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(MEMPHIS, May 8) Members of the grassroots civil rights group American Disabled for Attendant Programs Today (ADAPT) will answer a call for an Injunction against them filed by The King's Daughters and Sons Home and Jon Wells. The Plaintiffs seek to prevent ADAPT and The Memphis Center for Independent Living (MCIL) from visiting King's Daughters and Sons Home, holding meetings without complying with "the rules", and talking with a current resident.ADAPT is working nationally for a Community Attendant Services Act (CASA) which will provide Americans the option to live in their own home. Often people with disabilities are forced to live in nursing homes, and Tennessee ranks last among the 50 states in long-term community- and home-based care. ADAPT brings a simple message: Choice.
Why is this message so threatening to King's Daughters and Sons Home and Jon Wells? Because it is more cost effective, humane, and will end the monopoly mediocre administrators have over the lives of Americans. ADAPT is asking for NO new funds, simply that 25% of the money wasted to provide repulsive living conditions be redirected to give Americans a choice.
The Complaint for Injunctive Relief was filed April 14, 1997, and includes a specific plea for the Defendants to "...be permanently enjoined from any contact with..." a particular resident. Jon Wells, the resident's conservator, who lives and works in Lafayette Tennessee, is hoping a court-ordered injunction will protect his charge from the message of ADAPT. ADAPT has come to The King's Daughters and Sons home at the direct request of the resident, however, as conservator, Jon Wells feels that he has the ability to overrule the wishes, desires and even the political opinions of someone in a nursing home.
U.S. News and World Report lists The Nursing Home Lobby, American Health Care Association Political Action Committee (AHCA-PAC), as one of the 50 most exorbitant spenders for political favors (Source). "Most people think of nursing homes as simple non-profit establishments," said Dawn Russell, who was arrested protesting at the AHCA conference last November in Atlanta; "but they have a sinister Political agenda." Although 63% nursing homes funds nationwide come from Medicaid, the Federal Election Commission reports ACHA as one of the 50 PACs with the largest increase in funds from 1994 to 1996 (Source).
CASA will equip people with disabilities with what they need. Mark O'Brien, poet, author, and subject of Jessica Yu's Oscar winning documentary "Breathing Lessons," is such an example. Living in his own apartment, Mark O'Brien is not stagnated by institutional control. Although he requires personal assistance 24 hours a day, it would cost the state over twice as much to provide his care in a nursing home.
ADAPT and the Memphis Center for Independent Living are to reply to the Summons by May 8. "We only offer ideas and peer support," said Deborah Cunningham, the Executive Director of MCIL, "but those ideas threaten the establishment."
The Memphis Center for Independent Living
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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