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8/9/99, 11:07 amcdt
(St. Louis) Hundreds of disabled activists from throughout the United States will be demonstrating at the National Governors Association, NGA conference being held at the Adams Mark Hotel in St. Louis, Missouri, August 7th - 10th. There will be a "March" to the Old Court House starting a 9pm on August 7th and a rally/press opportunity at the Old Court House at 9:30pm, 4th and Market Street.
ADAPT, a national grassroots disability rights group is challenging the NGA to support the most integrated setting requirement in the 1990 Americans with Disabilities Act, ADA and to work with ADAPT to implement the recent Supreme Court ruling in Olmstead v. L.C. ADAPT also wants the NGA to support national legislation, MiCASSA that would change the institutional bias of the current Medicaid long term care delivery system.
In Olmstead v. LC, the Supreme Court for the first time in history, ruled states must follow the ADA's integration requirement when they deliver ongoing long term community services and supports. The Court stated, "unjustified placement or retention of persons in institutions, severely limiting their exposure to the outside community, constitutes a form of discrimination.
The NGA had filed a amicus brief in opposition to the most integrated setting requirement in the ADA putting every Governor against the disability community's position that all individuals with disabilities should have the right to choose where they live and receive support services in the most integrated setting.
Michelle Steiger, ADAPT organizer from St. Louis stated, "People with disabilities, young or old wants an equal opportunity to live in the community. We demand integration and real choices. The NGA has taken a position that would have taken away our civil rights. We are saying `DON'T TREAD ON THE ADA'".
Aug. 7, 1999
The current long term care system, designed over thirty years ago, has
an institutional bias that forces people with disabilities, young and old
into nursing homes and other institutions. The United States spends
almost 80% of its publicly funded long term care dollars to warehouse
approximately 2 million people with disabilities in nursing homes and
other institutions.
The overwhelming majority of people with disabilities and their families want services in their homes and communities.
ADAPT is in St. Louis to challenge the National Governors Assn, NGA to do the following:
August 8, 1999
Demands Delivered Protest Continues!
Over 150 disabled activists delivered their demands to the NGA today in a
drenching downpour that didn't deter the committed ADAPT activists.
ADAPT challenged the NGA to support and implement the most integrated
setting requirement in the ADA.
However, in response to the protest the security team at the Adams Mark Hotel shut down the building to ALL people with disabilities.
In order to assure the message was delivered, ADAPT then erected a cross outside the hotel and hung a wheelchair from it to illustrate the Governors' apparent willingness to sacrifice the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness of people with disabilities who need long term care services.
President Clinton will speak to the Governors this Sunday afternoon. ADAPT's protest continues today with another challenge to the NGA and President Clinton to implement the Supreme Court's decision on the Olmstead v. LC case.
August 9, 1999
Medicaid Long Term Care Services Protests at Governors' Convention Leads to 50 Arrests
"I would rather go to jail than to die in a nursing home" was the chant
which echoed through downtown St. Louis as 50 members of the disability
rights group ADAPT were arrested last night.
Over 150 disabled activists from across the nation are participating in a protest against the National Governors Association stand supporting institutions over community based services.
"A nursing home and a jail are very similar," said ADAPT organizer Michelle Steger of St. Louis, "it's mainly that in jail your sentence has and end, while in a nursing home too often the only way out is a pine box. I've been in both jail and a nursing home was lucky I got out of there with my life!"
Protests will continue today Monday August 9th, as the NGA refuses to support the "most integrated setting requirement" of the ADA, as supported by the Supreme Court in the recent Olmstead vs. LC decision.
"Where do you want to spend your later years" asked Michelle, "in your own home, or stuck away in an institution?"
The Memphis Center for Independent Living
1633 Madison Avenue,
Memphis, TN 38104
(901) 726-6404 v/tty (901) 726-6521 fax
mcil@mcil.org
MCIL is a United Way of the Mid-South member Agency
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