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ADAPT of Tennessee Confronts Donors of King's Daughters and Sons
Nursing Home
By Randy Alexander
 ADAPT activists from Memphis confronted fund raisers for
King's Daughters and Sons Foundation (Saturday April 24th) to request they fund the difference in transportation costs inmates of
King's Daughters and Sons Home (a for profit nursing home) will incur when the nursing home moves outside of the public transportation system.
"When the nursing home I have to live in moves, if I want to go anywhere it is going to cost me $13.80 per round trip," said Harry Calder on of our brothers stuck in
KDSH, "instead of the $3.00 it costs now. We (those living at KDSH) only get $30.00 a
month," continued Harry.
The state of Tennessee continues its institutional bias towards people with disabilities which segregates and isolates so many of our brothers and sisters, moms and dads, friends and neighbors. When KDSH a for profit nursing home that is going to move outside of the service area to the only affordable public transportation in the area you increase that isolation.
The foundation that raises money as a non-profit for KDSH a for-profit business was given one demand; pay the difference in the transportation costs. When brief negotiations fell apart the ADAPT activists remained steady and blocked the driveway to the fund raiser. Within moments the Administrator of the for profit nursing home KDSH Ronald Arrison showed up, and yelled to the
ADAPTers, "You better get out of this parking lot or else." Needlessly Mr. Arrison called the police.
With police and FOX news on hand Deborah Cunningham asked Mr. Arrison,
"People in your nursing home will not have transportation to the community, to their friends, their families, other organizations, or to school. Is the home (KDSH) going to pay for the rise in transportation
costs?"
 Mr.
Arrison's reply was, "No, I run a for-profit business, and I
don't care."
"Will the Foundation pay the difference?" he was asked.
"No!" was Arrison's Reply.
After a stand off with police, when Capt Bob Owens arrived and gave the activists their final warning to move off the driveway and onto the sidewalk or be arrested the ADAPTers decided on this day, to yield.
Mr. Arrison is an example of the system that is not about our rights, needs, wants or desires. It is about his for-profit business which is about warehousing our brothers and sisters. We may have left, but we are not through.
By Randy Alexander
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