a forum with candidates for governor and president at Rundlett Middle School.

The afternoon event was sponsored by CAUSE, Communities Actively United for Social Equality, with help from 17 other organizations, including Granite State Independent Living, AARP, and the Governor's Commission on Disability.

The idea was to gather the candidates, or representatives of candidates, together so New Hampshire residents could find out more about their plans for laws that affect people with disabilities.
" We want to make it clear that we are not a special interest group,"said Clyde Terry, director of Granite State Independent Living. "Everyone is an accident or an illness away from having disabilities. We want the candidates to recognize that our agenda is America's agenda."

Of the four politicians invited, gubernatorial candidate John Lynch showed up to speak, and Sen. John Kerry was represented by former governor Jeanne Shaheen. Neither Gov. Craig Benson nor President Bush sent representatives.

It might have been just as well that the Republicans didn't show, as there was much bashing of the current administration by Lynch and Shaheen.

Both politicians spoke against a proposed change to the Medicaid system that would hand out money through block grants. Shaheen spoke in favor of stem cell research and said it would be threatened by four more years of the Bush administration.

Lynch promised health coverage for every New Hampshire child and vowed to make sure the quality of special education in New Hampshire remained strong.

Both did their best to pitch to the wide gamut of people represented in the audience, everyone from seniors to people with physical disabilities to parents of children with mental illness or developmental disabilities.

While they spoke, their words were repeated by sign language interpreters and through captions projected across the back of the Rundlett gymnasium wall.

Although the audience was receptive to the Democrats' message, some people said they still haven't made up their minds.

"Sixteen days is a long time,"said Anne Allgaier of Merrimack, referring to the time left until the election Nov. 2.

Allgaier, 43, works for a nonprofit that helps adults with developmental disabilities. Her mother, Marjorie Allgaier, 72, also there yesterday, has recently started using a wheelchair. Anne Allgaier said her eyes have been opened to the obstacles people with physical disabilities face, despite the presence of the Americans with Disabilities Act.

"I've definitely seen things get better," Allgaier said. "But I think there's a long way to go."

Gary Dietz said he's more interested in conveying what he likes about New Hampshire's system for people with disabilities than with suggesting changes.

New Hampshire has developed a superb support network, Dietz said, one that had been emulated by other states. But changes such as recent budget cuts could have serious effects.

"We need to be doing our best to keep our system," Dietz said.

Other organizations involved in yesterday's forum include the Disabilities Rights Center, the Elder Rights Coalition, the Alliance for Retired Citizens, New Hampshire Cares, the New Hampshire Citizens Alliance, Community Supports Network, People First of New Hampshire, the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation, the Hood Center; New Hampshire Autism Society; New Hampshire Pediatric Society; the Developmental Disabilities Council; the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill-NH and Parents Actively United for School Excellence.

(Amanda Parry can be reached at 224-5301, ext. 307, or by e-mail at aparry@cmonitor.com.)