Volume 22 no.7
A Publication of ADAPT
Winter 2008
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Volume 22 no.7 |
A Publication of ADAPT |
Winter 2008 |
DUH City | Around the Nation | Passages
In 1983, Rev. Wade Blank, and Mike Auberger, Co-Directors of the Atlantis Community, a Denver Center for Independent Living, proclaimed their intent to take their local activism, which used direct action to bring about positive changes in the Denver community, to a national level.
Looking at the rag-tag group of two dozen people with disabilities that had shown up for a protest to make Denver mainline buses accessible, nationally renown organizer Shel Trapp shook his head and said "It will never happen." Yet, over the next 7 years, these three men and that rag tag group, along with dozens more that came to join with them each year, achieved exactly that outcome by forming ADAPT, then known as Americans Disabled for Accessible Public Transit.
Over the next 25 years ADAPT's humble beginnings grew into a national grassroots activist movement that has changed the face of the disability rights movement.
From April 26 to May 2, 2007, hundreds of members of ADAPT from all over the country and their and supporters participated in a variety of events to remember ADAPT's humble beginnings, celebrate the growth and progress of the disability rights movement during the ensuing years, and set the stage for continuing activism for the future.
ADAPTers enjoy the FUN*RUN. Photo by Kevin Siek
ADAPT kicked things off, on Sunday April 27th, with the ADAPT FUN RUN. Over 500 activists in bright orange vests lit the drizzly, grey Washington, DC, day as ADAPT members from across America did fundraising laps around Upper Senate Park warming up for a week of activism and the celebration of ADAPT's 25th anniversary. The funds raised from the FUN RUN help to support activists living on fixed disability and retirement incomes to participate at ADAPT actions confronting the people in power who make policy and law about their lives.
The national honorary runner for the fundraiser was Marca Bristo, award winning President and CEO of Access Living in Chicago, IL; a founder and former President of the National Council on Independent Living; and a former Chairperson of the National Council on Disability, appointed by President Bill Clinton.
The next morning, Monday, April 28, 2008, the rainy weather did not deter 500 ADAPT activists from their mission to close off all access to the Hubert H. Humphrey Building, headquarters for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), and keep it closed until HHS Sec. Michael Leavitt agreed to meet with ADAPT on the multiple policies that force people into nursing homes and other institutions, and prevent them from moving back to their own homes and communities.
ADAPT in front of HHS – wet, but still fired up! Photo by Kevin Siek
"People need to be able to choose to live in their own homes, near their families and friends," said Dawn Russell of Texas ADAPT. "Families shouldn't be torn apart by mean-spirited Medicaid policies and regulations that force some people into nursing homes or even to leave their home state in order to get the community-based services and supports they need."
75 ADAPT members entered the HHS building before security locked all the doors, and presented the ADAPT demands in the initial negotiations with HHS staff.
After a six hour standoff, Philo Hall, Counselor to Sec. Leavitt, committed to Leavitt meeting with ADAPT within 30 days as he addressed the crowd in the pouring rain. He began by acknowledging that access to the community is definitely a civil right. Then Hall admitted that HHS has fallen behind in its former regular communication with ADAPT, and acknowledged that the lack of communication has contributed to HHS making some not-well-thought-out decisions that have hurt the disability community. Renewed communication will begin immediately with another meeting between ADAPT and HHS staff on Wednesday, April 30.
"You know, President Bush's first Executive Order was the New Freedom
Initiative, which ordered all federal departments to remove barriers to full community participation for people with disabilities," said Bob Kafka, ADAPT National Organizer. We've been making slow but steady progress until the past couple of years when it seemed like the Medicaid folks forgot the President's order and started reinstituting policies that will push people back into institutions. We're hoping that after today HHS will work with us to reverse the current trend, and assure older and disabled Americans can live full lives in their community."
Philo Hall, Counselor to Sec. Leavitt, addresses
the crowd in the pouring rain. Photo by Kevin Siek
Energized by the previous day’s victory at HHS and the sunny weather ADAPT marched to the plaza of the Hall of the States building, which is home to the National Governors Association (NGA), on Monday, April 28, 2008. The NGA has been very vocal in recent years about the preference of community services over nursing homes and other institutions, yet has not been able to inspire its own members to improve their provision of those services.
Speakers representing states in both the best and worst categories spoke at the press conference about the horrors of nursing home life and the joys of living in the community in those states that provide good community services. Randy Alexander from Tennessee ADAPT and LaTonya Reeves from Colorado ADAPT also spoke of the disability-underground-railroad that assists people in states without community services to move to states where they can live quality lives in their own homes with the supports and services they need.
ADAPT fills the plaza at the Hall of States Building.
Photo by Kevin Siek
The grouping of states into the top and bottom ten was based on publicly available data from highly respected researchers at the Kaiser Commission, the Research and Training Center on Community Living at the University of Minnesota, Thomson Healthcare and supplemented by the results of an informal survey widely distributed across the country by ADAPT. As has so often been the case over the years, there were few surprises. Many of the ten states doing the poorest job of providing services that allow citizens to receive long term care in their own homes in the community have been on the "worst" list over and over.
Randy Alexander & LaTonya Reeves address the crowd.
Photo by Kevin Siek
The states are listed alphabetically, not ranked numerically;
TEN BEST STATES
Alaska
Colorado
Maine
Massachusetts
Michigan
Minnesota
New Hampshire
Oregon
Rhode Island
Vermont
HONORABLE MENTION
Kansas
New York
Washington
Wisconsin
Wyoming
TEN WORST STATES
Arkansas
Georgia
Florida
Illinois
Indiana
Louisiana
Mississippi
North Dakota
Tennessee
Texas
DISHONORABLE MENTION
Alabama
District of Columbia
New Jersey
Ohio
Pennsylvania
On Tuesday, April 29, 2008, ADAPT paid a visit to the offices of Sen. John McCain and the Republican National Committee (RNC) to garner their support for the Community Choice Act (S799, HR1621). The Community Choice Act (CCA) would give people on Medicaid the choice of getting the long term services and supports they need in their own homes, instead of a nursing facility or similar institution.
About 250 ADAPT activists filled Sen. McCain's office in the Russell Senate Building and the halls just outside, demanding support for CCA from the only presidential candidate who has thus far not signed on as a co-sponsor. Rather than listen to ADAPT’s demands McCain’s staff summoned the police who arrested over 50 of the activists.
One group of ADAPT activists surrounded the RNC
while another group hit Sen. McCain’s office.
Photo by Kevin Siek.
Simultaneously, a few blocks away another 250 ADAPT activists stormed the offices of the Republican National Committee (RNC), with 5 wheelchairs gaining entry, and the remainder blocking all the doors and driveways. There was a nine hour standoff into the night, during which the RNC staff refused access to the bathroom for the ADAPT members who were in the building. The main ADAPT demand was that the RNC assist to schedule a meeting with Sen. McCain where ADAPT representatives could talk about support for the Community Choice Act. The RNC staff repeatedly stated that they did not have the power to call their candidate's campaign staff to ask for such a meeting.
"I find it very hard to believe that the organization that raises so much of the funding for the presidential campaign can't talk to its own candidate," said Randy Alexander, Tennessee ADAPT Organizer, "We weren't asking them to guarantee a meeting, just to pick up the phone, call Sen. McCain, and try to get a meeting set up. Any person on the street could make that call, yet they said they didn't have the power to do that."
Capitol Police struggle to extricate ADAPT activists from the RNC.
Photo by Kevin Siek.
During the nine hours ADAPT spent trying to gain cooperation from the RNC, many Congressional co-sponsors and supporters of the bi-partisan Community Choice Act came by to personally meet some of the people affected by this important legislation and to congratulate their efforts to get it passed.
ADAPT took their campaign to drum up support for the Community Choice Act to Capitol Hill on Wednesday, May 01, 2008. ADAPT members paid a visit to the offices of every member of Congress to thank the Senators and Representatives who were current co-sponsors of the bill for their support and to encourage those who weren’t yet co-sponsors to sign on the CCA.
Thursday, May 02, 2008, was a day of celebration. To commemorate ADAPT’s 25th Anniversary the staff of the Capitol Holiday Inn, ADAPT’s favorite place to stay in our nation’s capital, hosted a barbeque luncheon in the hotel’s courtyard. Various organizations were honored for their support of ADAPT, including Liberty Resources, the Center for Disability Rights and Topeka Independent Living Resource Center. Inside the hotel ADAPT memorabilia was on display along with "I Was There" personal accounts documenting everyone national ADAPT action for the past 25 years. ADAPT members spent the afternoon relaxing and reminiscing in anticipation of the evening’s festivities.
Jimmie Shrode was the Emcee for the evening’s festivities.
Photo by Kevin Siek.
A dinner banquet that evening was followed by the "I Am ADAPT" Ceremony were members of the ADAPT family shared personal reflections of their experiences over 25 years of grassroots disability rights advocacy. The ceremony was hosted by Philadelphia’s own, Jimmi Shrode, who gave what many will recall as the quintessential impersonation of the great Bette Davis. Many memories and remembrances, both humorous and poignant, were shared including the original "Gang of Nineteen" (who blocked the first buses in Denver), the children of ADAPT, Gremie, Wade Blank and our attendants. The event climaxed with a "balloon drop" of beach balls with the 25th Anniversary logo imprinted on them.
The next day ADAPT members began their return trips home, energized by the past weeks events and ready to continue their advocacy for the cause of disability rights back to their home states and communities. See the "Around the Nation" section of this news letter to read what local groups have accomplished since the 25th Anniversary Celebration.
The Beach Ball Drop. Photo by Ami Hyten.
Additional coverage of ADAPT’s 25th Anniversary activities can be seen online at: http://www.adapt.org/freeourpeople/adapt25/.
... I met Wade through a very dear, mutual friend named Art Waidmann—who I hope is here tonight. I was an attendant and trying to push awareness for disability rights in WY. A couple of years later it was time for Tisha and I to move to Denver.
Wade found us a house to rent, an attendant job and the Atlantis family. We soon became good friends. When Art moved all the way back to Ohio, we both grieved. Wade got me involved in the protests before I even started my job! I had participated in rallies before in WY, but never civil disobedience.
It wasn’t long until we went to the mayor’s office to protest cutting funds for Denver General Hospital. That was my first arrest. I watched Wade and was carried out like him. But when they got us outside they dropped us on the cement! That hurt like hell! They only arrested people without disabilities so our lawyer (the one that you saw in the movie last night); John Holland got the charges dropped because of discrimination!
So, here I was doing things that in my wildest dreams I never thought that I would do! But I loved it! I knew that this was what I was looking for. This is where I belonged.
Wade would call at night and say “Let’s have a protest at RTD in the morning” and I would call the attendants to get everyone up early. One of us would get the van and shuttle people to the protest. Then afterwards we would all go out to eat.
Then Wade brought Shel Trapp to town to teach us organizing. Wade had been an intern with him and wanted him to train us to organize nationally.
Now we began to have more fun - ADAPT was created. ...
... Now I have the great honor and privilege tonight to talk about two of my greatest friends and mentors in my life. The first one is Shel Trapp. For those of you that don’t know Shel, he is a nationally known community organizer from Chicago. Trapp, as he prefers to be called, could certainly be your worst enemy, but you would have a hard time finding a more caring, loyal friend. He was a Methodist minister. ...
... Trapp feels like he has lived out the gospel according to Trapp more as an organizer than he ever did as a minister. That gospel is that “We are put on this earth not to screw each other” That’s what he told Mike Ervin in an article in the Chicago Tribune. He wakes up angry because people are getting screwed by other people. ...
... He says one of the scariest times was when that kid that was his intern called him to come to Denver! He compared us to his first church about how much we taught him! No matter what he says he is responsible for where we are today. I only wish that he and his wife could have been here tonight. He would have loved it!
The other great friend and mentor that I get to talk about tonight is Wade Blank, The Founder of the Atlantis Community which is the Mother of ADAPT.
Let me give you a little history. In 1964 while in college, Wade went to Montgomery to join Dr. King on his march to Selma. Wade said that was the beginning. It was the first step into the water of empowering people.
He fought for civil rights. On Xmas Eve he found a very pregnant black woman and a white guy and a burro! They all went to the Holiday Inn for a room! The clerk was a fast thinker and gave them a room. They got national press out of it! ...
... He fought against the war while at Kent State. He and Art had an underground book store called Alice’s Restaurant. They ran an underground railroad every Wed. night. He washed semi’s during the day to make money. But the shootings at Kent State were too much.
He went back to seminary. He disciplined himself for a year to take the civil rights, the anti war, the counter culture and the feminist experiences to create this utopian community that he had written about in his thesis called the ELECTRIC TOOTHBRUSH: A COMMUNITY TO PREVENT THE DECAY OF HUMAN LIFE.
Wade created a community that became empowered. A community that was very diverse and still is today. It’s because other people who are disenfranchised have seen the liberation process here and plugged into it. So we represent all aspects of other movements in many ways.
I would like to quote a few lines from a speech of Justin Dart’s. Wade was a sensitive philosopher of Democracy. He was a superb organizer. He was a mature, sophisticated politician. He had total honestly and total follow through. You could take his promises to the bank.
Wade had a magic sword. It was love. He understood that love was not just smiling at people, but passionate, lifelong action to preserve and enlarge the joy, the dignity, the quality of every human life. He understood that love does not smother with criticism, care, and control; it encourages, emancipates, and empowers. He understood love all for means justice for all. Wade’s leadership of love made ADAPT the family for those who had no family, the family with justice, with hope, with transcending fulfillment. Wade’s love warmed and empowered us all.
The spirit of Wade is the message here tonight. ...
On our arrival at Denver on 23 October 1983 the sun was shining and the weather was warm. We were met by Wade Blank, who told us we would be extremely valuable on the picket line outside of the airport. About 4 p.m., Wade had a call that there was trouble at the Hilton. So, leaving a small nucleus to welcome the American Public Transportation Association at the airport, we … went downtown … and we joined the 25 wheelchair users already on the sidewalk. The set look on the faces of the APTA men as they arrived, and their averted eyes showed we were at least noticed.
That evening we gathered at an unused Jewish Synagogue Wade had rented for a supper of beans, salad, hot dogs and cookies. ...
The next morning ... we encircled the building about 10 feet apart to be very visible to all passersby. We all had distinctive pins, "We will ride", "ADAPT – American Disabled for Accessible Public Transportation" we demonstrated our resolve all day. We were bundled up as best we could. Many of us thought our feet had permanent frostbite.
The press was everywhere. ... We passed, out literature about ADAPT and spoke to anyone who would speak to us. We were pulled off the picket lines at 4 p.m. and transported to the synagogue for dinner and a discussion by Dennis Cannon from the Architectural Barriers & Transportation Compliance Board (ABTCB).
Tuesday: The day was glorious, 72°, sun shining and we didn't have to man the picket lines until 9 a.m.! We surrounded the building again and traded off shifts in the sun and shade, because there was a low of 40° and it took time to warm up. ...
Certain concessions were given when APTA officials got concerned about the smooth running of their conference. For not disrupting the meetings, ADAPT bargained a 20 minute presentation to APTA on Wednesday morning, just before Andrew Young's (ex-United Nations Ambassador and the then Mayor of Atlanta, Georgia). Negotiations were held in Mayor Peña’s office about the logistics of the presentation for the next day.
Wednesday: We arrived at 8:15 at the United Bank Plaza in 36° weather and wheeled to the hotel. ... One of the things ADAPT had made clear was that our presentation would not start until the hall was full.
At 9:35 the meeting was called to order, introductions by APTA and Mayor Peña’s office were made and we started. During the presentation of the resolution, the ADAPT members softly, then louder, chanted: "We will ride, we will ride, we will ride," continuously. It carried such an emotional impact some members of APTA joined in with us.
Following the presentation we assembled in the small park kitty-corner from the Hilton. Mayor Young spoke on the parallels of the two movements (civil rights movement and disability rights movement) and of the necessity for accessible transportation. There was a meeting with ADAPT, a high official of Urban Mass Transit Association (UMTA) and Dennis Cannon, ABTCB, with the outcome being that an UMTA official and Dennis will meet with Secretary of Transportation, Elizabeth Dole (who successfully avoided us on Monday) to discuss the pros and cons of paratransit and mainline accessibility.
On the afternoon of March 11th, I was very excited as I thought about the next day's activities. I had been elected President of the National Council on Independent Living and had dedicated myself and the organization to working with ADAPT to ensure that we do anything and everything necessary to get the Americans with Disabilities Act signed. At the same time, I was on a Transit Board and the Executive Director of the Berkley Center for Independent Living. I felt very fortunate that I was able to participate in this historical event.
The next morning, I thought about the many times that I had been discriminated against: being forced to go to a "special" segregated school instead of integrated ones, not being allowed on a Continental Trailways bus because of my disability, and being told in a restaurant that "We don't serve disabled people." But I also had very positive thoughts about what a great life and great opportunities I had to that point. I was determined to work to overcome the injustices of discrimination and create more positive opportunities for myself and for others with disabilities.
As I listened to the speakers on that day, I considered how life had prepared me for this moment of civil disobedience. Although I had taken part in such "street theatre" before, this seemed like the crowning glory of them all.
After the speeches, we started chanting "What do we want?" "ADA!" "When do we want it?" "NOW!" The chants became louder and louder, and ultimately my good friend Monica Hall told me that it was time to get out of my wheelchair and crawl up the steps to the Capitol Building. Monica took my wheelchair, smiled and said, "I'll meet you at the top!" I started to climb step by step towards the top.
At the very beginning, I looked up and thought that I would never make it. But right below me was a seven year old girl who was making the same climb, step by step, her wheelchair left somewhere below or whisked somewhere above. This was Tom Olin's young niece. I felt an obligation to be a role model for this girl and we ultimately made it to the top together.
Some people may have thought that it was undignified for people in wheelchairs to crawl in that manner, but I felt that it was necessary to show the country what kinds of things people with disabilities have to face on a day-to-day basis. We had to be willing to fight for what we believed in.
The next day, we visited the Capitol under the pretense of wanting to go on a tour. I was one of the only demonstrators wearing a tie; my Board of Directors insisted that as the CEO of a nonprofit organization, I might as well look professional if I was going to get arrested. There was a lovely young woman who was volunteering at the Capitol to give tours over the summer, and as more and more people arrived she approached me and shared her excitement at giving a tour to so many people with disabilities.
A few minutes later we all began chanting, and Congressmen came to assure us that the ADA would be passed. These individuals included House Speaker Foley, Republican leader Michel, and Congressman Hoyer. We got louder and louder and all of a sudden, chains came out and people began to chain themselves in a circle. The young volunteer came up to me and asked, "Do you think they're ready for their tour now?" I was sorry and somewhat amused to be the one to tell her that no one would be touring on that day and that many individuals would probably be arrested.
Soon after this, the Capitol police began arresting people and cutting chains. The whole process took 2-3 hours and resulted in my own arrest. We were all sent to the Capitol jail and were scheduled to appear before a judge late that evening. In jail, I had the honor of being with Wade Blank, Michael Auberger, and many other disabled activists. It is ironic and perhaps fitting that I now oversee the implementation and compliance to the transportation provisions of the ADA, the law that we all fought so hard for.
I remember Evan Kemp watching the proceedings very closely from the back of the courtroom, and I remember our attorney, Tim Cook, informing the judge that we all pled guilty, that all of the defendants were part of the "Wheels of Justice" campaign to end the segregation of and the discrimination towards people who use wheelchairs. All of the defendants were released on our own recognizance and were given one year of probation.
I was the only one who was fined, because I held a job with significant income, and I was proud to "donate" $100.00 to the cause of justice and equality. Those few days and the passing of the ADA were monumental for me as an individual and an activist, but also for people across the United States of America. We now have taken steps to move towards inclusion and away from segregation and discrimination of people with disabilities.
I often think of these days and the lessons and power that they brought me in my current job as Director of the Office of Civil Rights at the Federal Transit Administration. It is important to keep these memories fresh in our minds and to avoid complacency in the face of injustice.
The biggest day of my life was approaching after 6 months of 24/7 butterflies. I believe most people never thought this march would take place except for Daniese from Delaware and Crosby from Maryland.
September 3rd, on the eve of the march at the Holiday Inn in Philadelphia, I was speaking to a room full of ADAPTers, about to make history. We were marching 144 miles with 85 wheelchairs to charge a night and 65 tents to set-up and break down every day. This would be the first time in history that 200 disabled people would march all 144 miles to Washington DC sleeping outside in tents every night (except 2, and one of those nights was on an ice skating ring that was wet and freezing cold).
We traveled with 12 port-o-potties (Royal Flush). Without them and one of the workers, Mike, we would not have survived.
The first day we roll out onto Market Street in Philadelphia in pouring rain with smiles on our faces. … Between the weather, chairs that broke down because of the weather, bad directions given to the van drivers, no port-o-potties at our lunch stop and the smallest quarters to sleep in ... we figured things could only get better.
Second day, Erik from Philly had a stroke and had to be taken to the hospital. Jimmi, Erik’s partner and our food director, would not be able to continue on this march and we were about to embark on the longest day of the march - 17 miles. Things were going great.
One of the amazing things throughout this march was how the public treated us. ... Somehow people knew we were coming, because they would be out on the streets to greet us, give us money and water and cheers. I don’t think the public has ever treated ADAPT so well. … When we told them we were marching so people could live free in the community and not die in nursing homes, they were just taken aback. In one small community, Aberdeen Maryland, we were given a $200 check and a proclamation from the city council.
We slept at the state troopers barracks in Delaware and had a pig roast, (no pun intended). But ADAPT sharing bathrooms with state troopers. Who would have thunk it? We slept on the grounds of the firehouse in Arbutus, Maryland. While we were there, Sparky from Texas went to a convenient store around the corner. They did not treat him nice in the store and were throwing him out and he said to them that a bunch of his disabled friends were around the corner. Of course they didn’t believe him. So he left and returned with some of his 200 friends and he was treated much better.
Not being a religious group we had many encounters with churches because in our 14 day march we stayed on 7 church properties. We were fed some of our best food by the churches. People said they ate better on the march than they do at home.
We looked forward at the end of the day - going to our tents and finding our belongings ... We were truly a city with blocks of the different states and their tents. People were going about their business, getting ready for dinner or the next day’s events. ...
I had a friend who is from an activists group in Philadelphia that has done many marches. ... on our last day ... I got up at 6 AM to go to the bathroom at our camp site in DC and I thought I was hallucinating when I saw my friend from Philly. I said "what are you doing here?"
He said: "Nancy, I just had to come and see this for myself." He had been walking the campsite in total amazement. He could not believe that we had all these tents, wheelchairs, an industrial generator, 12 port-o-potties and that, with most people in wheelchairs, we could pull this off. He said that on his marches they never walked the entire way and they always slept indoors. He said after seeing this, if any of his people never complained he would tell them what we endured and went through to further our cause.
I must say, what amazed me the most was the commitment from everyone to do this march. We left people whose chairs broke down in the middle of nowhere and they would just smile and wave goodbye and wait till the van picked them up. It could be minutes or hours in the hot sun with no food or drink, but they would endure whatever it took for their brothers and sisters in nursing homes. I was just blown away by the courage of those individuals whose chairs tip over on the highway. The big state troopers would help pick people back up and they would say they were fine and onward they went, with the state trooper’s mouth hanging open. They didn’t know how strong disabled people really are.
People were focused on the mission to get more attention to MiCASSA and get it passed. We obviously didn’t get Community Choice passed, and we didn’t get on national news but the disability community around the world knew about the march. It was the greatest adventure of our lifetime and it showed that anything is possible.
A composite of photos shows a panorama of DUH City. Photos by Kevin Siek.
Over 500 ADAPT disability rights activists descended upon our nation’s capitol from September 13-18, 2008 to erect DUH City, on September 15, 2008, in the plaza in front of the Robert C. Weaver Federal Building, home to the offices of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to dramatize the need for community choice and affordable, accessible, integrated housing for people with disabilities. DUH is HUD spelled backwards, which is ADAPT’s way of pointing out the backward direction our country is headed in addressing the housing crisis for people with disabilities because HUD, Congress and the Administration have broken promises, cut funding for housing stock and housing subsidies and enforcement of anti-discrimination housing laws, and simply ignored the nation's low-income people with disabilities altogether.
ADAPT continues to advocate for passage of the Community Choice Act (S. 799, H.R. 1621) which would allow people with disabilities and older Americans to choose to live in their own homes and communities instead of being forced into nursing facilities and other institutions by the current institutional bias in the nation’s Medicaid program. But even is people are given the opportunity to get the long term services and supports they need in their own homes, they will still need affordable and accessible homes to live in.
Many people with disabilities live on benefits that are only 18% of the median income, a full 25% below the poverty level, and an amount that is less than the national average rent for a studio/efficiency apartment. Even in the event that affordable housing may be found the problem is compounded by a insufficient number of accessible, integrated housing units to handle the current demand in communities across America.
To address America's longstanding and still growing crisis in the availability of affordable, accessible integrated housing ADAPT has put together a National Housing Platform that calls for:
Folks gather outside “Alice’s Restaurant” for breakfast in downtown DUH City.
Photo by Kevin Siek.
DUH City consisted of seven large tent-like structures, made of pvc pipe and blue tarps, and numerous other structures made from large painted cardboard boxes. ADAPT members would stay at DUH City round the clock through Wednesday, September 16, 2008 to illustrate the extreme measures that low income Americans must sometimes resort to in order to obtain housing the their communities.
One of the blue tents was used as the Media Center from which the Duh City Times newspaper was distributed every morning to all the Congressional offices and where website content and blogs were updated around the clock. Another tent housed “Alice’s Restaurant” were ADAPT members gathered for meals. By the end of the occupation DUH City had a clocktower, wheelchair accessible apartments, a disco and library built from cardboard boxes and had elected a mayor.
Once they had erected DUH City ADAPT wasted no time challenging multiple policymakers on the housing crisis. After setting up a tent city at HUD headquarters breakfast was served at “Alice’s Restaurant and a press conference was held were ADAPT members from across the nation told their stories of struggling to find affordable accessible, integrated housing in their communities.
Following the press conference ADAPT sent 100 activists to the Democratic National Committee (DNC) offices in Washington, D.C., and another hundred to a Sen. John McCain campaign office in Arlington, Virginia. All three entities were presented with the ADAPT platform for affordable, accessible housing.
Outside Senator McCain’s Office. Photo by Tom Olin.
"The DNC was cordial, and they accepted our housing platform, as well as our invitation to visit 'DUH City,' which is HUD spelled backwards," said Barb Toomer, ADAPT organizer from Utah. “The career HUD staff that met with ADAPT told our people they had no authority to make decisions and had to wait for the administration or administrative appointees to make any decisions, so the meeting felt like a waste of time. Sen. John McCain's campaign staff not only refused to even look at our housing platform, they had eleven of us arrested by police who caused injuries to at least one arrestee."
The following morning, September 16, 2008 groups of ADAPT activists fanned out from their base at "DUH City" to Capitol Hill to visit congressional leaders who serve in leadership positions on Congressional housing committees. ADAPT wanted to meet with these leaders to share their housing platform and discuss ways to address the housing crisis for low income people with disabilities.
"Our first stop was to see Rep. Barney Frank," said Diane Coleman of ADAPT in Rochester, New York. "ADAPT has been in talks with him over the past year, and early on he told us in no uncertain terms that he could get 500 housing vouchers from HUD that would be targeted to free people with disabilities who live in nursing homes and other institutions. He repeated that promise for months, and we kept trusting his word, and then one day he suddenly says he can’t help us. We were also working with him to get funding that pays for segregated housing redirected to support integrated housing and more vouchers. Sen. Frank arranged a hearing on this funding, and not only did he not invite any people with disabilities to testify, he didn’t even notify us about the hearing. So, today, we decided to confront him on his broken promises and bad faith."
Shortly after 13 ADAPT members entered Franks’ office, he ordered staff to have them arrested, refusing to even discuss ADAPT’s concerns, or strategies to address the housing crisis for low income people with disabilities trapped in institutions for lack of affordable, accessible, integrated housing.
Mike Oxford gets a new set of “bracelets” outside
Sen. Shelby’s Office.
Photo by Kevin Siek
When ADAPT arrived at Senator Shelby’s office the building was already swarming with Capital Police. The aide who met ADAPT at the office door indicated he couldn’t schedule a meeting with the senator because he didn’t know when Senator Shelby would return and ADAPT had not used the proper "system" to arrange a meeting with the senator. Kansas ADAPT organizer Mike Oxford asked, "Do you mean the same system that’s been screwing us?" "That hasn’t worked for us too well. That’s why we’re here!" he said. Utah ADAPT Organizer Barb Toomer told the aide, "All you need to do is get out the appointment book and find a time when the Senator is free to meet with us." The aide refused and ADAPT refused to leave without speaking to the senator. Arrests soon followed with 19 arrests made at Shelby’s office. During the arrest process Senator Shelby returned to his office, but declined any serious discussion of the issues with ADAPT. "I like to help people who help themselves", was his response to ADAPT’s concerns.
An aide to Senator Dodd spoke with ADAPT, but declined to put her remarks on paper after indicating she might be willing to do so. ADAPT continued to wait for the written statement, and eventually nearly 25 people were arrested.
"The TV is full of news about the bank crisis, and the mortgage crisis, and the need for candidates to appeal to middle income people," said Cassie James, Philadelphia ADAPT organizer. "Meanwhile, people who live on disability benefits, and people who are trapped in nursing homes because of no housing are being held hostage while the government bails everyone else out. Rent has gone up so much, it’s higher than many monthly disability benefits. Not only do us younger people with disabilities need affordable, accessible housing, older people need it, too. This is a crisis, and we need help to solve it."
The authorities detained the demonstrators for as long as they possibly could, which meant that most of the arrestees weren’t able to return to DUH City until late that night. They were greeting with pizza and the enthusiastic cheers of the residents of DUH City.
The citizens of DUH City await the return of the arrestees.
Photo by Tim Wheat.
On Wednesday morning, September 17, 2008, After one last breakfast at "Alice’s Restaurant" and a farewell rally ADAPT headed back to Capital Hill to deliver the final edition of the DUH City Times and a copy of ADAPT’s Housing Platform to all the Congressional offices.
ADAPT had established "DUH City" to bring attention to and document the struggle of low income people with disabilities. On Thursday, September 18, 2008, ADAPT activists left Washington D.C. to continue the struggle for affordable, accessible, integrated housing in their own communities
From The Roving Activist’s Blog by Anita Cameron (http://dread1mynproductions.com/rablog/),
Live from DC - Getting Ready, September 15th, 2008
ADAPT prepares to move out! Photo by Tim Wheat.
It’s 3:11 am, do you know where your ADAPT activist is? Well, this activist is downstairs along with some other hardy folks getting ready for the day! I’ve been down here since 2:35 am, and let me tell you, I am pumped! I’ll give you the lowdown as the day progresses. FREE OUR PEOPLE!!!
From the “Geezer’s Sermons Blog, Battle Prep!, September 15th, 2008
ADAPT is taking over the HUD plaza. "Free Our People"! Here's from Susan Fitzmaurice:
"ADAPT is at HUD. Chants echo in the early morning air. ADAPT's logistics team has swarmed the plaza and is putting up tents. No police on site (yet). I see 5 night employees and security at the doors on walkie talkies. A woman next to me is screaming affordable, accessible, integrated housing! It is still night, orange street lights glow everywhere. Teddy F is hanging with Ian Engle. It’s so early in the morning and people are chanting their guts out! More to come..."
Love.
Posted by William Loughborough at 6:51 A.M. at:
http://william-loughborough.blogspot.com/.
From The Roving Activist’s Blog by Anita Cameron, Live from DC – DUH City, September 15th, 2008
I am back at the hotel trying to unwind and post this. I imagine that my Gentle Readers would like to know why I am back at the hotel when a butt-kicking ADAPT action is going on. Well, I am part of the Orange team, whose duty is to be available for night duty, so we are supposed to be relaxing, charging our chairs, and otherwise taking it easy until later.
Now, back to the morning. We crept out of here at about 4:15 am on a stealth mission to our target-none other than the Department of Housing and Urban Development, or HUD.
Can you imagine 500 ADAPT members being quiet? Let me tell you, it was quiet as the tombs! When we hit the HUD plaza, it was all about business. Our team of builders immediately set to building structures that looked similar to Quonset huts. In fact, they built a whole little city-DUH City-in record time! Amazingly, there were no police in sight, and HUD security, being a little out of it, and certainly not expecting folks at their doorstep at 4:30 am, took a few minutes to figure out what was going on. They then sent out one lone security officer, who stepped on the piping, thinking that he was going to stop our builders from completing their task, but buoyed up by thunderous chants and cheers from their fellow ADAPT members, they simply built around him. The poor guy must have felt really stupid being out there alone with no backup, and clearly being ineffective. I know if it were me, I’d have been pretty red in the face!
An effort in futility for one frustrated security guard.
Photo by Tim Wheat
After we finished setting up, we announced what was going on to the ADAPT crowd, and read some of the ADAPT Housing Platform. Then, several folks told their story about how the lack of accessible, affordable, integrated housing affected them.
The police eventually came, but decided that since we were not blocking anything, they would not do anything to us. I can tell you, HUD was jittery-so much so that they locked and barricaded their doors even though we were nowhere near them!
The police eventually came, but decided that since we were not blocking anything, they would not do anything to us. I can tell you, HUD was jittery-so much so that they locked and barricaded their doors even though we were nowhere near them!
Meanwhile, our Media Team delivered copies of the Duh City Times to every member of Congress (the House and the Senate) so that they will be educated about the crisis in housing among people with disabilities.
Finally, after our press conference, HUD officials set up a meeting, which we did not ask for, but the leadership team went and met with several HUD officials, and it was clear to me that they had nothing to offer, and really couldn’t do anything. The meeting was a waste of time.
After that, my team, the orange team, returned to the hotel, since we will be back later. Three teams then left on some rather cool adventures, which are still taking place as I type. One team hit the Democratic National Committee, and two teams hit the office of Senator McCain. Of course, his staff refused to forward the Housing Platform to the senator, but you can help. Call 703-297-8900 and ask them to forward ADAPT’s Housing Platform to Senator McCain!
Duh City has a website-http://www.duhcity.org/ Check it out, and learn about what’s happening every day!
I’ll keep you posted. See you later!
From The Roving Activist’s Blog by Anita Cameron, Live from DC - Tuesday, September 16th, 2008
DUH City nightlife. Photo by Tom Olin.
I went back to DUH City last night. We had lots of housing related activities to keep us busy. We built the DUH City Library, and the Darling Disco complete with the silver ball. Lisa and Joe did security until 2:30, and I hung out talking with folks until about 1:30 or so, when my body gave out on me, and I couldn’t stay awake any longer. I did get some sleep, but not enough, that’s for sure!
When daylight came, we cleaned up, and got ready to welcome everyone back to DUH City. We began chanting loudly, "our homes, not nursing homes" and "accessible, affordable, integrated housing!" Amber came and delivered today’s edition of the DUH City Times.
As the rest of the folks came up the street, we got even louder! Simultaneously, Yoshiko Dart, and some other folks came with a nice continental breakfast of bagels, croissants, and fresh juices. Just the scent of the fresh breads wafting gently through the air gave me the energy to keep chanting loud and strong! I had a couple of bites of croissant, and some juice, then, joined the leadership team for a meeting.
After the meeting, the orange team went back to the hotel. I showered, and tried to get some sleep. My mum called. Many of you know that my mum is an ADAPT member who has been arrested a few times on local actions in Colorado. She lives in Tacoma, WA now, but she wanted to let me know that she has been following us on the Internet, and participating by doing the call-ins.
Capitol Police were out in force. Photo by Kevin Siek.
I have a twitter account, so I was able to keep up with the wild adventures that the blue, green, and purple teams have been on. The police were so nervous about us that they attempted to stop ADAPT several times, and we even had to negotiate paths, goings, etc. with the cops. That hasn’t happened since the old days! Once we got to the Capitol, we hit the offices of Senators Dodd, Shelby, and Representative Barney Frank. Each of these lawmakers either chair, or serve on committees having to do with housing. In fact, ADAPT has met with Barney Frank in the past. ADAPT wants each of these folks to endorse the housing platform, and sign a letter of support.
Of course, these politicians would not give their support, and almost immediately began having our people arrested. A call-in to each of the offices was initiated to get support of the platform. Sen. Dodd’s office immediately put their phones on automatic after hours messaging, but people were able to leave messages. Sen. Shelby and Rep. Frank’s staff began losing their cool when the calls became overwhelming. You can still call.
Here are the numbers:
Rep. Barney Frank, 202-225-5931
Sen. Chris Dodd, 202-224-2823
Sen. Richard Shelby, 202-224-5744
The hit on Sen. Dodd’s office was particularly long. There is a staffer named Jenn Fogel-Bublick who is holding up progress, and standing in the way of things. She says that the senator supports the housing platform but though she has the authority to do so, won’t sign the support letter. Here is her number and e-mail:
Jenn Fogel-Bublick, 202-224-2336, e-mail: jenn_fogel-bublick@banking.senate.gov
Please keep calling and e-mailing these folks! They would rather arrest our folks than work with ADAPT. 47 of us have been arrested. Tell them how important accessible, affordable, integrated housing is to people with disabilities. Ask them to sign the letter of support and endorse the ADAPT Housing Platform!
I’m signing off now, and going back to DUH City! FREE OUR PEOPLE!!!
From Stirring the Pot blog by Veralidaine (http://stirthis.blogspot.com/), Stir This Returns from Lengthy Hiatus to Support ADAPT Activists and "DUH City!", Monday, September 15, 2008
The people in the above photo (depicts four activists seated near the Department of Housing and Urban Development) may appear homeless, but they have homes to which they will eventually return. Unfortunately, many seniors and people with disabilities don't. They've been moved into nursing homes and institutions because they can't afford to live independently. Some had homes, and saw their homes sold against their will. Others rented but fell behind on payments. Many never owned or rented a home and, upon reaching adulthood, faced a choice between living on the streets or in institutions.
That's why ADAPT has pitched tents outside the US Department of Housing and Urban Development, and why the above activists are living in those tents, effectively homeless until key policymakers commit to ADAPT's housing reform platform. The tent city ADAPT has constructed is called "DUH City," a reversal of the acronym HUD, as well as a play on words indicating that, if you can't afford to live independently, you end up homeless-- "Duh!"
But, some say, that's why there are institutions-- to prevent these people from becoming homeless! ADAPT disagrees. People in nursing homes are homeless. Do you have a home when you don't have a choice about where you live? Do you have a home if your mealtimes, bedtime, medications, hygiene, and even whether you live or die, are decided by strangers in a building where you did not choose to live? Sounds like imprisonment, right? That's exactly what ADAPT considers the unwilling commitment of people with disabilities and the elderly to nursing homes: Imprisonment, and homelessness, rolled into one package labeled "Care."
ADAPT wants lawmakers to pass the Community Choice Act, which gives people with disabilities and senior citizens the choice of receiving care in their own homes rather than nursing homes. Funding attendant care in individuals' homes saves money versus operating nursing homes. Despite these facts, many politicians including Senator John McCain have opposed the Community Choice Act on the basis of cost.
While the CCA has widespread support from lawmakers in both parties, too often have politicians promised support and withdrawn it at the last second. Under the table deal making and the flawed public perception that home care costs more public dollars can't be allowed to stop the Community Choice Act. That's why ADAPT is camping out outside the HUD, and that's why Stirring the Pot and the following blogs are following ADAPT's direct actions and covering them as they happen:
To see the list of blogs go to: http://www.duhcity.org/duhblogs.html
Please visit the blogs on this list often, and link to DUH City on your own blog if you have one. Whether you're old or young, able-bodied or disabled, Republican or Democrat, we can all agree that making affordable, accessible, integrated housing available and providing home care (which, again, SAVES money), is absolutely a necessity. FREE OUR PEOPLE-- and all people!
Green Mountain ADAPT a group of Vermonters with disabilities taped flyers to stores in downtown Montpelier early this morning. The flyers show the universal symbol for accessibility with a red slash through it. Underneath the symbol reads "This business is not accessible to people with disabilities."
The stores that Green Mountain ADAPT chose to flyer are ones that people with physical disabilities cannot get into because there is a step up. The Americans with Disabilities Act was signed in 1990. A representative from Green Mountain ADAPT said, "After 18 years, businesses should be accessible. It is important for business owners to realize that there are people with disabilities in our community that want to shop and cannot because of the barriers."
Some stores that did not receive a flyer are hard to maneuver around using a wheelchair, but for this action, Green Mountain ADAPT wanted to educate the business owners that have made little effort in terms of accessibility.
It was the last few weeks of summer and Philadelphia ADAPT hit the streets in force in an attempt get Mayor Nutter to close the Philadelphia Nursing Home (PHN).
There have been years of abuses reported, ranging from obstruction of the bowels that killed Kenny Lentz years ago, to the story of a man with Alzheimer’s who drank bleach a few weeks ago, to the woman who had a fire in her apartment and then found herself locked up in PNH with no housing, no money, and little hope.
Kenny Lentz’ death was the last of many straws, causing advocates to say "enough!" After that, in 1995 ADAPT took over the Health Department and demanded autopsies on people who died at PNH. The care was so bad that the Justice Department wanted to close the nursing home, but the only advocates who believed that was a good idea back then were Liberty Resources, Inc., and ADAPT. In response to our outcry, a Coalition on Health Care and Support Needs of the Disabled was formed from within the health department.
Though we did not win that right, we did get an autopsy on Kenny Lentz. Unfortunately, although he had been injured years before, PNH claimed that his death was due to his injury when, in fact, the nursing home had not been not doing his bowel program. There were too many stories that resembled Kenny’s.
ADAPT’s outcries over this caused the city to make some changes, but they were only superficial. The level of care at PNH continued to worsen. What I mean by this is the city privatized and brought in a consultant firm that handled everything, but did not recognize that disabled people and the elderly have the right to live in the community. PNH became a modern day poor house and dumping ground.
ADAPT could not stand by forever and let our people be abused. Many PNH residents have been begging to come out into the community, so on August 19, 2008, after trying to schedule meeting with officials and getting little attention, ADAPT decided that drastic measures would be necessary to demonstrate how scared we really were for the people inside the walls of PNH.
We had met with Mayor Nutter, but at that time he did not recognize the urgency of the situation. Some of us decided that if we rooted down right on the side walk in front of PNH, they would know we meant business. Our group was a mix of older and younger leaders, activists, advocates, people who worked with our community, and even some of the visitors to the residents of PNH. We targeted Mayor Nutter because he is the man with the power to downsize and eventually close the facility.
The first day was great. The media seemed to be paying attention, but each day it got a little harder to get them to understand the story. Our view was that this is 2008, and we are trying to rebalance the long term care system in Pennsylvania. So why is the city a nursing home owner? Shouldn’t helping people with disabilities stay in their own homes be their number one priority?
Marshal Brown and other members of
Philly ADAPT outside PNH.
Photo by Lawrence Kesterson, Philadelphia Inquirer
Each night we held a candlelight vigil, and on the second night the media showed up. However, the Mayor continued to disregard our concerns and still was making no comments about downsizing. One night lots of people came out to support us. Some were people who had never taken part in an action. When ADAPTers took over the intersection one motorist was determined to kill some of us. This led lots of people who were fighting to free people from PNH out into the intersection. Finally, the police got there and boy we were pleased that they showed up before we were killed by the public.
The entire action took 6 days and nights, and a host of skills and talents that came from the people who committed to spend every day and night there, including the people who provided meals, the people who built our tent city and those who helped decorate it. Some folks took trips to the Mayor’s office and the offices of City Council members. All of these people made this action happen with their contributions of money, skills, and time. There were lots of partnerships that lead to our success. The days and nights were long, but just when it felt like it might never end, we got lucky.
A small group went to the Mayor’s office again, and this time he was angry and shouting, "I told you I would downsize the nursing home and eventually close it". He had never told us that before, but we were happy to hear it. Of course, he made no notice to the media or public statement to anyone but us. So we called a press conference to declare our victory. The press did show up, but there was so much happening in the news that night we didn’t get too much attention.
We all feared that maybe the Mayor would not do very much, but when we met with him on October 9th he thanked us for making him pay attention to this issue. He said PNH residents were being evaluated to see who could move and to what settings. We suggested a coalition of people who would be able to serve the total PNH population, and were also able to get Philadelphia Housing Authority to give us 50 vouchers to set aside for residents living in PNH.
Two busloads of Rochester ADAPT members traveled to Albany bright and early Tuesday morning, August 19, 2008, to send a strong message to Governor Paterson to stop the budget cuts to Independent Living Centers and home care. Independent Living Centers are slated to receive a 6% cut in funding (in addition to a 2% cut earlier in the year); while the home care cuts will have a potentially devastating effect on personal care attendants, and the consumers that they work for. For many of the over seventy of us, this was the first action they ever participated in.
The message to stop the budget cuts was so important that people came from all over New York State! Centers from Buffalo, Brooklyn, Manhattan, the Bronx, Yonkers, Binghamton, Plattsburg, Troy, Cortland, Corning, Syracuse, Poughkeepsie, Watertown, Glens Falls, and Long Island were represented. Some folks came as individuals, while others came representing other groups, such as Disabled in Action. In all, there were over 150 of us.
We gathered in the War Room of the Capitol, and at first, took it easy, making sure everyone got in. Then we began chanting so loud that we were heard throughout the building. "Governor Paterson, don’t be a zero. Stop the cuts and be our hero!" From out of nowhere, it seemed, giant signs made from shower curtains appeared, and were held high. "Stop The Cuts", read one. "Don’t Target Us", read another, and "Support Independent Living Centers". We continued chanting, "Don’t target us. Stop the cuts NOW!" That chant went on for more than 15 minutes! After that, we sang. "We who believe in freedom will not rest ‘til they stop the cuts!"; It was a variation on one of the songs that we sing on national actions. Bruce then led us in another chant, "Who do we want? Governor Paterson! When do we want him? NOW!" I chanted so strong and loud that my chest began hurting from muscle strain, but such was my passion that I did not stop except to take a couple of quick breaths.
The coolest part of the chanting took place in a circle within a circle. Several of the activists were Deaf and Hard of Hearing. They and the interpreters were in a circle signing the chants with unabashed exuberance and passion. This motivated the ring of folks surrounding them, which, in turn, motivated folks in the next circle. It was amazing, and I nearly burst with pride to see our Rochester folks, Dean and Jimmy leading this!
After a while, lunch arrived-McDonald’s, an ADAPT staple. Our food team made sure that everyone in the room got lunch. After all that chanting, lunch gave me needed energy for more chanting.
While our earlier hard work was happening, two groups went and leafleted the Assembly and the Senate with information to make them aware of our fervent opposition to these cuts. Based on what I learned, the Senate was far more receptive to the leafleting than the Assembly.
After lunch, the chanting and singing began again. After some time, the leadership team concluded that unless we did something more, we would get no response. Since the Governor’s office was a few feet away down the hall, a few folks gathered near it. Diane Coleman, Nadina LaSpina, and Debbie Bonomo were closest to the glass doors. I was behind Nadina standing with my cane. Nadina and Diane began trying to talk the staffer into setting up a meeting with the Governor, but of course, he wouldn’t. A state trooper leaned out of the door and said that we couldn’t block the doors, but at that point, everyone had come to the door and began chanting, "Save our programs, save our wages, stop the cuts NOW!" Like magic, the signs appeared, and a group of folks had blocked off the stairway by holding signs across the bottom. Reporters popped up out of nowhere and began filming and interviewing. The trooper quickly ducked back inside, and there seemed to be some sort of meeting to determine what was to be [done] with us.
We soon found out. When someone came out of the door, Diane, Debbie, and Nadina moved in to try to get in, and Bruce, who had positioned himself strategically, tried to hold open the door. I was sorely tempted to dive into a hole that had been created, but stayed put. At this point, several troopers and staff appeared, and they got ROUGH. It reminded me of ADAPT actions back in the day. One trooper got really serious about trying to move Debbie out of the way, while another twisted Bruce’s fingers and wrist trying to get him to let go of the door. In the process, Diane and Terrie, who were in front of, and behind Debbie were slightly injured, and Debbie, herself, was bruised and scratched. The troopers were yanking on her wheelchair, and broke pieces off of her joystick mechanism. Even I didn’t escape unscathed. A trooper was trying to move Nadina, and the security person behind us noticed that due to her positioning, he couldn’t move Nadina from the door unless I was out of the way, and of course, I wasn’t going to move, so he picked me up by my shoulders and tried to move me, which was no easy task. By this time, cooler heads had prevailed, and Nadina and Bruce were let in to meet with the Governor’s senior staff, so the group moved a step back to let them in, and created a pathway of sorts.
While we waited to see what would transpire, we quietly sang a few songs. I noted that some senators and their staff were among us, encouraging us, and thanking us for being there. The media was still present, as well, and Chris and Gene were interviewed. After some time, Bruce and Nadina emerged, and told the crowd that the staffers were setting up a meeting with the Governor, so long as we headed back to the War Room, which we did.
The meeting with the Governor did take place. Eight members of the leadership team met with him for almost an hour, and passionately spoke of the need for attendant services and home care, and the need for services offered by Independent Living Centers, and how both save the state money because people with disabilities are living in the community instead of institutional settings.
We are still facing some cuts, but the meeting was fruitful because Governor Paterson did pledge to continue the dialogue and work with Independent Living Centers on restructuring Long Term Care, acknowledging the tremendous benefits of consumer directed services. Once more, the power of ADAPT has opened doors, and will lead us closer to freeing our people!
On Friday, August 22nd, Chicago ADAPTers gathered on the South Side of Chicago at 35th and Martin Luther King Drive to march to the notorious All Faith Pavilion, a nursing home that before May already had several citations for improper catheter care. On May 30, resident Solomon Owasonoye, 50, beat his 78-year-old roommate, Ivory Jackson, in the head with a clock radio. Jackson died of his injuries on June 23. Owasonoye allegedly has dementia. All Faith is being fined $10,000 for Jackson’s death.
More than 20 Chicago ADAPTers marched to All Faith and initiated the action with prayers and comments in memory of Ivory Jackson. We then (via bullhorn) began testimony about the importance of community choice as staff and residents gathered to see the fuss. We had signs with hotline numbers for reporting nursing home abuse and for getting community based services. ADAPTers spoke with some of the residents about community choice. After energetic chanting, the police arrived. We left after having ensured that we made our point.
The following Monday we marched to the Illinois Department of Public Health, the agency that regulates the safety of nursing homes in Illinois. We found an accessible entrance in the back of the building and took the elevator to the 20th floor. We found our way to the IDPH waiting room, but the door to the main office was locked.
Chanting and negotiating with the office manager, we were determined to meet with the Department’s Director, Dr. Arnold. Security showed up but they didn’t interfere with our activities. They warned us that they would return at 5 PM. We chanted, "WHO DO WE WANT? DR. ARNOLD!!! WHEN DO WE WANT HIM? NOW!!!"
Long-time Chicago ADAPTer, Tom Wilson managed to find a tool and managed to open the lock. We managed to get 2 people in the main office and hell broke out! We continued to negotiate with office staff, saying that as soon as we get a meeting with Dr. Arnold that we’d leave the office.
We then ordered pizza and waited to get an appointment with Dr. Arnold. Lo and behold, the pizzas were delivered and guess who walked in as we were eating? Dr. Arnold himself! Upon seeing that we were angry about the state of All Faith Pavilion and other nursing homes in Illinois, he agreed to meet with us. He even accepted our offering of pizza, which is very ironic because Dr. Arnold is a bioterrorist expert.
The meeting is scheduled for Friday, September 19th. Great work, Chicago ADAPT!
On September 30, 2008, the Montana Center on Disability at Montana State University in Billings, Montana, presented Bob Liston with a Lifetime Achievement Award and inducted him into the Montana Disability Hall of Fame at a dinner for the honorees.
What is notable about this honor is that Bob was being recognized for his activism as part of ADAPT. In his remarks, Bob started right off by saying that people should know that anything for which he was being recognized was done as part of the ADAPT Community, and was accomplished only because of the entire community.
Bob was nominated for this award by the Board of Directors of Disability Rights Montana, Montana's Protection and Advocacy organization. He was introduced by the DRM Executive Director, Bernie Franks-Ongoy, who was part of the Free Our People March in 2003.
Bob would like you all to know this is your award, as well as his, and it is Bob's award in large measure because of all of you.
Monday, July 7th 2008, members of Atlantis/ADAPT confronted Senator John McCain at his first town hall meeting, which took place in Denver. ADAPT asked the Senator if he would support the Community Choice Act. He responded "I will not. Because I don’t think it is the right legislation."
The Democratic National Convention took place in Denver from August 25—28 and ADAPT was invited to a Media Party at Elitch Gardens and a Kick-Off Concert at Red Rocks Amphitheater. We were also given passes to the Pepsi Center where Senator Hillary Clinton, Bill Clinton, Joe Biden, and a "surprise guest" spoke. ADAPT was then invited to Invesco Field for Obama’s acceptance speech, and members were asked to sit near the front with the families of Biden and Obama.
Atlantis/ADAPT hosted an official Democratic National Host Committee supported event that invited discussion of disability rights and proudly displayed the ADAPT archives. Kareem Dale, the disability vote coordinator for Obama’s campaign, attended this event. He also brokered a meeting with AFL/CIO and AFSCHME to discuss union support of the Community Choice Act. ADAPT negotiated that the Disability Caucuses, on Tuesday and Thursday, be led by our own community. On Wednesday, the National Spinal Cord Injury Association sponsored a disability brunch and it was also SEIU’s “Health Care Day.”
ADAPT members in Colorado campaigned for and served as Delegates to the Democratic National Convention. Others volunteered on various campaigns, gathered for ‘watch parties’ during debates and speeches, went to see candidates whenever possible, and watched election results as a group.
We paid a "Special" visit to Sarah Palin that resulted in an interview with The Huffington Post. We toyed with McCain three other times. ADAPT laughed as we walked away from an opportunity to shut down the rally because we wanted to join our ADAPT Brothers and Sisters in Washington D.C. The next encounter with our "friend," ADAPT asked him "If you support Veterans, why don’t you support CCA?" The last action resulted in a police escort out of the rally with many TV cameras watching. CBS, NBC, MSNBC, and more! McCain’s day ended like it began, with a visit from ADAPT in Durango.
Michelle Obama was personally given a letter attached to our legislation and promised to give it to Barack. We talked to Joe Biden and reminded him about the 144 mile march in 2003. He understands we are still working on the same legislation. His response was, "We will get your legislation passed." The Sunday before the election, Obama came to Colorado to say thank you and asked for our vote. He mentioned we don’t do anything small in Denver. In memory of DUH City, ADAPT slept in the park to be the first in line. WE ARE JUNKIES!!!
Denver is a progressive city and it is no surprise that we were chosen for the DNC. It is because Colorado was a swing state and heavily campaigned, that Atlantis/ADAPT had the opportunity to witness the most historic election in our nation. Our beautiful city is the "Mecca" for disability rights, for over thirty years ADAPT has continued the fight. The politicians we paid many visits to, are the people who will further our legislation and pass the Community Choice Act in 2009. THANK YOU ADAPT! Free Our People!
ADAPT-Michigan had a presence today at John McCain’s "by invitation only" appearance in Belleville, MI. Though we couldn’t get inside, five of us carried signs and chanted in front of the building and throughout the driveway/parking area. Secret Service booted us from the parking lot, but not before we managed to have an agent get the CCA summary into the hands of one of McCain’s staff people.
Susan and Teddy Fitzmaurice were interviewed by the local Belleville newspaper. Joe Stramondo and Scott Heinzman were interviewed by WWJ 950 AM news radio - the main news radio outlet in metro Detroit. WWJ reporter Pat Sweeting took pictures for their website. Jim Dillon ably assisted with sign making and handing out flyers reminding McCain we vote and want him to support CCA.
We were well positioned with signs as McCain’s motorcade left, so we know he saw us.
Not a bad bit of work for less than a day’s notice.
Well, for a couple minutes anyway, before Secret Service and Racine police took custody of two Wisconsin ADAPT members.
Five WI ADAPT members went to McCain's Racine, WI Town Hall meeting where they sat 30 feet from him with their arms raised during the whole town hall meeting, and were not recognized once. Then we hollered, "Why must we be in nursing homes?" McCain still ignored us.
When McCain suddenly said "that's all" and walked off, the 5 ADAPT members quickly exited the building and went around back to where his bus was parked. There was only one driveway out.
While a few ADAPT folks handed out flyers to people, a couple of us waited several feet from a curb cut for McCain to come out, and enter his bus. While his bus and security entourage drove towards the exit, we patiently waited for the security vehicles to drive by, and then quickly drove our chairs out into the street to head off the bus.
ADAPT's a fast bunch, so we succeeded, forcing McCain's bus to slam on the brakes (Hope McCain had his seatbelt on)!
With-in seconds, security and Racine police had picked up the 2 of us and carried/dragged us off to the side of the road stating we were under arrest. During the roadside detainment we were able to give a couple of interviews to the radio or newspaper (which ever it was).
We were then taken into the building for ID and background checks and to wait for someone to decide our fate. Fortunately, the security "powers that be", must have decided that with all this press around, our arrests would not look good, so we were released in under an hour.
While McCain may be able to ignore ADAPT in his town hall meetings, and in his policies, he can not - and will not - be allowed to ignore us forever. We certainly got his attention today, along with the attention of some press who appear to be doing articles on the CCA, the right to choose to live in the community, and not be forced into nursing homes and other institutions!
We hope ADAPT can give him this warm reception where ever he goes!
Six members of combined WI ADAPT groups showed up at McCain’s Road to Victory Event, but McCain banned us. Those members who had been able to obtain a ticket were also turned around and told that we were not welcome on the premises. SO what did we do? Took to the streets! Literally! We stayed right outside the main gate to the venue chanting and flyering.
After about 20 minutes of this the police asked us to vacate the street, they gave us our three warnings and not feeling it was necessary to escalate we moved to the adjacent parking lot.
It was from there that we were most effective and managed to get media coverage from a local newspaper, and an independent news group. We even managed to swing support from McCain’s own supporters for the way we were denied access. Around 11:30 after the crowds had dispersed from the parking lot and into the building, the police proceeded to fence us in with their police cars to make sure we couldn’t do much else. So, in short our efforts are wearing him down.
He semi-supports CCA and is afraid of us enough that he is even unwilling to allow us access to his events.
Bob Steffee
I’m sad to report that Bob Steffee passed away on August 3, 2008. He did so in his own home, his own way.
Although Bob was only involved with ADAPT for a short time he displayed as much eagerness and commitment to the cause as anyone. He was a Color leader at the last action in Washington DC.
He was a man of many talents and he will be missed.
Chris Lloyd, August 04, 2008
Ricki Landers
I’m sorry to report that Ricki Landers passed away early this morning. Prior to her passing Ricki told Barbara that she had a message she wanted to leave with us all. To the best of our memory, it was this:
I’m sorry I won’t be there to continue the fight. I will be watching, cheering and fighting from a different place. Know that I am always with you. Fight on!
I hope that whenever we are cold, tired, or thinking of other things we could be doing during our actions we will remember or brothers and sisters in the nursing homes, but also our warriors who have passed on who are watching. I hope we can take strength from Ricki’s great example and words. If anyone would like to email their remembrances of Ricki to dracslc@earthlink.net we will print them and present them to Ricki’s family.
Jerry Costley, November 16, 2008
25th Anniversary | DUH City | Around the Nation | Passages
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