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Contact:
Shona Eakin (419) 349-5483
Marsha Katz (406) 239-7490
Bob Kafka (512) 431-4085
Mike Auberger (303) 356-2273
COLUMBUS, OH-Over 500 members of ADAPT, the national disability rights activist group with chapters in 39 states will be in Columbus from October 31st through November 4th, for a week of demonstrations and rallies in support of home and community-based options for all people with disabilities, regardless of age.
ADAPT, known for using non-violent civil disobedience to send home its message, has targeted Ohio because of the state's inability to shift spending from institutional care to the community. In 1998, ADAPT listed Ohio as one of the 10 Worst States in providing home and community services, noting that the state spends 89% of its Medicaid Long Term Care funding for nursing homes and other institutions. The Health Care Financing Administration (HCFA) reported last year that Ohio spent $2.5 billion in nursing homes and other institutions, eight times the amount Ohio spent for home and community services such as home health, personal care, and Medicaid waivers.
"Ohio is one of the nation's worst states in terms of spending money on community based programs," said ADAPT organizer Bob Kafka. "ADAPT is in Ohio this week to send a message to the Taft Administration, to Ohio's elected officials, and the people of Ohio. REAL alternatives to nursing homes such as attendant services and personal care must be made available. ADAPT's agenda is clear: REAL Choice for home and community services."
The Ohio REAL Choice agenda includes two critical elements. One involves pending legislation before the Ohio General Assembly, HB 215 introduced in April by Rep. Terwilliger (R-Columbus). The bill, known as Ohio Personal Assistance Services Act (OPASA) mirrors ADAPT's federal legislation MiCASSA, which is scheduled to be introduced in the Senate in the near future. The legislation would allow Medicaid recipients to use Medicaid dollars to purchase home and community based personal assistant services, and not be forced to go to a nursing home to receive the support they need. H.B. 215 has been referred to the House Finance & Appropriations Committee.
The disability community formed the Ohio OPASA Committee which has formally requested a proponent hearing on the bill.
The other significant component of the Ohio REAL Choice Campaign is a decision handed down by the U.S. Supreme Court known as Olmstead v. LC. That decision upheld the 1990 Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) integration mandate, which says, "a public entity must administer services, programs, and activities in the most integrated setting appropriate to the needs of qualified individuals with disabilities." The Taft Administration, however, has resisted any efforts made by ADAPT to implement the Supreme Court decision.
"We've filed Title II complaints with the DOJ & HHS Office of Civil Rights, and those are under investigation" said ADAPT's Shona Eakin of Toledo, "but our biggest barrier is the Taft Administration. We want them to develop a comprehensive plan to get people out and keep people out of nursing homes and other institutions." Ohio ADAPT has requested a meeting with Governor Taft seven times, and been refused.
The group has also been stonewalled by the state Medicaid Director, who is responsible for implementing the ADA integration mandate and offering REAL choice for people with disabilities at the state level Authorized in 1990, the ADA is the most sweeping civil rights legislation protecting people with disabilities. Upon signing the law at a packed White House lawn ceremony, former President Bush declared, "And now I sign legislation which takes a sledgehammer to another wall, one which has, for too many generations, separated Americans with disabilities from the freedom they could glimpse, but not grasp." In keeping with the original intent of the ADA, the Columbus Action kicks off ADAPT's Campaign for REAL Choice 2000.
ADAPT of Texas: (512) 442-0252
adapt@adapt.org
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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