DAY SIXTY-EIGHT: Colorado ADAPT confronts Secretary Leavitt

By Dale Reid

Editor's Note: On August 5th, Tennessee ADAPT confronted Secretary Leavitt about the same issues mentioned in Colorado. Read about Leavitt in Memphis.

(DENVER) Michael Leavitt, Secretary of Health and Human Services, came to Denver for the Medicare Part D meetings today. ADAPT was invited to attend the private meeting prior to the large open meeting (but only one person, please). Of course, two of us showed up and we were joined by our Atlantis co-director Tim Thornton. Being veteran members of ADAPT all are of the opinion that it is better to say your sorry than to ask permission we all just went in and sat down.

Secretary Leavitt to begin with was not too clear about who he was talking to or about. The elderly he said, the elderly. By the time we got to the general meeting and he saw the multiple ADAPT t-shirts his consciousness was raised. Disabled individuals became a part of his speech. And ADAPT showed him who we are, and we are not only interested in prescription drugs. What is the administration's position on "Money Follows the Person" and MiCASSA? was the primary question.

And the answer is. "As you know this administration fully supports people living in their own homes if that is their choice. We are in full support of "Money Follows the Person" and MiCASSA." As Secretary Leavitt shook our hands, saying good-bye to each of us by name we gave him our response in full voice, "FREE OUR PEOPLE"

Now the question is how are they going to actively influence passage of "Money Follows." and MiCASSA?

Breckenridge, Colorado and Colorado ADAPT

August 17, 2005

Judge Casias of Summit County Combined Courts to Colorado ADAPT, "Protestors and civil disobedience has created great changes in this great country of ours, the Civil Rights Movement, Women's Right to Vote and others. And the leaders of some of these protests have gone on to create great things in this country. So, I say to you. I applaud you. Keep up the good work."

ADAPT had gone to Breckenridge on June 16, 2005 to visit the Western Governor's Association and Colorado's own "I will never meet with ADAPT again" Bill Owens and managed to get ourselves arrested. 

Surprise! So there we were in court. The D.A. could not believe we would plead guilty. what is any protest about? Yeah, we did it. We are guilty. And we got not only gratifying confirmation for our actions from the Judge, but all fines and court costs were dismissed.

- Dale Reid