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主頁 / 相冊 / Seattle, July 2004 31
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[Headline] A GOVERNOR STEPS OUT OF THE CROWD Nicole Brodeur Seattle Times staff columnist [Subheading] In the end, it took just one governor to accomplish what a day of talking and protests could not. But I guess that's America. That's politics. That's the squeaky wheel and sneaky strategy and a traffic snarl tossed in. Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell agreed to introduce at the National Governors' Association (NGA) a resolution pushed by American Disabled for Attendant Programs Today (ADAPT). A great accomplishment for ADAPT, but it was a sorry road to get there. ADAPT has been trying for almost a decade, it says, to meet with the NGA. The advocacy group wants the governors to sign its resolution, which would pledge them to favor care for the dis-abled and elderly in their homes — rather than forced institutionalization. Last week, ADAPT got one of its wishes when Matt Salo, the director of the NGA's Health and Human Services Committee, agreed to meet during the annual convention here in Seattle. But when Salo said he wouldn't take the resolution to the governors, the ADAPT folks shouted him out of the room and took to the streets. To someone who didn't know the back story, the pro-test probably looked like disabled people were being shoved aside, and that the governors were too busy stirring the olives in their hosted martinis and tossing Pike Place Market fish to consider people who must stir and toss every night over their fates. That's partially true. The governors had plenty of time to mix and mingle with the Amgen swells and take a ride to Bill Gates' lakeside home (a nearly required stop for those who come to town with power and influence). But it's also true that ADAPT had an agenda of its own. Salo arrived at the meeting to find a large crowd that included the news media. Salo "wasn't prepared," said an NGA spokeswoman. ADAPT was going to take to the streets no matter how things went with Salo. And that's fine, that's the American way. But cooler heads on both sides could have bought ADAPT and Salo another 20 minutes in the room, and a reason to take to the downtown intersection to celebrate, rather than seethe. There was a lot to celebrate about the NGA's mission in Seattle: To make states "elder ready" for the 77 million aging baby boomers. But it would have been nice if the association had sent more than a staff member to meet with the disabled. So shame on Salo for shut-ting ADAPT down. Shame on ADAPT for responding with jeers. And shame on them all for their inability to make the most of this chance. But kudos to Rendell for his action yesterday. For one governor to step out of the crowd goes a long way to boosting our trust and faith in government. Especially at a time when faith is all we have.
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SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER MONDAY, JULY 19, 2004 [2 images] [caption] Tetona Dunlap/ AP Photos. Toni Martin of Emporia, Kan., above, protests outside the National Governors' Association meeting yesterday in Seattle. She and her colleagues want the governors to work to provide home and community services to the disabled. At left is the chairman of the governors' association, Idaho's Dirk Kempthorne. The meeting ends today.
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[Headline] Advocates for disabled find ally in governor BY MATTHEW RODRIGUEZ Seattle Times staff reporter The advocacy group American Disabled For Attendant Programs Today (ADAPT) claimed victory at the National Governors Association (NGA) meeting when Pennsylvania Gov. Edward Rendell as-sured its members he would push for a resolution they authored, ADAPT organizers said. The resolution favors home and community care over nursing homes. Rendell, a Democrat, told organizers he would introduce it at the NGA meeting. Bob Kafka, a national organizer with ADAPT, said the resolution is nonbinding, but it would put the governors on record in support of one of ADAPT's goals. "It's a major victory," Kafka said. "Now, NGA can't ignore it." Kafka said the resolution would probably be tabled and brought up again when the governors meet in Washington, D.C., in February 2005. "We will be there for the pas-sage of it," Kafka said. ADAPT said Rendell planned to introduce the resolution yesterday, but it was not immediately clear if he had. A Rendell spokes-woman did not return calls seeking comment. ADAPT yesterday released a "top 10" list of the worst states for home and community care. Mississippi was ranked No. 1; Washington was not listed. Matthew Rodriguez: 206-464-3192
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[logo for Commonwealth of Pennsylvania] Office of the Governor Harrisburg The Governor August 5, 2004 ADAPT c/o Linda Anthony 1339 Lamar Square Dr. #101 Austin, TX 78704 Dear Members of the ADAPT Community: This letter confirms the commitment I made during the recent National Governor's Association summer meeting in Seattle, Washington to: * advocate for and introduce the ADAPT resolution to the appropriate National Governor's Association committee for action at the NGA winter 2005 meeting in February in Washington, D.C. * advocate for both the MiCASSA and Money Follows the Person legislation among the nation's governors between now and the February 2005 meeting. As you know, regrettably, parliamentary procedure prohibited me form introducing the ADAPT resolution at the NGA meeting on Monday, July 19, 2004. However, my statement of support is now part of the official record of the NGA proceedings. Sincerely, [signed] Edward G. Rendell [typed] Edward G. Rendell Governor cc Rosemarie Greco Estelle Richman
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This page continues the article from Image 1552. Full text is available on 1552 for easier reading.
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This page continues the article from Image 1552. Full text is available on 1552 for easier reading.
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This page continues the article from Image 1552. Full text is available on 1552 for easier reading.
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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!
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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]
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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,