New Hampshire
	NH-ADAPT sent a letter to Commissioner Morton requesting their most recent
ADA self-evaluation. They also requested to include where possible the
linkages between simply receiving services, and other supports like adapting
or rehabbing living space. Also in broad how DHHS plans to effectively
communicate those living options for disabled people to live in the "most
integrated setting" as the language of ADA requires.
	They also wanted a written statement that no person will need institutional
placement for lack of funding for community services.
	In addition they wanted DHHS to write a simple English-standard letter that
can be distributed to people (by NH-ADAPT) in institutions-nursing homes or
are living now at home with inadequate services, on how they can get those
services.
	
Missouri
	In mid-September, MO ADAPT along with a little help from KS ADAPT, had a
rally at the capital in Jefferson City. About 50 people including the State
Medicaid Director met for speeches leafletting, and general optimism about a
new waiver that is being promised for attendant services. Afterward all of the
people from Missouri went in to talk to and educate their Legislators.
	Sounds like people are busy all over the country. Keep up the fight everyone
and 
Free Our People!

Realize the Promise Rallies
Washington, DC - Kids with disabilities and their families from 26 states
converged on the nation's front yard at the Ellipse on October 11, as a "Call
to Action" to demand an end to segregation for America's 8,000,000 children
and youth with disabilities. A ground swell of grass-roots support has
activated simultaneous "Realize the Promise Rallies" in Denver and San
Francisco and a live Real-time internet discussion will galvanize activists
around the globe. The events are sponsored by the DC based Mighty Alliance for
Independence Now (MAIN), a project of TASH Disability Advocacy Worldwide.
	Jill Jacobs cofounded MAIN after a two year battle for her son Collin (who
has cerebral palsy) to be included in his neighborhood school. She asserts,
"For 25 years, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA),
designed to insure fair and equal education of children with disabilities in
the least restrictive environment, has never really be implemented nationwide.
Almost every state breaks the law every day by offering kids with disabilities
substandard academic programs, or banishing them from real life by tossing
them away in isolated simulated settings. All American children have civil
rights. These practices are an obstruction of those rights, and a violation of
the American Dream."
	On the heels of President Clinton's announcement proclaiming October to be
National Disability Employment Awareness Month, organizers and policy makers
believe ALL kids with disabilities NEED, DESERVE and EXPECT equal education to
be competitive in the workplace. For that to happen, kids with disabilities
can not be discriminated against in separate schools and given 2nd class
treatment in segregated settings. America has already realized that separate
is NOT equal in 1954 with the Supreme Court Decision of Brown v. The Board of
Education.
	America has not kept the promise to children. In 25 years, America has not
made IDEA the law of the land. If every child is to grow up to be truly free,
IDEA must be implemented in every school district, every school house, every
classroom in this country! IDEA can work! All children win. All families win.
All America wins with IDEA!

West Virginia ADAPT
We have been very busy with a number of issues.  
	Two ADAPT members filed a lawsuit against a local restaurant which resaulted
in them installing a lift.
	Protests were held to bring attention to the lack of access at a local bank.
These activities are still on going.  Future actions will involve the city of
Morgantown WV.
	Adapt WV held a protest at the Bureau of Senior Services in Charleston WV.
demanding Consumer control of the states title 19 Wavier program.  Our
activities got the attention of the Deputy Director of Health and Human
Resources (David Forinash).  He asked to do business on a handshake, we
refused. We secured a written commitment to public hearings to make the wavier
work for us. The intial meeting was held on July 17,1998 in Morgantown WV.
	ADAPT WV is taking steps to make our elected officials are aware of the
importance of Micasa.

Philly ADAPT
Philadelphia, PA -- Philly ADAPT remains busy fighting our local transit
authority over better quality rides and improved service. On Oct. 8th, about
fifteen ADAPTers completely shut down "El" services for about forty-five
minutes, tying up the entire system. There were no arrests. On "Black
Friday,'' Around forty angry ADAPTers rode the "El" to an inaccessible subway
stop, and demonstrated on the platform; again, there were no arrests, but a
very big statement made! WE WILL RIDE!

Philadelphia, PA -- On Nov. 13, thirty-one people from across Pennsylvania met
in Philadelphia and staged a major demonstration. Our target was a prominent
local area bank. Philly ADAPT is tired of having our People delegated to high
crime area high rises of "Elderly and Disabled Only" buildings, we want
integrated housing, including options to buy our own homes, like other low
income people have. However, most banks follow the "status quo," thus few
disabled people are ever able to successfully negotiate a mortgage or loan.
Our demonstration has paved the way for future meetings to sensitize bank
officials to our People's housing needs.

ADAPT mares Sundquist's rally
July 3, 1998
	(MEMPHIS, July 3) Kicking-off his re-election campaign in Memphis, Governor
Don Sundquist locked out the people his campaign commercials say he is "in
touch with." ADAPT members found the accessible entrance intentionally locked
to prevent people using wheelchairs from having access, so they staged an
impromptu protest outside. 
	Inside Sundquist's speech was interrupted by an ADAPT member who challenged
the Governor's record of providing no alternatives to nursing home care.
"Because of your lack of leadership," stated the activist, "Tennessee is last
in the nation providing home and community-based options." Sundquist had no
response, he read his same prepared speech as in Nashville and Jackson. 
	Outside a dozen Memphis Police blocked protestors who chanted: "The money is
there for long-term care!" and "Our homes, not nursing homes!" Sundquist's
public relations department released a statement: "... ADAPT...[has] no right
to interfere with the Sundquist supporters' right to peaceful and lawful
assembly..." 
	"Obviously the incumbent governor plans to campaign with galas to hand-picked
supporters," said Tim Wheat of Memphis ADAPT, "and continue to ignore the
needs of typical Tennesseans." Willie Robinson, in the crowd of demonstrators,
could live in the community if he lived in almost any other state. Tennessee,
however, will only provide him services in a nursing home. 
	"Freedom of choice. We are simply asking that the Governor work to provide
alternatives to nursing homes," said Dawn Russell of ADAPT. "His own
administration found home and community-based programs to be cost effective,
but he will not take action that would upset the nursing-home industry."
	ADAPT activists pointed to
several studies done during the Sundquist tenure that the Governor has
ignored. They hold that Sundquist's favoritism of the nursing-home industry,
his apathy and his lack of direction, has caused Tennessee's crisis in long-
term care. ADAPT of Tennessee offers suggestions how a strong governor could
work to improve long-term care. They include amending the current waivers,
endorsing national legislation MiCASA, and asking the National Governor's
Association to include a presentation on MiCASA.

Visitability Ordinance Passes in Austin - Welcome All!!!
	Basic access is now the law of the land for newly constructed single family
homes, duplexes and triplexes which receive financial assistance from the City
of Austin, Texas.  The City Council unanimously passed a Visitability
Ordinance on Wednesday October 7, 1998.  The ordinance requires that such
housing make minor adjustments in the construction including:
l	One no-step entrance (may be at the	front, back, side or through the
garage),
l	All doors (including bathroom) are at 	least 32 inches wide,
l	Halls and other rooms are at least 36 inches wide,
l	Reinforcements in walls around the toilet and bathtub/shower for
install-		ing grab bars,
l	Light switches and other environmental controls between 15 and 48 inches
		from the floor.
"This basic access will be the first step toward the day when people with
disabilities can VISIT and freely socialize with neighbors and friends in each
others homes" said ADAPT organizer Cathy Cranston. "It leads to the day when
renting a house, growing older in one's own home, becoming temporarily
disabled or having a child with a disability will be that much easier because
more and more homes will have this basic -- visitability -- level of access."

Capital Area ADAPT Success!
by Marcie Roth
	40 ADAPT members from Maryland, DC and Northern Virginia shut down a
Blockbuster Video Store in Silver Spring, MD on Saturday, October 17, 1998, to
demand access to the popular video rental store. This was the first Action led
by the newly formed Capital Area ADAPT, a chapter of national ADAPT.
	Despite a five month old ADA compliance consent decree in effect at other
local Blockbuster stores under the same ownership (and an 8 year old federal
law), efforts to get compliance from this store had been entirely
unsuccessful.
	All of this changed, when a large group of disability rights activists
brought business to a halt while demanding access. The group's representatives
presented the store management with a list of demands, and the rest of the
group held off all business for two hours until Blockbuster's district and
regional managers agreed to their demands.
	The demands included immediately clearing and repositioning the sole lowered
check out counter to give customers and employees an accessible counter space
to conduct business at, constructing accessible entry and exit doors that are
lighter and more easily operated, posting print and braille signage that
directs people with disabilities to seek assistance and providing training to
all employees about serving customers with disabilities.
	The counter was immediately cleared and repositioned, and Blockbusters agreed
to comply with the other demands, beginning immediately.

Oregon ADAPT at the Movies
by Ric Burger
	On Thursday, November 12th, Oregon ADAPT gave a warm welcome to the newest
theater in Oregon to use stadium riser seating. The occasion was a United Way
benefit screening at Century Theatres new Century 16 at Eastport Plaza. Before
we set up our signs ADAPT organizer Ric Burger was able to look at an
auditorium of less than 300 seats. While there were wheelchair areas in what
could be considered the fifth row, they were still only about 14 feet from the
screen. 	
	When we set up outside with signs and flyers, a Century Executive (This is
their first facility in Oregon so they had lots of suits there.) came up to us
and started talking about the number of great locations in the large
auditoriums and their accessible concession stand. We pointed out that the
problem was in the small auditoriums with less than 300 seats, he replied
"That's where we show second run films, why would you want to see a movie
there that you can rent on video?" We asked if he would say that to
temporarily able-bodied patrons. He went on to claim that they had passed an
inspection, when we asked who had inspected them he stated "We were inspected
by the ADA." ADAPT member Karl Stephens asked if that meant the American
Dental Association?
	We waited until every one had gone in to watch the gala benefit, then went
home. We are continuing to watch this issue, and are planning future events
around it. The Front of the Theater is the Back of the Bus!

Passages
Ronald L. Mace, FAIA
Architect, Product Designer, Educator
1941-1998

	Ron's work touched many people, professionally and personally.  His efforts
to educate about, and advocate for, accessible and universal design have made
a lasting impact on the design and construction community, policymakers,
government officials, businesses, and people with disabilities. We shall all
remember Ron Mace as a caring friend, a devoted and determined advocate, an
ingenious designer, a mentor, and a professional. His efforts have impacted
the world we live in in many significant ways--legislation requiring equal
access for people with disabilities, design guidelines for accessibility,
universal design solutions, accessible buildings and products, and greater
independence for people with disabilities and older adults. Ron was a Fellow
of the American Institute of Architects and received the Distinguished Service
Award of the President of the United States in 1992 for distinguished service
in promoting dignity, equality, independence, and employment of people with
disabilities.

Irene NorwoodI
Irene Norwood, long time ADAPT activist is gone, and will be greatly missed.
Irene was a fearless soldier for disability rights, standing up to the mighty
and telling them just how it is. No one who took over the US Capitol Rotunda
with ADAPT in 1990 in our last push for passage of the ADA can forget her
grasping the hand of Minority Leader Michaels and telling him, "All you rich
and powerful people think this is something little that can wait, but you
should walk a mile in our shoes, spend a week in wheelchair living on SSI and
then you'd see how hard it is." Nor will we forget Michaels' look of surprise
and embarrassment in response. 
 	Irene was there too meeting with HHS Secretary Donna Shalala and telling her
how she had once worked in a nursing home and knew the terribleness of them
from the nursing as well as the patient's side.  Irene spoke of that
experience often, and it fueled her fight to free our people. 
	Her struggle for justice was not limited to disability rights, she was also
active in fighting for her neighborhood issues in Chicago and nationally with
National Peopleís Action.  Active locally with DARE and Chicago ADAPT Irene
brought others along, family and friends, and her quiet (till she had
something to share) steady presence will be missed greatly.

In Memory of Ian Stanton
by Alan Holdsworth (AKA Johnny Crescendo)

	The passing of an artist like Ian Stanton is more than the sadness felt by
everybody who heard his message or who hung out with him afterwards in the
bar.  Ian focused on often overlooked pieces of the picture, pieces which make
it real.  
	When we lose artist like Ian we lose a window into ourselves and a window
into the world. He was someone who explained how the grass roots person in the
day centre, or residential "establishment," or just the person "watching the
crowd on the t.v news" would react. Ian never lost his "glee club" so he never
lost where he came from and the friends he made there. As an artist he touched
every goddam one of us because he started from where we were at and not where
we were supposed to be. The power of his words came from his experience, his
deep understanding of the issues that confront us and his love for us.

Baby Monica
David Donohue and Debbie from Chicago lost their daughter, Monica. She was 7
months old, and had a rare disability. David wanted the ADAPT folks to know.
Our hearts are with you. 

Joe Pitti
Austin and New York City ADAPT member Joe Pitti passed away in November. Joe,
the stubborn explorer, was on a sojourn that -- among other things -- had to
do with coming to terms with his disability. He arrived in Austin several
years ago at the Greyhound station knowing no one in town, and with no
particular plans. Typical Joe, he called ADAPT, got hooked up and scrambled
around and pulled a new life together. Joe, it turned out, was fighting the
nursing home issue in relation to himself, his brother and parents. Coming
from back East (NYC) to Texas is a system-shocker in terms of services
available, and Joe spent the next several years bouncing back and forth from
the Big Apple to the Third Coast, trying to reconcile the pluses and minuses
of each. Despite his avowed conservatism, he was a perfect match, and his
scrappy adaptable style will be missed in both ADAPT groups and by those in
between. 

Beatrice Gutierrez
Beatrice Gutierrez of El Paso's Desert ADAPT is much missed since she passed
away this spring. A fiery, tough fighter with a heart as big as the West Texas
sky, and she could be counted on to do whatever was needed. She was one of the
founding members of Desert ADAPT and a true believer in the ADAPT style of
advocacy. "That's the only way to do things" she would say. "We got pictures
of her on the walls" organizer Alfredo Juarez said "to remind us."

Around the World

It Wasn't Dull in Hull
Freedom Bus; Freedom March;
and Much More 
-- DAN's 11th National Action
by Alan Holdsworth AKA Johnny Crescendo
	The week before the action in Hull was really disappointing. Two organizers 
	were openly opposing the action and our numbers had dropped from 60 to 35.
But there were no other ideas on the table and my view remains that the only
bad action is no action. 
	Driving up to Hull I began to get out of my depression. You can only work
with the people you've got. Small is beautiful, and we certainly had lots of
hard-core experience in that small group. If you worry too much about the
people who didn't come you can lose your focus. Also some of DAN's finest
hours like the paint at Downing St. and the Whitehall Crawl had been done by
less than 20 DANNERS.
	The big meeting on Sunday night looked like a small meeting but what was
positive was that virtually the whole group was able to take part in the
strategy.

Monday
	Hull is the birthplace of William Wilberforce who helped to abolish slavery.
Outside Hull college is a column (like Nelson's only smaller), with his statue
on top. The police were waiting for us inside and outside the hotel. We told
them we were going to Wilber-force's column to "hand out leaflets" and "have a
few nice speeches". Under police guard we got from A to B noticing on the way
a couple of bus stops on Wilberforce St. next to the college.
	We handed out leaflets for what seemed like hours until a bus finally turned
into the street. On the password "tear down the walls", DAN turned from a
disparate leafletting group to a stampede for the bus, handcuffs in hand. 35
people may not be enough to close down Hull but it's more than enough to take
out a bus.
	We told the police that we wanted to keep the bus for 3 days. We also told
them it could get a lot worse for them!  After 3 hours of sitting in the rain
the police finally agreed that we could keep the bus.
	We occupied the bus and erected a tent (house) with polythene sheeting over
the front of the bus. The bus was festooned with our slogans like "We will
ride" and "We got this bus, you've got all the rest". So began an historic
occupation which would last for the next 50 hours.
	Every action needs a bit of luck and on this one it was that we were outside
Hull's largest college. The support we got from the students and their tutors
was phenomenal. This led to the strategy of involving the people of Hull in
our campaign.

Tuesday
	The weather was a huge factor on this action. On Monday it had rained for
most of the day, but Tuesday was perhaps the warmest day of the month. Proving
once again the sun does shine on the righteous. 
	The DANNERS remained strong and committed to their task. The press coverage
was brilliant. By now we knew that the police would let us have the bus
(unless we were naughty), they'd issued a press release to that effect. But
today we wanted to go to Mr. Prescott's. 
	We had collected well over 1000 letters to John Prescott from local people
supporting our cause and our action. The police escorted a group of 6 DANNERS
to his house to deliver them.
	Another stunt started out much smaller but for me was the highlight of the
action.	The Wilberforce monument had an inscription about 10 ft. up the column
that said "William Wilberforce." In our DAN survival bags we found some
pavement chalk and decided to write "Liberator" underneath "William
Wilberforce" and then lower down at accessible level, "John Prescott,
Segregator."
	At 12:30 the TV people turned up and we started the stunt. By this time the
students were coming out for lunch and about 400 had joined our motley crew of
35. The first bit was easy. Using the police barricades as ladders one of our
DANNERS with hidden disabilities climbed up and chalked "Liberator" under
Wilberforce. Next each DANNER was to come up and chalk a letter of "John
Prescott Segregator". Suddenly all hell broke loose. 
	A police officer came to the front and told us to stop defacing the monument.
We explained that the chalk was washable. But he said stop. We told him we
would wash it off, but he said stop. We asked the 400 students and the 35
DANNERS whether we should stop. 435 voices said no. At this time we had got to
JOHN  PRE . The next DANNER then tried to write "S" but was blocked by the
policeman. The crowd was booing. The policeman asked if we could wait until he
talked to his boss. We told him he had 1 minute. The whole crowd started
counting down from 60 by the time we got to 29 the "boss" had arrived and
DANNERS despite warnings had got to PRESCOTT. We told the police that we were
determined to do this and in the end they conceded. We finished the last word
"SEGREGATOR" to tumultuous cheers from the students. Then we announced  that
we were going to peacefully march back to the bus about 20 yards away. Like a
scene from Malcolm X the crowd turned and in a disciplined manner went back to
the bus. By the way this was all on TV.
	From this moment we knew that we had not only the support of the students but
also the support of the people of Hull. That afternoon we turned our energy
into mobilizing that support for the freedom march on Wednesday. Tutors from
the college brought their classes down to talk to us and Professor Hutt went
in to give a lecture.
	At 6PM 6 DANNERS got out of their chairs and crawled up John Prescott's
gravel path to deliver the message from the people of Hull. Meanwhile back at
the bus and in the City posters were going up inviting the public to show
their support and join our freedom march. Leaflets were printed and
distributed all over town. That night at the bus even more DANNERS braved the
cold.

Wednesday
	The morning consisted of leafletting the town and recuperation from the last
2 days. We cleaned up the bus and took down our beautiful tent. We also got
news that the Mayor of Hull was going to march with us and that the council
had issued a statement that they would set up a transport forum among the
council, the disabled people and the bus operators, immediately. We also had a
statement from one of the big bus companies that admitted that their new "low
floor, one step" buses were inaccessible and they would not buy any more. Even
John Prescott's office had began issuing statements, but not the one we
wanted. But he knew!
	By 12:30 35 DANNERS were joined by about 100 members of the public (mostly
students). We had insisted and the police had agreed that we would only march
in the streets. The mile march took us through town and took 2 hours (with a
few rests). The only thing that didn't stop was the chanting which was
brilliant.  Finally we arrived at the hotel, ordered coffee and tea and
thanked everybody for their commitment and support.
	Later that night, a small group of DANNERS went back to the Wilberforce
Monument and chalked our message "Wilberforce Liberator, John Prescott
Segregator" back on the statue. In the moonlight I'm sure I saw Wilberforce
smile.
	This was DAN's finest hour, the best, the most inspiring most innovative
action we have ever done.
	Thank you to the people of Hull.
	I would like to end by saying the 35 that were there are the heart of our
movement. They went on a seemingly lost cause and won. They stayed in the cold
and rain and put their bodies on the line so that one day we will all ride the
bus. And We Will Ride!

Rail Accessibility
	Trains and trams entering service after December, 31 1998 will be fully
accessible to disabled people under plans set out by
Transport Minister, Glenda Jackson.
	In a consultation document, the Government is seeking views on proposed
regulations to ensure that the rail industry meets the needs of those with
limited mobility under the provisions of the Disability Discrimination Act.
	Commenting, Ms Jackson said: "The Government is committed to comprehensive,
enforceable civil rights for disabled people. Accessible public transport,
within the framework of an integrated transport policy, is fundamentally
important to delivering that commitment.
	"These regulations, which will require wheelchair access and other facilities
to meet the needs of disabled people on all new trains and trams, will make a
significant contribution towards improving access to public transport for
those with limited mobility."

Direct Action from Norway
Nonviolent civil disobedience is spreading as a tactic to gain disabled
people's rights. NADY, the Norweigian Association of Disabled Youth invited
Alan Holdsworth, AKA Johnny Crescendo  over to talk about activism in the UK
and US.
	Since 1996 people largely from NADY have been out on the streets fighting on
the issues of civil rights (occupying the Conservative party headquarters),
and accessible public transport. They have been holding
up trains and trams, even pouring liquid cement on the track once the
handcuffs are on (now there's an idea!) The cops have been their usual kind,
patronizing selves, but some members have been fined. 
	All in all they have done 6 actions to date in Oslo, Asker and Trondheim with
as little as 3 on up to 20 people taking part.
	It was really great to see the seeds of protest begining to grow. Hopefully
we can arrange more exchanges of people and ideas in the future.

Support the work of ADAPT! Become Inciteful!
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