Memphis, Wednesday, May 13, 1998

[Headline] Disability rights sit-in ends; offices open today

The Commercial Appeal

The state office building is expected to be open for business today after a disability rights sit-in forced a two-day shutdown of some offices.

Disability rights activists--calling for expanded options to nursing home care--camped out overnight Monday in Gov. Don Sunquist's Memphis office before filing out about 11:30 a.m. Tuesday.

No one was arrested during the sit-in. It ended without Sunquist responding to the protesters' demands or talking to the roughly 100 individuals who spent Monday night in his 12th-floor Memphis office.

Demonstrators like Judy Neal, 48, of Memphis, declared victory. "I think we got the governor's attention. We've made people in Memphis and Tennessee aware of the issue of long-term care and the fact there are no choices here," said Neal, the Memphis Center for Independent Living program director.

Protests, organized by the Denver-based disability rights group ADAPT (American Disabled for Attendant Care Today) is pushing federal legislation to expand government funding for personal aides to help more disabled persons live independently.

Supporters argue that providing home and community based services--including housekeeping services and transportation--todisabled and older Americans is cheaper and more humane than paying the nursing home bill. They complain that Tennessee and other states still primarily funnel money into nursing home care.

About 250 people, many in wheelchairs and chanting "free our people," rallied outside state office building when the sit-in concluded Tuesday. They are in Memphis for a four-day ADAPT meeting that ends today. On Monday, demonstrators jammed Sunquist's office demanding the governor make it easier for Tennesseans to qualify for home and community services.

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[Image caption] Janet Thomas and her son Bryce 'Hercules,' 10, of Cleburne, Texas, were among the demonstrators outside Gov. Don Sunquist's Memphis office Tuesday, calling for nursing home alternatives. By Lance Murphey

Citing safety concerns, officials responded by emptying the building, sending home about 550 employees. The building remained closed Tuesday, but will reopen today, said Beth Fortune, Sunquist's press secretary. The building houses regional state offices, including the departments of human services, economic development and finance.

During a Monday evening press conference, Memphis Mayor Willie Herenton and Shelby County Mayor Jim Rout promised to encourage Sunquist and legislators to reconsider state-funded options to nursing home care.

About 95 percent of the state's $675 million Medicaid budget goes to support about 30,000 Tenesseans living in nursing homes. The Tennessee General Assembly recently created a council to draft a statewide long-term care plan. The next state budget includes money for a pilot program on long-term care alternatives in Davidson and Williamson counties.

Sunquist issued a statement Tuesday thanking Herenton for his help. He also praised the patience of state employees and praised Memphis police and state troopers for their good judgement and sensitivity.

Fortune said Sunquist declined to order arrests as long as protesters weren't harming people or damaging property. "They had as much right to protest as anyone does."

Fortune said some carpet apparently was damaged and will have to be replaced. The damage was estimated at less than $500 and Fortune was unsure if the state will bill ADAPT.

Diane Coleman, a Chicago ADAPT leader who spent the night in Sunquist's office, said she was unaware of the damage. Coleman said protesters were instructed not to damage property and to pick up after themselves..

Sundquist called Coleman at his Memphis office Monday after the group faxed its demands to the governor's residence. But the two sides never spoke. Sunquist declined Coleman's request to talk to the group Monday via speaker phone. Coleman said she was unaware the governor offered to arrange a meeting between administration officials and ADAPT leaders. Fortune said Tuesday that she doubted the governor will address the group's demands publicly.

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To reach reporter Mary Powers, called 529-2383 or E-mail powers@gomemphis.com

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Thursday 18 July 2013

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Wednesday 27 November 2019

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