Disabled occupy Morehouse office

ATLANTA (UPI) — About 60 wheelchair-bound protesters occupied the Morehouse College president’s office Monday, demanding a meeting with Health and Human Services Secretary Louis Sullivan.

The group, American Disabled for Attendant Programs Today, or ADAPT, targeted the predominantly Black college for the demonstration because Sullivan is a former president of the Morehouse School of Medicine.

The disabled protesters hoped Morehouse officials would use their influence to arrange a meeting with Sullivan.

Morehouse spokesman Robert Bolton said the college’s president was trying to decide on a response to the situation, and was discussing what to do with Health and Human Services officials.

ADAPT wants Sullivan to redirect 25 percent of Medicaid’s $17.5 billion nursing home budget to programs that would provide home care for the disabled.

“People commit suicide, they die in nursing homes because they don’t have attendant care,”' said Michael Auberger, an organizer of the demonstration.

Auberger said ADAPT was not asking for more money. Instead, the group wants funds reallocated to community programs, so disabled people can live at home with assistance.

“We’re not talking about nurses,” said Auberger, who is wheelchair- bound. “Typically, most disabled people aren’t sick. For instance, I mostly just need help getting dressed and getting in my(wheelchair).

“A national attendant service program would allow people to conceivably become employed when they otherwise wouldn’t" he said.

Auberger said ADAPT sent a letter to Sullivan in July requesting a meeting, but had received no response.

Dozens of protesters have come to Atlanta from 22 states and as far away as California for a week of demonstrations to dramatize the plight of the disabled.

Created on

Friday 12 July 2013

Posted on

Thursday 22 October 2015

Tags

ADAPT - American Disabled for Attendant Programs Today, Atlanta, attendant services, HHS - Health and Human Services, home care, Medicaid, Mike Auberger, Morehouse College, nursing homes, redirect 25%, Secretary Louis Sullivan, wheelchair bound

Albums

• Atlanta, fall 1990

Visits

3458

Rating score

no rate

Rate this photo