Bush will sign an Executive Order to Implement Olmstead within 30 days

(WASHINGTON DC) ADAPT got a firm assurance from the Bush Administration that the President will sign an Executive Order to implement the U.S. Supreme Court decision Olmstead v. L. C., 119 S.Ct. 2176 (1999).

Referred to as the "integration mandate" of the 1990 Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Olmstead requires that services be provided "in the most integrated setting." The vital affirmation in Olmstead is that the ADA prohibits states from unnecessarily institutionalizing persons with disabilities.

During Bush's tenure as governor, Texas was one of the seven states that took a "States Rights" position over the civil rights of persons with disabilities. Advocates are very skeptical of the Bush Administration's real commitment to see Olmstead executed.

Yet, with the full force of ADAPT at the gates of the White House, the new Administration promised that the President would sign the Executive Order within thirty days. Diane Schacht, the Special Assistant to the President for Justice Policy came out of the West Wing to deliver the pledge to the assembled ADAPT advocates in front of the White House.

Shortly after arriving at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, fifteen members of ADAPT were ushered in to meet with the Domestic Policy Council, John Bridgeland. The bulk of the ADAPT membership remained spread out across the front of the White House poised to strike.

"The meeting was cordial and open," said Barbara Toomer, from Utah, "their goal is thirty days, but they kept on insisting they could do it sooner."

Marva Ways from Detroit felt that the meeting was productive. "Because they are willing to contact [Tommy] Thompson and work with HHS , I think ADAPT has built a strong foundation," she said.

"My concern is about timing," said Mike Oxford of Kansas. "Because they are still building Nursing Homes and [institutions], the longer we wait, the more beds will be filled."

At the meeting representing ADAPT were:

Chauncey Bailey - Deleware
Lenard Rosco - Georgia 
Barbara Toomer - Utah
Nidina LaSpina - New York
Marva Ways - Michigan 
Bobby Coward - Washington DC
John Gladstone - Pennsylvania 
Mike Auberger - Colorado
Mike Oxford - Kansas 
Bob Kafka - Texas 
Jim Krauth- Colorado 
Alfredo Juarez - Texas 
John Blevins - New York 
Debbie Russell- Pennsylvania
And Rhoda Smith of Kansas was the interpreter.

- Tim Wheat