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ಮುಖಪುಟ / ಸಂಪುಟಗಳು / Memphis, May 1998 22
ಪ್ರಕಟಣೆಯ ದಿನಾಂಕ / 2019 / ವಾರ : 48
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PHOTO: In front of some trees a man in a grey hat and glasses with a white beard (Bob Kafka) sits in his powerchair, holding a microphone for a bullhorn. There are two over his held being held by standing members of the group. To Bob's right is Alan Holdsworth (aka Johnny Creschendo) in a DAN (Disability Action Network, ADAPT's UK sister group) and to his right is LaTonya Reeves in a blue ADAPT shirt. She is looking down at a paper. Way behind her, up against a tree is Tom Olin with his camera.
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MEMPHIS, TUESDAY, MAY 12, 1998 THE COMMERCIAL APPEAL [Headline] Protesters shut Sundquist's local office [Subheading] Demand Tenn. funds for home assistants The Commercial Appeal Protesters, many in wheel-chairs, crowded Gov. Don Sundquist's Memphis office Monday demanding expanded state funding for community services to provide alternatives to nursing home care. Other members of the group later blocked the exit to the parking garage under the Shelby County office building, 160 N. Main. The blockade kept about 50 workers waiting up to 90 minutes. Protesters said they blocked the exit because they were not allowed to bring food and medicine to the pro-testers in the governor's office. The protests and blockade were organized by ADAPT (American Disabled for Attendant Programs Today). The Denver-based disability rights group is holding a four-day meeting here. Early this morning, nearly 100 remained in the governor's office and about 75 were out-side the building. "ADAPT will be here at the state building all night in solidarity of support of our people inside and people inside nursing homes across the state," said Stephanie Thomas, national organizer for ADAPT. Police were monitoring the situation in the building. The parking garage exit opened about 6 p.m., following the promise of a joint press conference involving protest leaders, Shelby County Mayor Jim Rout and Memphis Mayor Willie Herenton. State services and Sundquist were the targets Monday. "We need to speak with the governor concerning the fact ' Tennessee is the worst state in the nation as far as home- and community-based services are concerned," said Diane Coleman, 44, a former Tennessean living in Chicago. During an evening press conference, Herenton and Rout said they were sympathetic to the group's issues They committed to contact Sundquist and state lawmakers in an effort to persuade them to take another look at the concerns. Sundquist was willing to talk to protesters, said Beth Fortune, his press secretary. But the two sides couldn't agree on the conditions. Three hours after the protest began, state employees were sent home about 2 p.m. and the state office building at 170 N. Main was locked. The building houses most of state government's regional offices. "At this point, unless something changes, we expect and anticipate that everyone will be back at work (this) morning," said Anthony Kimbrough, a Tennessee Department of Safety spokesman. He didn't know how many employees were affected Monday. Kimbrough and Fortune said the employees were dismissed for their own safety. "All the elevators were not working at one time," Kimbrough said. Monday's protest was similar to other demonstrations ADAPT has staged nationwide. ADAPT's Memphis meeting, which has attracted about 500 people, ends Wednesday. There were no arrests or injuries following Monday's protests, which attracted an estimated 250. "As long as individuals Photographs by Robert Cohen remain in the building, certainly there will be a law enforcement presence," said Kimbrough, whose department includes the Tennessee High-way Patrol. Seven or eight state troopers were sent to the build-ing, in addition to dozens of Memphis police and Shelby County Sheriff's officers. After shutting Sundquist's office Monday, ADAPT faxed its demands to Sundquist's Nashville residence. The list called on Sundquist to expand community services covered by Tennessee Medicaid, support federal legislation to expand A Shelby County SWAT officer (above) removes protester De'vorah L. Kappers of Colorado from the parking garage of the Shelby County building as state troopers lower the garage door. Blocked by protesters, Hazel Bills (at left) says she Is unable to help them contact the governor as she and other county employees, including Dave Jones, try to leave. funding for personal aides, and get the group a slot on the National Governors Association summer meeting agenda. "The governor was more than willing to speak with the leader of the group — certainly willing to meet with a couple of their leaders --- but in terms of their demands, I think we would just have to take a look them," said Fortune. Sundquist offered to speak with Coleman by telephone, but declined her request they talk via speaker phone. Coleman said she was unaware Sundquist also offered to arrange a meeting between protest leaders and state officials. She said she would have declined. "This group isn't really interested in a meeting with one or two people. We've had plenty of meetings. There has to be real change that frees people who don't want to be in nursing homes." Monday's protest comes weeks after state legislators failed to pass a measure that would have earmarked additional funds for home and community services for Medicaid-eligible individuals. ADAPT is pushing for national legislation to expand government funding for personal aides to provide the practical support disabled people need to live independently. "We hope those in power will see we are heartfelt in what we say. We need more options," Memphian Samuel Ware. Childhood polio left Ware, 49, largely paralyzed with only limited use of his left hand. He relies on his mother for such tasks, is dressing, bathing and getting out of bed. But his mother is in her 70s and, without her, Ware fears a nursing home would be his only option. Medicaid pays the bill for about'30,000 Tennesseans, about 70 percent of the state's nursing, home residents. About 95 percent of Tennessee's $672 million Medicaid budget goes for nursing home care. Fortune noted that Sundquist had role in a compromise over a state legislative proposal on long-term care for the elderly and disabled. The compromise calls for an in-depth study of long-term care issues. To reach reporter Mary Powers, call 529-2383 or E-mail ptiwets@gomemphis.com Nashville Bureau Chief Richard Locker and reporter John Semien contributed to this story.
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Memphis, Wednesday, May 13, 1998 [Headline] Disability rights sit-in ends; offices open today The Commercial Appeal The state office building is expected to be open for business today after a disability rights sit-in forced a two-day shutdown of some offices. Disability rights activists--calling for expanded options to nursing home care--camped out overnight Monday in Gov. Don Sunquist's Memphis office before filing out about 11:30 a.m. Tuesday. No one was arrested during the sit-in. It ended without Sunquist responding to the protesters' demands or talking to the roughly 100 individuals who spent Monday night in his 12th-floor Memphis office. Demonstrators like Judy Neal, 48, of Memphis, declared victory. "I think we got the governor's attention. We've made people in Memphis and Tennessee aware of the issue of long-term care and the fact there are no choices here," said Neal, the Memphis Center for Independent Living program director. Protests, organized by the Denver-based disability rights group ADAPT (American Disabled for Attendant Care Today) is pushing federal legislation to expand government funding for personal aides to help more disabled persons live independently. Supporters argue that providing home and community based services--including housekeeping services and transportation--todisabled and older Americans is cheaper and more humane than paying the nursing home bill. They complain that Tennessee and other states still primarily funnel money into nursing home care. About 250 people, many in wheelchairs and chanting "free our people," rallied outside state office building when the sit-in concluded Tuesday. They are in Memphis for a four-day ADAPT meeting that ends today. On Monday, demonstrators jammed Sunquist's office demanding the governor make it easier for Tennesseans to qualify for home and community services. [Image] [Image caption] Janet Thomas and her son Bryce 'Hercules,' 10, of Cleburne, Texas, were among the demonstrators outside Gov. Don Sunquist's Memphis office Tuesday, calling for nursing home alternatives. By Lance Murphey Citing safety concerns, officials responded by emptying the building, sending home about 550 employees. The building remained closed Tuesday, but will reopen today, said Beth Fortune, Sunquist's press secretary. The building houses regional state offices, including the departments of human services, economic development and finance. During a Monday evening press conference, Memphis Mayor Willie Herenton and Shelby County Mayor Jim Rout promised to encourage Sunquist and legislators to reconsider state-funded options to nursing home care. About 95 percent of the state's $675 million Medicaid budget goes to support about 30,000 Tenesseans living in nursing homes. The Tennessee General Assembly recently created a council to draft a statewide long-term care plan. The next state budget includes money for a pilot program on long-term care alternatives in Davidson and Williamson counties. Sunquist issued a statement Tuesday thanking Herenton for his help. He also praised the patience of state employees and praised Memphis police and state troopers for their good judgement and sensitivity. Fortune said Sunquist declined to order arrests as long as protesters weren't harming people or damaging property. "They had as much right to protest as anyone does." Fortune said some carpet apparently was damaged and will have to be replaced. The damage was estimated at less than $500 and Fortune was unsure if the state will bill ADAPT. Diane Coleman, a Chicago ADAPT leader who spent the night in Sunquist's office, said she was unaware of the damage. Coleman said protesters were instructed not to damage property and to pick up after themselves.. Sundquist called Coleman at his Memphis office Monday after the group faxed its demands to the governor's residence. But the two sides never spoke. Sunquist declined Coleman's request to talk to the group Monday via speaker phone. Coleman said she was unaware the governor offered to arrange a meeting between administration officials and ADAPT leaders. Fortune said Tuesday that she doubted the governor will address the group's demands publicly. ---------- To reach reporter Mary Powers, called 529-2383 or E-mail powers@gomemphis.com
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PHOTO: Two men in dark suits with ties, one black and one white, stand behind a row of ADAPT folks sitting in wheelchairs. The two men are the of the city of Memphis and the Mayor of Shelby County. Neither looks too happy. A big bunch of microphones are behind held up to them. In the fow of ADAPT folks are Cassie James, far right, Linda Anthony to her left, Paul ___ of Tennessee to Linda's left. To Paul's left is LaTonya Reeves, she is looking up warily at the mics being held over her shoulder. Behind the group is a stone government building with the sign "Shelby County Office B..."
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PHOTO: In front of a modern office building there is a large ADPAT crowd, arranged in a casual semi-circle as if listening to a speaker. One woman on a scooter (Eleanor Smith) has a poster that reads "People not profits" and next to her is another personin a scooter with a sign "Tennessee's Health Care Sewer of Services." Stuck to the top is an ADAPT 2020 bumper sticker. The person has a flower shirt and an arm in a cast and is taking a picture. Barbara Bounds is in the front left side of the photo, about three people over in the front row holding a white cane and sitting in a chair is _____ from Denver. Behind her, yelling, is Bob Liston, and behind him, standing and yelling is Bruce Darling with a beard. Beside the flower shirt woman is Loretta Dufriend. In the right-center front, sitting one the ground, is Spitfire.
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[Headline] Ten Worst States for Personal Attendant Services 1. Tennessee 2. Mississippi 3. Louisiana 4. Missouri 5. Georgia 6. Illinois 7. Indiana 8. Florida 9. Ohio 10. Kentucky [Subheading] Dishonorable Mention 1. Washington D.C. 2. Texas 3. Pennsylvania 4. New Jersey 5. Arkansas Information used, for ranking the Ten Worst came from a variety of sources including personal stones and recommendations of advocacy organizations. Two sources we used were: The State of the States in Developmental Disabilities published by the American Association on Mental Retardation and State LTC Profiles Report published by the Institute for Health Services Research, University of Minnesota. [Subheading] Tennessee * 94.8% of long term care spending goes to nursing homes. (1992) * Fiscal effort for community services for people with developmental disabilities 36% BELOW national average. * Total MR/IUD spending 38th in the country. * Spending for congregate facilities increased by 41% in Tennessee while spending for congregate facilities nationwide has declined 12%. * 50th in per capita spending for home and community-based care for people over the age of 65. * Number of people with developmental disabili-ties living in nursing homes increased 25% (1992-96) nationally a 13% decrease. * 50th in spending on home and community-based care as a percentage of long term care expenditures. * Commitment to home and community based services ranked 50th by the Institute for Health Services Research. (For specifics on other worst states, contact ADAPT of Texas 512-442-0252 or adapt@adapt.org)
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PHOTO: The midst of a crowd of ADAPT people outside a large office building. In the forground a rasied fist. Behind, two women in different yellow ADAPT shirts, one standing and yelling or chanting, one sitting in her chair squinting and focusing. Behind them, more protesters including a man in dark glasses and a dark tshirt and in the center of the picture but back, Sue Davis is standing looking determined.
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PHOTO: In the foreground a stone platform with a huge metal seal partially visible that reads "..OF THE STATE..." Someone, mostly off camera, sits on this. Behind it two people in yellow ADAPT shirts (Claude Holcomb, left and Marsha Coleman, right) are sitting in their chairs. To Marsha's right another woman in a wheelchair, and behind her John Gladstone is sitting with his hands raised up. Behind Claude and Marsha a woman in a green t0shirt is interacting with someone behind Marsha whose fists are raised above Marsha's head. Behind Claude and up against the building Rand Metcalf in a dark ADAPT shirt, raises a fist above his head. To his right a man in a cap (possibly Kevin Seik) has his hand by his mouth as if he is yelling. The building is a dark speckled stone.
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PHOTO: A mass of ADAPT people are gathered in the tiny park amid downtown DC, probably Pennsylvania Ave. In the background are large office buildings as well as a TV truck and some small trees. The everyone in the crowd is looking intently off to the right side of the photo, focused on something going on. Shona Eakin, with red hair and a red T-shirt on the right side of the picture is yelling. Behind her is a camera man, and behind him someone is holding up a red poster. Beside her is a man in a elaborate seated power chair. Pn his left at the edge of the picture is Mike Eakin, also in a red ADAPT No place like home T-shirt. Someone in the back standing (possibly Brook Ball) has his hands to his mouth yelling. It's very sunny and everyone is packed together.
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PHOTO: A very intense looking woman (Linda Anthony) in a red MiCASA HR2020 T-shirt, is looking up and to the side at reporters as she answers their questions. Only the arms and microphones of the reporters are in view. Someone else [possibly Cassie James, ADAPT-1124] in a black ADAPT T-shirt is sitting next to her, and behind you can see a row of feet of people in wheelchairs lined up. Linda looks like she is telling them what for.
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Memphis, Sunday, May 10, 1998 [Headline] 500 tp push for Medicaid funds for home aides [Subheading] At issue is choice, supporters say The Commercial Appeal After living nearly 37 years with her parents and logging another nine years in a nursing home, 47-year-old Tena Murphy is settling into life on her own. "It's definitely home," said Murphy, surveying a one-bedroom apartment accepted by her doll and stuffed animal collections. A small inheritance from her father's death provided Murphy with money for a subsidized apartment and $72 weekly for a personal assistant. This week, the debate over whether to expand government funding for personal assistants gets a Memphis pivot point. About 500 are expected here to build support for national legislation to expand government funding for personal assistants. "The issue isn't to shot nursing homes down, but to provide real choice," said Michael Auberger, 42, of Denver. Auberger is national organizer and co-founder of ADAPT, a disability-rights group that has organized four days of workshops, meetings and demonstrations. Founded in 1983, ADAPT (American Disabled for Attendant Programs Today) has pushed for improved transportation and alternatives to nursing homes. Events kick off today with a 3:30 p.m. Court Square rally. The Memphis gathering comes shortly after the Tennessee legislative session ended without expanding the Medicaid funding for home and community services as an alternative to nursing home care. Instead, legislators created an advisor council to develop a comprehensive state plan for long-term care services, excluding nursing homes. The plan's expected in January. "I'm disappointed we didn't put money into (home and community services) now," said Rep. John Arriola (D-Nashville), the bill's House sponsor. The bill originally called for channeling half of any future Medicaid budget increase to pay for services, such as personal aides, meals and transportation, that could help people avoid nursing homes. Arriola said the funding provision was dropped because it lacked adequate support. Auberger said that's why ADAPT favors national legislation. "States could do a lot of this now, but have ignored the call of the disabled and aging community," said Bob Kafka, 52, an Austin-based ADAPT member. "Congress has to take action. This is a very passionate issue. We call this a civil rights issue. People are being forced into institutions" because state Medicaid programs won't pay for personal aides and other support services, Kafka said. Both Kafka and Auberger rely on wheelchairs. ADAPT members are in Memphis to highlight Tennessee's shortcomings and push a bill now before Congress. ADAPT uses workshops, street theater and nonviolent protest to intensify its message. At similar gatherings in other cities, ADAPT members were arrested in demonstrations that have included chaining themselves to the White House fence, blocking buses and driveways or piling into congressional offices. Auberger declined to discuss the group's Memphis plan. Deputy Chief Samuel Moses said the Memphis Police Department believes it includes action that could trigger arrest. But he said the group hasn't discussed anything with police. Murphy's plans include attending today's workshops and rally. She said without an aide who spends about 12 hours a week helping her shop, clean, dress and bathe, she'd still be in King's Daughters and Sons Home. Medicaid paid Murphy's nursing home bill, but it wouldn't pay for a personal assistant because she wasn't homebound and didn't need 24-hour help. Tennessee's Medicaid budget is about $672 million, most going to underwrite nursing home care for about 30,000 Tennesseans. Medicaid is separate from the state's TennCare health program. More than 70 percent of Tennessee nursing home residents qualify for Medicaid, which is funded with state and federal dollars. Eligibility is linked to a person's income and assets. Until Murphy could afford to pay her own assistant, a nursing home was her only option. An only child, Murphy lived at home with her parents until her mother died and a traffic accident eventually sent her father to a nursing home. Both parents are now deceased. "Tena is an example of what home and community-based services can do," said Bernarc Danzig, Plough Towers director. Murphy spent two years on its waiting list. Danzig said he and nursing home administrators were un sure if Murphy could handle life on her own. The first month was difficult Simple things like dressing were a problem. But now she's enrolled in computer class and plans to earn her GED and begin college. She helps in the Plough Towers library and handles resident E-mail. Murphy relies heavily on public transportation to visit friends in the nursing home and attend University of Men-phis basketball games. She serves on the local ADAPT board and a Memphis Area Transit Authority advisory council. Recently, she hosted her first party. "Iwant to show people in the community we (in the disability community) are active," said Murphy. "We need to be independent." To reach reporter Mary Powers, call 529-2383 or E-mail powers@gomemphis.com
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TWO PHOTOS side by side. On left: At an angle, Sue Davis kneels on the grass beside a line of folks in pink ADAPT shirts and wheelchairs. She is looking down at a bluegreen bedpan with a framed certificate in it. Photo on right: Four bluegreen bedpans with framed certificates in them are lined up along a curb. Two extra certificates are beside the last two bedpans. Three people's feet are visible at the edges of the photo.