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ADAPT (1764)
IF HEAVEN ISN'T ACCESSIBLE, GOD IS IN TROUBLE by Tari Susan Hartman Reprinted from Incitement, A publication of Atlantis/ADAPT [This article appears in ADAPT 1764 & 1773 but is completely included here for easier reading.] ADAPT mourns the loss of one of our greatest leaders, Wade Blank, and his son Lincoln. while on a family vacation in Todos Santos, Mexico, Lincoln got caught in an ocean undertow. Wade swam out to save him and both drowned on February 25th, 1993. They are survived by Wade's wife Molly and daughters Heather and Caitlin. Ironically, Wade died in the same way he lived swimming out into the face of hostile under currents, and giving his life to help others fight for theirs, Those who have come to national ADAPT actions remember in the early days Lincoln rode along on Wade's back. Later, he walked by wade's side while Caitlin rode. with his elfish smile, Lincoln quietly drank in all the action at demonstrations, vigils, planning meetings and anything else that came up in his dad's activist life. while other kids play "doctor" or "house", Lincoln played "rally." Wade was born December 4, 1940 in Pittsburgh, PA. After attending an all white high school, he travelled with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. to Selma on a dare by a black college roommate. His experiences there taught him the deep oppression perpetuated by our "civilized" society. Once he graduated college, he served as pastor of a church just outside of Kent, Ohio that became the underground meeting place for the Students for a Democratic Society, SDS. After the Kent State killings, he returned to get a masters degree from McCormick Theological Seminary and was ordained a Presbyterian minister. Burnt out on his past activism and organizing, he moved to Denver and began working in a nursing home. with years of civil rights, war on poverty and antiwar organizing experience, he could not ignore the oppression he found there. So he began to deliver Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s dream of freedom directly to the doorstep of the disability ghetto: the nursing home. In 1971, while on staff at Heritage House, a Denver nursing home, Wade tried to work within the system to dignify the lives of the young disabled residents. A recent ABC—TV movie with Fred Savage entitled "When You Remember Me" chronicled this story. Wade and the resident's efforts were doomed to fail, but they gave birth to a better alternative. In 1974 Wade founded the Atlantis Community a model for community-based and consumer controlled independent living center named for the lost continent of Atlantis, those easily forgotten and dismissed. The first members of Atlantis were those young adults incarcerated in Heritage House, from which Wade had been fired. Forgotten by the system and often by their families, these individuals were not forgotten by Wade as he began to liberate them from the nursing home into the Atlantis Community. Years later Wade and attorney John Holland masterminded a $32 million lawsuit against Heritage House nursing home for obstruction of justice and violation of civil rights. The case went all the way to the US Supreme Court. Today many of those original nursing home residents are raising families in homes they now own. In 1978 Wade and Atlantis realized that if people with disabilities were to truly live independently, they would need, and should have a right to, accessible public transportation. On July 5-6. 1978 a "gang of nineteen" disability activists and Wade held their first inaccessible bus hostage in the Denver intersection of Broadway and Colfax. Late that night Wade was surprised when US Congresswoman Pat Schroeder handed him a doughnut and a cup of coffee. Atlantis‘ decision to take the fight for lifts on buses to the national level soon led to the birth of ADAPT (American Disabled for Accessible Public Transit. ADAPT was the nation's first direct action, grass-roots movement of disability activists and mushroomed in over 30 states, Canada, Sweden and England. Like the freedom riders of the 60s, ADAPT's struggle for accessible public transit became a national battle cry of the 80s. Over the course of eight years of biannual national demonstrations throughout the country, hundreds of ADAPT activists and their families and friends were arrested for their beliefs and commitment to ensure civil rights for all disabled citizens. Twelve years after the first bus seize, the Americans with Disabilities Act, ADA, mandated lifts on buses. ADAPT's street chant "access is a civil right" echoed in the halls of Congress, as politicians became increasingly aware that ADAPT and the disability rights movement fully expected ADA to be passed as landmark civil rights legislation. ADAPT organized the "wheels of Justice" march in March of 1990, and Wade played a key role. It was a call-- to— action that galvanized the disability rights movement to demand swift passage of ADA with no weakening amendments. Over 1,000 disability rights activists from across the nation joined forces with ADAPT to demonstrate to the world that they were to be taken seriously. On the second anniversary of the signing of the ADA (July 25, 1992), the city of Denver and its Regional Transit District commemorated that historic event by dedicating a plaque to Atlantis/ADAPT and the "gang of nineteen" who held the first bus. Wade refused to have his name engraved on the plaque, but his silent tears at the dedication ceremony revealed the depth with which he felt the issues of disability rights. He had left his mark forever etched in the foundation of our civil rights movement. In 1990, when it was clear that ADAPT had successfully led and won the fight for accessible public transportation with the passage of the ADA, wade and other national ADAPT leaders convened to plot their next course of action. There was little question for anyone what that next issue would be. ADAPT transformed its mission and became "American Disabled for Attendant Programs Today." Together, ADAPT and wade returned to the scene of one of society's most heinous crimes the warehousing of 1.6 million disabled men, women and children. These disabled Americans committed no crime, yet were and still are, interred against their will, in nursing homes, state schools and other institutions. They are used as the crop of industries like the nursing home lobby, physicians and their conglomerate owners who continue to get rich by robbing our people of their fundamental civil, human and inalienable rights to life liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Most of us are spectators sitting on the sidelines of life, learning history from books. Wade, was an active participant in over three decades of political organizing. He taught others how to create and record their own destiny. A brilliant strategist, he helped shape the tide of the disability rights movement. Yet Wade was never too busy to roll up his sleeves and assist someone with attendant services, push or repair a chair or drive a van. He stood up for what he believed in and expected others to do the same. In his Pursuit to free others from the chains of oppressions he was arrested 15 times and proud of it! Several weeks ago Wade Blank's story, including the development of Atlantis and ADAPT, was officially accepted into the National Archives. Wade, a passionate Cleveland Browns fan, was a loving husband, daddy, friend, organizer and leader. He valued and encouraged the unique contributions that each of us has to give to ourselves, each other and the world around us. We honor his contribution, value his friendship, and grieve the loss of our beloved friend and colleague. Wade was one of the few non disabled allies of the disability rights movement who understood the politics of oppression. At times through the years, his leadership role was questioned, but he never lost sight of the vision, nor lacked the support of those he was close with. Photo by Tom Olin: Wade Blank and Mike Auberger sitting on either side of the plaque honoring the Gang of 19. Caption reads: Co-Directors Wade Blank and Mike Auberger reflect on the past decade of organizing and activism.
ADAPT (35)
3 fold Pamphlet/Brochure which continues in ADAPT 36. First panel: ADAPT Free Our People Logo RAMP BY RAMP [Headline] A guide to Disability Rights Landmarks in Denver Although the disability rights movement still has a long way to go in achieving full equality, it can boast many victories. Denver’s spirited activists lent momentum to the disability rights movement and led to many triumphs. This brochure provides a guide to some landmarks... proving that the longest march can be won —- ramp by ramp! [Subheading] Bus-Blocking Plaque SE Corner, Broadway & Colfax The plaque on this corner celebrates the nineteen disabled activists who blocked inaccessible buses overnight on July 5, 1978. This began the campaign for lifts on Denver's public buses. The Regional Transportation District (RTD) made the commitment to full access in June, 1983. All buses in Denver are now lift-equipped and useable by everyone, including people with disabilities. This struggle for civil rights culminated in the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act in July, 1990. Second panel: [Headline] Where it all began... [Subheading] the former Heritage House West 1st Ave. & Sheridan The nursing home at 5301 West First Avenue was the former residence of the founding members of the Atlantis Community and ADAPT. ln 1975, when they attempted an “exodus” to live independently in their own homes, they found that Colorado would not provide any personal attendant services outside an institutional setting. The people of Atlantis went to the state legislature to demand provision of in-home services, thus beginning the independent living movement in Colorado. Atlantis became the second independent living center in the country. The former nursing home inmates sued Heritage House for mistreatment and denial of civil rights (Smith vs. O’Halloran). After a 12 year court fight, a settlement was reached, awarding thirty disabled individuals a total of $3.2 million. With this victory, federal Medicaid officials were forced to design minimum standards of care and services for residents of nursing homes — the OBRA Act. The beginning of the Atlantis Community was dramatized in the 1990 ABC-TV movie, “When You Remember Me." Your tax-deductible donations are welcome, and go to the advancement of civil right for people with disabilities. For more information please contact the Atlantis/ADAPT office. Third panel: [Headline] Atlantis/ADAPT (American Disabled for Attendant Programs Today) 201 S. Cherokee - Denver, Colorado 80223 303-733-9324 The Atlantis/ADAPT office now serves as both an independent living center and a national training center for disability rights activists. ln 1975, when Atlantis was founded, there was no office — only a dream that all people had the right to live free from institutions. Atlantis, an independent living center, provides personal attendant services and other supports necessary to enable people with all types of severe disabilities to live, work and play in their community. ADAPT, a national grass-roots disability rights movement, was founded in 1983. ADAPT led and won the national fight for wheelchair accessible public transportation. On July 26, 1990, lift-equipped buses became mandatory when President Bush signed the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the world's first comprehensive civil rights bill for people with disabilities. ADAPT now leads the campaign for a national program of attendant services and for the demise of the nursing home industry. ADAPT believes that with in-home assistance, no one needs to live in a nursing home. Visitors to the office can read news clippings, watch videos of ADAPT, learn about disability rights history and strategy, and consult with the staff and volunteers who have forged Denver into THE NATION'S MOST ACCESSIBLE CITY! Call 303-733-9324 or FAX 303-733-6211. TDD users call 303-733-0047 [Brochure continues in ADAPT 36 with map and more highlights]