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When the governor refused to allow protesters food and medication, the remaining 400 ADAPT members closed off entrances to both the state and county parking garages under the Hill Building trapping employees at the close of the work day. ADAPT re-opened the garages after a negotiated joint press conference with Memphis Mayor W. W. Herenton and Shelby County Mayor Jim Rout. Both mayors voiced strong support for home and community based services, and on at least 3 occasions had called the governor to urge provision of food, water and medications to the protesters.
ADAPT members not occupying Sunquist's office held a vigil all night in support of their colleagues and the thousands of men, women and children with disabilities warehoused in nursing homes against their will. According to information from the Health Care Financing Administration and the State of the States in Developmental Disabilities, Tennessee is the nation's worst state when it comes to tax dollars supporting institutions over community services.
Meaningful, flexible home and community based services are non-existent in Tennessee, forcing older persons and people with disabilities into nursing homes. ADAPT wants Sunquist to amend Tennessee's Medicaid Waiver to provide home and community based services which are available statewide, which don't confine people to their homes, and which are flexible according to individual need.
When asked if there was anything he'd like to say to Governor Sunquist about home and community based services, Sam Ware, a disabled Memphian, replied, "Yes, tell him to have a heart. Tell him to help us be part of this community instead of forcing us into nursing homes."
Contact:
Marsha Katz
- (313) 815-4536 Room 312
Jennifer Burnett
- phone: (412) 860-3715
ADAPT of Texas: (512) 442-0252
adapt@adapt.org
News Release Page A listing of recent ADAPT News Releases
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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