> FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE For more information, contact:
> November 2, 1998 Jennifer Burnett, 610-781-4091 (cell phone)
> 703-418-6800, Rm 724 (hotel)
>
> DISABLED SHUT DOWN NATIONAL PARTY HQS AT LUNCHTIME
>
> WASHINGTON, D.C.-More than 700 members of ADAPT, the national disability
> rights organization, are shutting down the headquarters of the Democratic
> and Republican parties the day before Americans vote in midterm elections
> to send the message that they want a choice in where they live.
>
> "Enough excuses, no more pilot projects," said Stephanie Thomas, an ADAPT
> national organizer and member of the group's Texas chapter. "We will no
> longer tolerate the segregation forcing us into nursing homes and other
> institutions." The Democrats are at 430 South Capitol St., S.W. and the
> Republican are at 310 First St., S.E. The action takes place at lunchtime
> today.
>
> They are demanding both parties develop a party plank in cooperation with
> ADAPT that one: the party recognize that the current Medicaid "long-term
> care" system is institutionally biased and that home- and community-based
> services should be the first priority and two: that both parties embrace
> the mandate in the Americans with Disabilities Act that services be
> provided in "the most integrated setting"-which means home and
> community-based care. They also want the parties to support legislation
> allowing people to choose where and how long-term services and supports
> are delivered.
>
> In order to address these demands, the group wants time for 15 ADAPT
> representatives to address the parties' platform committees, and schedule
> one representative to address delegates at the parties' respective
> presidential conventions.
>
> Just as civil rights advocates once demanded political candidates heed
> their issues, disability rights advocates now want their opportunity to
> live in freedom-freedom from nursing homes and the ability to choose where
> they wish to live.
>
> The action is the first in a four-day series of protests at which disabled
> Americans will take action and get arrested as part of ADAPT's Campaign
> for REAL Choice. The campaign is about getting a national system of home-
> and community-based attendant services. That means help with things like
> eating, dressing, and transferring in homes they rent or own.
>
> Despite the ADA's "most integrated setting" mandate, 80 percent of all
> Medicaid long-term care dollars goes to institutional care while a mere 20
> percent support people living in the community. Medicaid currently is
> spending $45 billion a year to literally warehouse 2 million Americans.
> Many of them do not need medical care in particular but rather require
> attendant services, such as transport from bed to wheelchair, eating,
> dressing, and toileting.
>
> Under federal Medicaid policy, nursing homes are a mandated service and
> attendant care is not. Many states have found that community-based
> attendant care is less expensive than institutional care. Oregon, which
> has aggressively sought waivers from Medicaid to de-institutionalize its
> disabled citizens since 1982, found they could serve three people in the
> community for every one in a nursing home.
>
> Now more than 5,000 strong nationally, ADAPT has chapters in more than 32
> cities and 27 states and is growing daily. ADAPT, which played an
> instrumental grassroots role in pushing through the Americans with
> Disabilities Act, is fighting to change a climate that favors nursing
> homes over people.
> -------------------------------------------------------------------------
> Bill Coffelt, President
> The Oaks Group
> http://www.jps.net/wcoffelt/oaks.html
>
> a public entity shall administer services, programs, and activities in the
> most integrated setting appropriate to the needs of qualified individuals
> with disabilities." 28 C.F.R. § 35.130(d).