CREATIVE LOAFING November 14, 1996

DISABLED ISSUES

ADAPT rolls out

After five days of conferences, rallies and protests, hundreds of disabled activists headed for home following adjournment of the fall convention of ADAPT (American Disabled for Attendant Programs Today). The Atlanta meeting was particularly productive, say organizers, who secured written commitments from House Speaker Newt Gingrich and President Bill Clinton to press for greater access to home and community-based care for the disabled.

The organization, which has been campaigning to increase funding for such programs and steer policy-makers away from nursing home-oriented strategies, even secured a commitment from Georgia Nursing Home Association (GNHA) President Fred Watkins to support a moratorium on new nursing home construction in Georgia.

But the concessions did not come easily. More than 400 activists occupied the Clinton-Gore headquarters on election eve, and 86 were arrested — then released — by Atlanta police.

The following day, hundreds of demonstrators in wheelchairs blockaded Memorial Drive in front of the GNHA offices, then filled the lobby of the downtown Marriott Marquis, where members of the American Health Care Association (AHCA) were staying during their convention. They sought an audience with
AHCA President Paul Wilging, but were unsuccessful; 120 demonstrators were jailed, but a municipal judge released them upon condition they refrain from any more disturbances.

"AHCA is becoming less relevant, now that we have legislative measures in the works,” says Atlanta ADAPT member Mark Johnson. "We've definitely got some things to follow up on. We have a committed time-frame for action in Washington, and if things don't get done, we'll escalate again." —- Greg Land

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Tuesday 16 July 2013

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Monday 23 September 2019

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• Atlanta, fall 1996

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