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Startseite / Alben / ADAPT's 25th Anniversary - Washington DC, Spring 2008 33
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For Immediate Release May 1, 2008 Contact: Damien LaVera 202-863-8148 [Headline] Dean: Arrests Show McCain Out of Touch With Americans With Disabilities Washington, DC - This week, even as McCain was traveling the country outlining a flawed health care agenda that does little to increase access to quality, affordable health care for Americas working families, John McCain showed how out of touch he is with Americans with disabilities. Instead of meeting with disability rights activists to explain why he refuses to co-sponsor the Community Choice Act of 2007, Senator McCain's staff allowed more than. 20 activists to be arrested in front of his Senate office. [Associated Press, 4/29/08] Both Democratic presidential candidates are co-sponsors of the bill, which would allow countless Americans with disabilities the choice to live and work in their own homes and communities. In addition, Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean has met with community activists and repeatedly expressed his support for the bill. By contrast, McCain has refused to join the effort to end the persistent institutional bias in America's health care system that forces too many people with disabilities into nursing homes and institutions. The bipartisan bill would amend the Social Security Act to allow people who are eligible for Medicaid coverage of nursing home costs to spend it instead on home-based or community care. DNC Chairman Howard Dean issued the following statement: "At a time when John McCain is on the campaign trail talking about health care choices, he refuses to explain why he opposes a bill that would let Americans with disabilities choose how and where to live, work and receive care. I am proud to lead a Party that supports the fundamental right of every single American to make his or her own choices about where to live and work. Apparently John McCain and his staff would rather let the activists get arrested outside his office than explain his position on this critical issue. John McCain is either profoundly out of touch with the needs and challenges confronting Americans with disabilities or just doesn't care. Either way, he's the wrong choice for Americas future." ### Paid for and authorized by the Democratic National Committee, www.democrats.org. This communication is not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee.
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[LOGO OF ADAPT] INCITEMENT INCITEMENT INCITEMENT Volume 22 No. 7 A Publication of ADAPT Winter 2008 [Headline] ADAPT Celebrates 25 Years of Disability Rights Activism [image mash-up of the words adapt, twenty-five years, the ADAPT logo, and Wade Blank] [no image caption] In 1983, Rev. Wade Blank, and Mike Auberger, Co-Directors of the Atlantis Community, a Denver Center for Independent Living, proclaimed their intent to take their local activisim, which used direct action to bring about positive changes in the Denver community, to a national level. Looking at the rag-tag group of two dozen people with disabilities that had shown up for a protest to make Denver mainline buses accessible, nationally renown ordganizer Shel Trapp shook his head and said "It will never happen." Yet, over the next 7 years, these three men and that ragtag group, along with dozens more that came to join with them each year, achieved exactly that outcome by forming ADAPT, then known as Americans Disabled for Accessible Public Transit. Over the next 25 years ADAPT's humble beginnings grew into a national grassroots activist movement that has changed the face of the disability rights movement. From April 26 to May 2, 2007, hundreds of members of ADAPT from all over the country and their and supporters participated in a variety of events to remember ADAPT's humble beginnings, celebrate the growth and progress of the disability rights movement during the ensuing years, and set the stage for continuing activism for the future. [boxed text] [LOGO OF ADAPT] INCITEMENT INCITEMENT INCITEMENT ADAPT/Incitement 1640A East 2nd St, Suite 100 Austin, TX 78702-4412 (512) 442-0252 v/TTY (512) 442-0522 FAX Incitement is produced from the offices of Topeka Independent Living Resource Center (TILRC). Articles, letters, compositions, displays and photos are encouraged. Please contact Kevin Siek for deadlines for submission of materials. The Editor reserves the right to edit or omit any material that is submitted. For more information, contact Kevin Siek at: Topeka Independent Living resource Center, Inc. 501 SW Jackson St., Suite 100 Topeka, KS 66603-3300 (785) 233-4572 v/TTY (785) 233-1815 TTY (785) 233-1561 FAX [end boxed text] ADAPT kicked things off, on Sunday April 27th, with the ADAPT FUN RUN. Over 500 activists in bright orange vests lit the drizzly, grey Washington, DC, day as ADAPT members from across America did fundraising laps around Upper Senate Park. The next morning, Monday, April 28, 2008, the rainy weather did not deter 500 ADAPT activists from their mission to close off all access to the Hubert H. Humphrey Building, headquarters for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), and keep it closed until HHS Sec. Michael Leavitt agreed to meet with ADAPT on the multiple policies that force people into nursing homes and other institutions, and prevent them from moving back to their own homes and communities. Energized by the morining's victory at HHS, ADAPT marched to the plaza of the Hall of the States building, which is home to the National Governors Association (NGA), on Monday, April 28, 2008. At the press conference ADAPT announced the 2008 Ten Best and Ten Worst States in the delievry of home and community services to people with disabilities and older Americans. (read the complete list online at: http://www.adapt.orgadaptpr/index.php?mode=A&id=268;&sort=D) [image] [image caption] ADAPTers enjoy the FUN*RUN. Photo by Kevin Seik On Tuesday, April 29, 2008, DAPT paid a visit to the offices of Sen. John McCain and the Republican National Committee (RNC) to garner their support for the Community Choice Act (S799, HR1621, which would give people on Medicaid the choice of getting the long term services and supports they need in their own homes, instead of a nursing facility or similar institution. [image] [image caption] Philo Hall, Counselor to Sec. Leavitt, addresses the crown in the pouring rain. Photo by Kevin Siek [text resumes] About 250 ADAPT activists filled Sen. McCain's and the halls just outside, but rather than listen to ADAPT's demands McCain's staff summoned the police who arrested over 50 activists. Simultaneously, a few blocks away another 250 ADAPT activists stormed the offices of the Republican National Committee (RNC) where a nine hour standoff into the night ensued. ADAPT took their campaign to drum up support for the Community Choice Act to Capitol Hill on Wednesday, May 01, 2008. ADAPT members paid a visit to the offices of every member of Congress to thank the Senators and Representatives who were current co-sponsors of the bill for their support and to encourage those who weren't yet co-sponsors to sign on the CCA. Thursday, May 02, 2008, was a day of celebration. To commemorate ADAPT's 25th Anniversary the staff of the Capitol Holiday Inn hosted a barbecue luncheon in the hotel's courtyard. Various organization were honored for their support of ADAPT [image] Randy Alexander & LaTonya Reeves address the crowd. Photo by Kevin Seik and inside the hotel ADAPT memorabilia was on display along with "I Was There" personal accounts documenting everyone national ADAPT action for the past 25 years. ADAPT members spent the afternoon relaxing and reminiscing in anticipation of the evening's festivities. A dinner banquet that evening was followed by the "I Am ADAPT" Ceremony were members of the ADAPT family shared personal reflections of their experiences over 25 years of grassroots disability rights advocacy. Many memories and remembrances, both humorous and poignant, were shared including the original "Gang of Nineteen" (who blocked the first buses in Denver), the children of ADAPT, Gremie, Wade Blank and our attendants. The event climaxed with a "balloon drop" of beach balls with the 25th Anniversary logo imprinted on them. Additional coverage of ADAPT's 25th Anniversary activities can be seen online at: http://www.adapt.org/freeourpeople/adapt25/. [two images] [first caption] Capitol Police struggle to extricate ADAPT activists from the RNC. Photo by Kevin Siek] [second caption] The ceremony was hosted by Philadelphia's own, Jimmi Shrode, who gave what many will recall as the quintessential impersonation of the great Bette Davis. Photo by Kevin Siek.]
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VOL. 53, NO. 129 WEDNESDAY, APRIL 30, 2008 [Headline] LEARNING TO ADAPT [image] [image caption] Republican National Committee security guards battle protesters from the disability advocacy group ADAPT on Tuesday; 21 members of the group were arrested in the Russell Building. See story, p. 26. Bill Clark/Roll Call
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[header] Twenty-fifth Anniversary Program [subheading] April 26-May 2, 2008 adapt twenty-five years [image of Wade Blank] [ADAPT logos]
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Protesters representing the disability advocacy group ADAPT staged a sit-in in Sen. John McCain's office and scuffled with RNC security guards on Tuesday. Rep. Rob Wittman was among those looking for a back door to the party's headquarters (right). [no image included here] [Headline] Protesters Blockade RNC, McCain's Office By Elizabeth Brotherton and Paul Singer ROLL CALL STAFF At least 21 people were arrested Tuesday during a protest that cut off access to GOP presidential candidate John McCain's Senate office and Republican National Committee headquarters for most of the afternoon. Hundreds of protesters from the disability advocacy group ADAPT gathered at the Arizona lawmaker's suite in the Russell Senate Office Building and at the RNC on First Street Southeast, urging McCain to sign onto legislation that would increase access to community-based health programs for those needing long-term care. A handful of demonstrators pushed their way past security guards and into the RNC lobby, and protesters in wheelchairs blocked the building's entrances. An ambulance arrived on the scene, but there were no immediate reports of injuries. After blocking the RNC doors, some pro-testers wrapped yellow police-like tape around the entrances, while others unveiled a number of signs, including one reading "Stop Funding Institutions" and another reading "Sen. McCain Support Community Choice!" In Russell, dozens of protesters — most of them also in wheelchairs — blocked off much of the second floor and took over the lobby of McCain's office, chanting, "People are dying, shame on you" and "I'd rather go to jail than die in a nursing home!' Russell is where Capitol Police arrested the 21 protesters, some of them in wheelchairs, according to a Capitol Police spokeswoman, Sgt. Kimberly Schneider. Later in the after-noon, access to the area around the office was reopened, with dozens of police officers monitoring the ongoing sit-in from the hallway. Both the Capitol Police and Metropolitan Police Department responded to the protest at the RNC building, and the demonstrations continued well into the evening. ADAPT national coordinator Mike Oxford, who took part in the protest outside the RNC, said the group came to Capitol Hill to urge McCain to support the Community Choice Act, sponsored by Sen. Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) and Rep. Danny Davis (D-Ill ). McCain was campaigning in Florida on Tuesday. The Senator has not yet had a chance to review the bill in-depth, a spokesman said. A RNC spokesman could not immediately be reached for comment Tuesday evening. The protest is one in a series ADAPT has sponsored over the years in support of legislation that would shift federal money to community-based disability assistance and away from nursing homes and other institutions. The group held a similar protest at the Department of Health and Human Services on Monday. Medicaid currently pays for long-term care in nursing homes and other institutions but does not pay for the same services provided at an individual's home. ADAPT and other disability activists argue that this "institution-al bias" essentially forces people with disabilities to move into such facilities. The Community Choice Act would allow Medicaid dollars to flow to community-based care options, but the bill has yet to be considered on the floor in either chamber. Variations of the legislation have been introduced since the late 1990s but have stalled over cost estimates suggesting the bill could cost tens of billions of dollars annually. Disability advocates believe these estimates are wildly overstated, and supporters are working with the Congressional Budget Office to get a new, more realistic cost estimate for the bill before moving it to a vote in either chamber, according to Democratic staffers. Both of the Democratic presidential con-tenders, Sens. Hillary Rodham Clinton (N.Y.) and Barack Obama ), have signed on as co-sponsors of the Senate bill, and the goal of Tuesday's protest was to get a meeting with key Republicans through which protesters hoped to win McCain's endorsement as well, Oxford said. "We really had wanted to meet with top people with the RNC, as well as get their help in meeting with the contender of this party, Sen. McCain," Oxford said. The protest also marked the 25th anniversary ofADAPT, and many protesters wore tie-dyed shirts to mark the occasion. Not all of the protesters were focused on blocking access to offices. Judy Ball hand-ed out fliers about the Community Choice Act near the Capitol South Metro stop. Ball traveled from Texas to help with the protest and said she came to support a disabled friend. If something happens to his wife, they could say, 'You'll be put in a nursing home,'" she said. Oxford said the group did not intend for the protest to create strife between ADAPT and Republicans, but rather engage folks on an important issue. "People are inconvenienced for a couple of hours versus their entire life," Oxford said. "We really ask people to look at it like that." Ashley Roque of CongressNow and Bill Clark contributed to this report.
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[This page continues the article from Image 1756. Full text is available on 1756 for easier reading.]