The Handicapped Coloradan

[Headline] Vice President's own state named worst for home attendant care

Tennessee Vice President Al Gore's home state was named by ADAPT as the worst state in the country when it comes to diverting Medicaid money from nursing homes into community based home attendant care.

President Clinton's home state of Arkansas escaped a "worst ten" designation but was one of five states which made the "Dishonorable Mention" list.

The other nine states mostly from the south or midwest—on the "worst" list were Mississippi, Louisiana, Missouri, Georgia, Illinois, Florida, Ohio and Kentucky. The other dishonorable mentions included Washington, D C:, Texas, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey.

The "awards" were announced on Mother's Day, Sunday, May 10, in Court Square in downtown Memphis. Mike Auberger, the national ADAPT organizer from Denver, presented the first place award to Deborah Cunningham, director of the Memphis Center for Independent Living. Cunningham said she would personally deliver the award to Tennessee Gov. Don Sundquist.

Other speakers at the rally included Charles Hall of Tennessee People First who is suing the state to close down institutions for persons with developmental disabilities. Also present were Mary Stockley of the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) and LaTonya Reeve, a former resident of Memphis, who said "I'm ashamed to say that I'm from Tennessee ! had to leave the city of Memphis and move to Den-ver to get attendant services."

Following the speeches, 200 demonstrators took up a vigil on McElmore Street across from the Kings Daughters and Sons Home which is a nursing home composed almost entirely of younger persons with disabilities.

As the crowd chanted, "Can you hear us, on the inside?" and "Free our people now!", two ADAPT members laid flowers at the entrance to the nursing home.

"We wanted our brothers and sisters who are still being warehoused in nursing homes to know that those of us on the outside continue to fight for their freedom and their right to choose where they live, " said Dawn Russell of Memphis.

Vice President Gore declined an invitation to meet with ADAPT in Memphis.

"I don't know how Gore can sleep at night knowing about all the persons trapped and dying in Tennessee nursing homes. He hasn't lifted a finger to help us," said Dawn Russell of Memphis.

ADAPT's legislation, H.R. 2020, also known as the Medicaid Community Attendant Services Act of 1997 or MiCASA (Spanisn for My House), is co-sponsored by House Minority Leader Richard Gebhardt and Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich.

Although President Clinton has personally told ADAPT members that he supports their goals, the administration has yet to take an offi-cial position on the house bill.

Additional stories on ADAPT actions or members can be found on pages 30-32. The Handicapped Colorado thanks for ADAPT for furnishing this information. Call 303-333-6698 for more information on this organization.

Created on

Thursday 18 July 2013

Posted on

Wednesday 27 November 2019

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• Memphis, May 1998

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