TEXT GRAPHIC: ADAPT Action Report. News, commentary and photos of ADAPT actions across the nation

ADAPT Action Report: Photos, eyewitness reports and commentary daily from the ADAPT action in Washington DC.

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ADAPT Gathers in Washington for Action

The hurricane that blew away the fall ADAPT Action scheduled in New Orleans did not wash away the drive for MiCASSA. Stronger than ever ADAPT gathered in Washington DC today determined to see MiCASSA reform America’s bias Medicaid system.

Pete Duran from Boulder digs out of the snow to get to the ADAPT Action

ADAPT looks powerful coming into Washington because MiCASSA has been introduced in both the U.S. Senate and the House of Representatives. Advocates talk of S. 971 and HR 2032, the bill numbers for MiCASSA, as the legislation that will give Americans choice in long-term care and stop the bias that devalues citizens and locks away Americans. Senators Tom Harkin (D, IA) and Arlen Specter (R, PA), and Representatives Danny Davis (D, IL) and John Shimkus (R, IL) introduced MiCASSA to reform Medicaid the Medicaid Community Attendants Services and Supports Act. Across the country 73% of the Medicaid funding is spent on institutions, despite the fact that people overwhelmingly prefer to live in their own homes.

Progress has been made over the past dozen or so years and more people that once were forgotten in facilities are now living in the community. One result of the progress is that individuals who have been unfairly institutionalized are now angry that the current national policy has stolen part of their lives and they are demanding that America change that policy.

ADAPT’s STOLEN LIVES campaign includes the first-hand accounts of people that have lived in nursing homes, intermediate care facilities and state hospitals. Discussion of Medicaid reform and nationwide long-term care finance can be sterile and distant from the everyday lives of people; however, ADAPT wants to remind policy-makers that the unfair system impacts real people, it takes lives.

People whose lives have been stolen have written key lawmakers demanding an apology for the part of their lives that have been robbed by the current unfair policy. The progress that has been made demonstrates that Americans should have a choice in long-term care. ADAPT is asking that Americans listen to the real accounts of people that have been institutionalized and now live in the community. It is a tragedy that our national policy has segregated people with disabilities from everyday life, and that policy must change.

ADAPT Advocates are coming from all around the country to demand an apology for STOLEN LIVES. In Kansas, ADAPT advocates packed up their “Tent City” after a successful action at the statehouse. ADAPT advocates from Denver dug their way out of eight inches of snow to come to the Nations Capitol. The advocates came together at the Holiday Inn south of the capitol building. ADAPT is likely the most diverse group ever known. Most people notice the large number of wheelchair users in ADAPT, but ADAPT represents a broad spectrum of people disabilities, as well as, diversity in race, creed, gender income and family status. ADAPT is a varied yet highly organized family.

ADAPT members will be preparing for action to start on Mother’s Day.

-tw

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