Action Report

"It was powerful," said Stephanie Thomas, a national organizer for ADAPT. "We netted a meeting with the Vice President of the United States!"

Gore's Chief of Staff and the Administration appointee who is the head of the Health Care Financing Administration guaranteed that the Vice President will meet with ADAPT before the Democratic Convention.

"For 8 years, promise upon promise has been made to us by this Administration, yet nothing changes," said ADAPT's Bob Kafka, "We are frustrated and angry. We want Clinton/Gore to support MiCASSA, and to end the failed public policy that forces people into institutions."

To assure the meeting, ADAPT advocates not only blocked the gates and driveways to the Old Executive Office Building, but at the north and northwest entrances, people rushed through the gate and blocked the doors.

About 30 advocates at the northwest entrance had a ramp that allowed access to the door that was quickly locked from within. The north entrance has three stairs leading down to a plaza and about 30 steps to the north door. More than 15 ADAPT members got out of their wheelchairs crawling up and down stairs to block the entrance.

The U. S. Park Police and the Secret Service barricaded the northern group from the rest of ADAPT. Gore representatives began to negotiate with the northern ADAPT group at about 1:00 P.M. while the west side blocked the gates, drives and doors, chanting in support.

ADAPT members held their positions in the sun all afternoon while negotiations were going on. Concerning the final agreement Bob Liston informed ADAPT members that "it is all because of you and the beautiful power you showed."

"[Vice President Gore and I] will not rest," said President Clinton in a letter to disability leaders in 1996, "until all Americans with disabilities in institutions have the choice of living in their homes and communities with appropriate services."

Most Medicaid long-term care funds (75%) go to nursing homes and other institutions, however, leaving few choices for people with disabilities to live in their own homes. ADAPT will ensure that Vice President Gore make good on this promise and finally take a stand on the most important legislation for people with disabilities since the 1990 Americans with Disabilities Act.