- LanguageAfrikaans Argentina AzÉrbaycanca
á¥áá áá£áá Äesky Ãslenska
áá¶áá¶ááááá à¤à¥à¤à¤à¤£à¥ বাà¦à¦²à¦¾
தமிழ௠à²à²¨à³à²¨à²¡ ภาษาà¹à¸à¸¢
ä¸æ (ç¹é«) ä¸æ (é¦æ¸¯) Bahasa Indonesia
Brasil Brezhoneg CatalÃ
ç®ä½ä¸æ Dansk Deutsch
Dhivehi English English
English Español Esperanto
Estonian Finnish Français
Français Gaeilge Galego
Hrvatski Italiano Îλληνικά
íêµì´ LatvieÅ¡u Lëtzebuergesch
Lietuviu Magyar Malay
Nederlands Norwegian nynorsk Norwegian
Polski Português RomânÄ
Slovenšcina Slovensky Srpski
Svenska Türkçe Tiếng Viá»t
Ù¾Ø§Ø±Ø³Û æ¥æ¬èª ÐÑлгаÑÑки
ÐакедонÑки Ðонгол Ð ÑÑÑкий
СÑпÑки УкÑаÑнÑÑка ×¢×ר×ת
اÙعربÙØ© اÙعربÙØ©
Home / Albomlar / Seattle, July 2004 31
ADAPT (1548)
This page continues the article from Image 1552. Full text is available on 1552 for easier reading.
ADAPT (1549)
ADAPT (1550)
This page continues the article from Image 1552. Full text is available on 1552 for easier reading.
ADAPT (1551)
This page continues the article from Image 1552. Full text is available on 1552 for easier reading.
ADAPT (1552)
INCITEMENT INCITEMENT INCITEMENT Volume 20 No. 3 A Publication of ADAPT Summer 2004 [Headline] NGA = No Gimps Allowed? Thou Shalt Honor was the theme of the National Governor's Association "Public Forum" on long term care at their conference July 16 - 20, 2004. Yet nothing could be further from the truth. The "public" included a select handful of puppets invited for their dog and pony show. For the rest of us, there were: • Police barricades of buses to keep people out, • Metal detectors and confiscation of personal belongings, • Instructions for members not to speak with ADAPT, • NGA barricading themselves inside the twin towers of the Westin Hotel, • A media advisory not to bother the NGA or to speak with any protestors, • Stonewalling on ADAPT's request to meet and to have our issues addressed. [image] [image caption] Line of police outside the NGA meeting. Photo by Mike McCarty. 1.6 million people languish in nursing homes waiting for their civil right to receive services in the most integrated setting. The Federal government even acknowledges at least 276,333 of them want OUT. Meanwhile the Governors' and their entourages snuck off in boats across the sound to party with Bill and Melinda Gates, and shut down the Amgen Business Campus outside of town for part of a week so they could be entertained by the Temptations. However, like David and Goliath for some like Frodo and Sauron for others - ADAPT would not be silenced by their strong-arm tactics. And indeed we began to see cracks in their walls. Though Seattle is a beautiful city, folks with disabilities beware: they have hills there that rival San Francisco! It is a welcoming city though, and despite concerns about being tear gassed and corralled into pens, the local folks showed strong support for ADAPT as we took our issue to the Governors of the nation. In Seattle, we moved our issue to a new level in one of the most unusual actions in a long time. After almost a decade of pushing the National Governor's Association (NGA) to support our issues, we put our concerns in a resolution and blocked their convention as they tried to stonewall us. And surprise, surprise, their walls began to crack! [Subheading] Remembering the Dead Day one, after an excellent series of trainings, we gathered and marched through Pike's Market (thanks to local hospitality!) and on to Victor Steinbrueck Park. We gathered overlooking the Puget Sound, Olympic National Park, and Mount Rainier; totem poles, folk art, homeless folks and tourists from many nations surrounded us Local and National organizers spoke of the struggles to liberate ourselves and others from nursing homes and other institutions, and our vision of freedom for folks still trapped inside. Disability singers and songwriters serenaded the crowd with our anthems. Frank Lozano lead us in a celebration ceremony memorializing and drawing strength from the many brothers and sisters we have lost recently. Seven people who were on the march with us a year ago are gone today, and others too are gone. Yet, at the same time, at least one ADAPTer-to-be was quickening in the womb with us that day as well. [image] [image caption] ADAPT in front of the Governors' hotel. Photo by Jerry Costly. [Subheading] NGA = No Good Answers Day two, we took the bull by the horns, so to speak, and went to deliver our resolution to the Governors themselves. Many of our colleagues from across the US had tried to get the message in to their Governors through their offices at home. But when ADAPT sent a delegation of 50 individuals to the Westin Hotel to present one resolution to each State's Governor, they were turned away at the door. (The Westin, ironically, is composed of 2 towers that loom in the background of the downtown Seattle skyline.) When the 50 turned around the police had pulled barricades between their little group and the front doors! While the 50 were heading out, the rest of us met with Mr. Salo, the Health Policy person for the NGA. His Secret Service/ Police escort accompanied Salo to the front of the meeting room, where ADAPT leader Barb Toomer asked him if he would bring the resolution to the proper people within the NGA, but Salo just kept saying he could not introduce the resolution nor could he pass it. We already knew this and that is why we had only asked him to deliver it. Such non-responsive answers grew old quickly and typified the NGA's failure to listen or care what was being said. So we escorted Salo and his guards out of the room. [Subheading] Buses Blocking Us? Some 450 strong we soon came to support the original 50 over at the Westin Hotel, only to find city buses blocking the intersections mound the hotel. ''If at first you don't succeed ..." being a motto of ADAPT, we set up groups outside and started chanting, just to be sure our message was not missed. soon the more artistic and agile among us were writing giant messages in chalk on the streets, just in case the Governors couldn't understand the chants. Our inside moles told us you could hear us far up inside their hotel and the messages were easy reading from the 10th floor even without glasses' The day wore on. Threats were made. Nasty rumors spread. But ADAPTers did not wear out For five hours we held our ground. [Subheading] The Crack in the Walls About 2 pm it seemed we were on the brink of arrests. Suddenly Governor Ed-ward Rendell of Pennsylvania defied the NGA party line of stonewalling us and came out to talk. He committed publicly to get the resolution introduced and voted on at the February NGA meeting, and spoke about it at length at the meeting inside. Having achieved our goal of the action, we left for the day. But Rendell was not completely alone in his courage to break ranks and speak with the ADAPT l'untouchables." Two ADAPTers from Mississippi called their Governor Haley Barbour in the Westin Hotel and were connected right up to his room, his wife answered and the Governor agreed to meet later that day. Kansas [image] [image caption] Governor Rendell promises to introduce ADAPT's Resolution. Photo by Tim Wheat. [text continues] Governor Kathleen Sibelius called during the protest and asked to have the resolution faxed to her; she even sent Kansas ADAPTers a fruit basket. Montana Governor Judy Martz had key staff meet with Montana ADAPT members. [Subheading] 10 Worst States Revealed: Two in NGA Academy! Day three was Thou Shalt Honor day for the NGA. In honor of that, ADAPT held a press conference at which we announced the 10 worst states in the nation for providing community long-term services and supports. (See list in this issue.) At an excellent event, held in front of the Westin while the NGA held their 1' Thou Shalt Honor" dog and pony show, ADAPT representatives of the 10 Worst States spoke eloquently of why change was so important. Just before their conference, the NGA announced the formation of the Academy, a group of 8 states which will be working on designing best practices to balance Long Term Care systems. Ironically, 2 of the 8 states picked for the Academy (Georgia and Louisiana) are among the 10 Worst states, and 2 others (Iowa and Virginia) are in the next 10 worst. One can only wonder at what such an Academy will develop! Best Practices? Best for who? What are these people thinking? After the press conference ADAPT lined up, as only ADAPT can, and marched through the hills and streets of Seattle to support another important campaign: stopping the cuts to Section 8 es the rental assistance program. Surround-ing the front of the federal building where the regional HUD office is located, ADAPT-ers were set for another long afternoon with street theater, chants, and more. But seeing the crowd, the Regional Director rushed down immediately and agreed to fax the message to the National HUD Office! [Subheading] What's Next? NGA = Need Governors' Action! Now we have work to do at home! We must each get our Governor in our state to support the resolution. In some cases this will mean making sure our Governor has a better understanding of the issues. This is important work not just for getting the National Governors Association to support the resolution. This work will help to make sure that states don't destroy community-based services as they trim their budgets. Visit with your Governor. Show him/ her how many people from your state are stuck inside, wanting to get out! If you need the numbers contact us (adapt@adapt.org or 512/442-0252.) And start knitting your winter cap, scarf and gloves because we have a date in February to join the NGA for the vote on our resolution!
ADAPT (1553)
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the National Governors Association, NGA, by a vote of the membership and the Executive Committee supports the following: A) The current long term services and support system has an institutional bias that must be reformed through a cooperative effort by the federal government, the states and the disability/older community including those who use services; and B) The long term services and support system must include the principles that home and community services and supports are the first priority and that support services should be provided in the most integrated setting; and C) No person with a disability or older American should be forced into a nursing home or other institution because of the lack of integrated home and community options; and D) People with disabilities and older Americans must have full inclusion in the design, implementation and review of the long term services and support system; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the NGA supports the passage and funding of the Medicaid Community Attendant Services and Supports Act, MiCASSA (currently S971-HR 2032) and legislation that include the Money Follows the Person initiative (currently S.1394-HR 1811); and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the NGA work with the individual states to assure that the Supreme Court's Olmstead decision is aggressively implemental and that the measure of this implementation be, in a year, how many people have gotten out of nursing homes and other institutions and how many people have been diverted from nursing homes and other institutions; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the NGA work with the states to assure that any 1115 waivers submitted by a State should have statewide public hearings before development and submission to HHS, and that the 1115 waiver process should not be used to undercut current community Medicaid services and federal protections; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the NGA supports reform of the long term services and support system that does not result in block granting, capitating or otherwise reducing or eliminating funding to the states or the removal of the current national Medicaid protections. Passed this day ___ July 2004 [logo of ADAPT Free Our People]
ADAPT (1554)
Dear Friends of Community Services: This is a resolution that ADAPT activists are proposing that the NGA members vote on and pass while they are in Seattle for their national conference, July 17th-19th. Over two million people with disabilities, old and young, with physical, mental and/or cognitive disabilities are warehoused in nursing homes and other institutions because of the lack of home and community services. ADAPT believes the AIGA and each individual Governor play an Integral part in the reforming of this institutionally biased long term care system. The ADAPT- Community [Heading] RESOLUTION [Subheading] Commitment To Community-based Long Term Care Services and Support WHEREAS millions of people with disabilities and older Americans currently need or will need long term services and supports to live in the community and this number is expected to grow at a rapid pace over the next three decades; and WHEREAS the current long term care system is fragmented, overly medicalized, bureaucratic, expensive with an institutional bias that unnecessarily forces people with disabilities and older Americans in nursing homes and other institutions; and WHEREAS the Supreme Court in the Olmstead vs. LC & EW decision ruled in 1999 that people have the right to services in the most integrated setting; and WHEREAS the American public overwhelmingly supports long term care services and supports be provided in their own home and communities; and WHEREAS the reform of the long term care (services and supports) system must be a cooperative partnership between the federal government, the states and the disability/older community,
ADAPT (1555)
[Headline] PROTEST: Police say they are prepared for demonstrations FROM B1 from their federal income taxes, LaPaille said. But those meetings are closed to the public. Instead, the public's view will largely be limited to the protesting. In addition to ADAPT, two groups representing labor unions and Washington college student groups have permits to stage demonstrations, Seattle police Assistant Chief Nicholas Metz said. The labor demonstration, organized by the Washington Federation of State Employees, plans to play host to king-shot presidential candidate Rep. Dennis Kucinich. Officials with the Washington State Patrol and the Seattle Police Department say they've been preparing for more than a year for the meeting — and the protests it will bring. "We let them know that we're not going to tolerate criminal behavior," Metz said. At the same tune, the police support people's right to free speech, he said. "We want to handle each situation with kid gloves; we certainly don't want to spark any confrontation," he added. The police do not expect any non-permitted protesters to show up, Metz said. The patrol will cover security of the governors and their guests within meeting sites. They've also consulted with local and federal authorities, including the Coast Guard and FBI, patrol spokesman Capt. Fred Fakkema said. In anticipation ,of possible arrests of ADAPT Members, Metz said, Seattle police have arranged for a "good amount" of wheel-chair-accessible transportation. "It requires a great deal of training and planning on how we deal with folks who are disabled," he said. "That's not somebody we would typically deal with in a protest situation." In March, 129 ADAPT protestors were arrested in a Senate Finance Committee meeting room in Washington, D.C. The group sees the right to community care as a "simple civil rights issue," Kafka said.
ADAPT (1556)
[Headline] Wheelchair users to protest [Subheading] Hundreds expected on the streets as governors gather for Seattle meeting BY ANGELA GALLOWAY P-1 reporter Odds are on the hundreds of people in wheelchairs causing the most disruption this weekend. Most of the nation's governors, along with more than 1,000 state officials and lobbyists, will gather in Seattle for the annual summer meeting of the National Governors' Association, which runs tomorrow through Monday at the Westin Hotel downtown. And police are preparing for several protest groups to greet the officials, particularly a national disability rights activist group called ADAPT. ADAPT - here to call for increased access to home-based, rather than institutional, care for the disabled - expects about 600 protesters, most in wheelchairs. In the past, the group's protesters have sometimes used tactics such as blocking streets and disrupting public events to gain attention. While hoping to avoid mass arrests, ADAPT is prepared for that possibility, said Bob Kafka, a national organizer with the organization. Members sometimes say they'd "rather be in jail than in a nursing home," said Kafka, of Austin, Texas. "In jail, at least you know when you're go-ing to get out." At the NGA meeting, governors will develop policy positions for their 2005 congressional agenda. They also will hear from invited speakers on a range of issues, from economic development to the environment, said Christine LaPaille, spokes-woman for the NGA. This year's meeting is focused on ad-dressing the aging population, as the nation prepares for a projected 77 million baby boomers to retire this decade, LaPaille said. Keynote speakers include Newt Gingrich, former speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, and Leon Panetta, for-mer White House chief of staff, who are scheduled to speak Monday. The NGA was formed in 190 as a bi-partisan lobbying and research organization. This year, the governors plan to approve policy papers on Medicaid reform and changes to federal telecommunications laws, as well as a policy supporting ability of citizens in states such as Washington to deduct local sales-tax levies SEE PROTEST, B5
ADAPT (1557)
ADAPT (1558)
It's in the P-I Seattle Post-Intelligencer THURSDAY, JULY 15, 2004 Too many disabled people, he said, are "warehoused" in nursing homes and institutions, despite a court ruling five years ago that the disabled had a right to community-based care. 'We think our long-term care system is broken," Kafka said. "In almost every state, there's very little being done by the governors to implement (the ruling). They're, in fact, cutting Medicaid and community services. In most states, there are very long waiting lists." If it comes to arrests this weekend, ADAPT members will cooperate with the authorities, Kafka said. 'We are not violent. We are non-destructive," Kafka said. 'We have nothing against the police." Still, the city had better be ready. Many of the protesters need skilled care to use toilets or maintain their catheters; some can eat only through tubes; and some breathe through ventilators. The labor unions and student groups are limiting their demonstrations to Saturday. The Federation of State Employees is calling on the NGA to work with it, spokesman Tim Welch said. In addition, "we're protesting what we view in bad fiscal times what we think are wrongheaded budget priorities . . . like still granting billions in corporate tax breaks and then still cutting vital public services." The group has arranged for 200 "peacekeepers" in orange vests to ensure things stay calm as they march from Westlake Center past the Westin and back, starting at 1:30 p.m. 'We will not have any what we will term 'civil disobedience,' " Welch said. About 200 members of various Western Washington student groups plan to join the unions, after gathering at Seattle Central Community College Saturday at noon. Organized in part by a student activist group from South Puget Sound Community College, the group plans to march to Westlake to join the union marchers. "What our purpose is is just for our voices to be heard," said Arielle Woolis-Pink, a 20-year-old prelaw student at South Puget Sound Community College. 'We don't oppose the NGA, but we would like them to include other interests — not just corporate interests." Like the union leaders, the students plan to keep their demonstrators out of trouble with the police. They're planning a parade, with a marching band and a couple of small floats — one of a "giant corporate swine." "We're trying to stay positive and say yes, this is what we want, as opposed to no, this is what we don't want," Woolis-Pink said. "It's a perfect venue for our frustration, I think, because it seems as though in this regime, that's happening in our country. The people's voices are being included less and less, and we're not going to stand for that."
ADAPT (1559)
The Seattle Times THURSDAY, JULY 15, 2004 [Headline] As governors meet, groups plan to voice concerns BY BETH KAIMAN Seattle Times staff reporter Seattle police are preparing for downtown protests this weekend from groups representing labor, students and people with disabilities — each determined to make its case to the National Governors Association conference. Assistant Police Chief Nick Metz said three groups have permits to march with the labor group Put People First estimating at least 1,000 participants; the student group Building Revolution by Increasing Community Knowledge (BRICK) hoping for as a many as 1,000 people; and the disabled-rights organization ADAPT bringing in about 400 people from across the county, many of them in wheelchairs. Representatives of the groups said they intend to take part in orderly demonstrations, but the disabled-right organization, in particular, has been known to try to disrupt governors association meetings in other cities. Bob Kafka, national organizer with ADAPT, said the protest is meant to appeal to the states to support a bill in Congress to bolster Medicaid spending for community- and home-based care for people with disabilities. "People young and old don't want to be housed in institutions," Kafka said. The group will make its way about 3:30 p.m. Saturday from the Red Lion Hotel, down Union Street toward Pike Place Market and a 4 p.m. rally at Victor Steinbrueck Park. Kafka declined to detail plans for Sunday, when the governors are scheduled to discuss long-term health-care issues.
ADAPT (1560)
ADAPT (1561)
ADAPT (1562)
This page continues the article from Image 1563. Full text is available on 1563 for easier reading.