| MCIL Journal | FreeOurPeople.org | ADAPT Action Report | Home |
|
|
| MCIL News Release Archive |
| National ADAPT |
| M C I L |
| Tennessee ADAPT |
| Not Dead Yet! |
| B F M S |
Contact:
Bob Kafka (703) 418-6800 [hotel in DC]
(512) 431-4085 [cell]
Jennifer Burnett (610) 781-4091
Tim Wheat (901) 428-6404
(WASHINGTON D.C.) More than 2 million Americans are segregated from mainstream society, not because they choose to but because of federal policy that sends 45 billion tax dollars through Medicaid to warehouse them in nursing homes and other institutions.
More than one thousand disabled activists will roll into Washington D.C. from Sunday May 9 to Thursday May 13, to change this institutional bias in our nation's health care system. Many of them former inmates or escapees of nursing homes, members of the national grassroots disability rights group known as ADAPT are in Washington this week to send a message to Congress, the White House, and the Justices of the Supreme Court that they will no longer tolerate the institutional bias in the long term services system.
The group is planning a series of demonstrations in the nation's capitol starting May 10, to demand reform of the federal Medicaid policy, and to support the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) "integration mandate" which has been challenged in the Supreme Court.
ADAPT is planning two days of protests, culminating in a rally on Wednesday May 12, at which several thousand people with disabilities are expected. The protests will center on ADAPT's legislation, known as MiCASSA. The bill gained significant support in the 105th Congress and is expected to be introduced soon.
The May 12 rally, "Don't Tread on the ADA," will be held at noon on the grounds of the U.S. Capitol, north side at the Upper Senate Park, followed by a march to the steps of the U.S. Supreme Court. "The rally and march are in support of a recently argued Georgia lawsuit heard by the Supreme Court in April, known as Olmstead v. LC & EW," said ADAPT organizer Bob Kafka. "We were here in April, and we are here now to continue our battle to form a national policy which will allow people to choose where and how they receive services."
In December, when the Supreme Court agreed to hear the case, ADAPT vowed to mount a campaign to protect the ADA and the fundamental right of people with disabilities to live in the community. While the Georgia lawsuit involves people with mental disabilities, ADAPT points out that the Supreme Court decision will have a far reaching impact on the lives of all people with disabilities.
"This will be the defining moment for the ADA," explained Philadelphia attorney Steve Gold. "If the Supreme Court rules in favor of Georgia, the ADA will become a mere shell of what it is intended to be, stripping away its major civil rights provision - integration." The high court's decision is expected in June.
Georgia's appeal to the Supreme Court has outraged ADAPT and the entire disability community. While 26 states have signed onto an Amicus Brief in support of Georgia's position, pressure from the disability community has forced all by 7 states to remove their names from the brief: Colorado, Texas, Hawaii, Montana, Nevada, Tennessee, Wyoming.
ADAPT "On-Line" press package
Recent news articles on long-term care in Tennessee, ADAPT, and nursing homes.
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
Return to the top of this page
MCIL would like feedback on the accessibility of this website. Please send your comments and concerns to webmaster@mcil.org