ADAPT in Washington

For Immediate Release May 1, 2008

For information contact:
Bob Kafka 512-431-4085
Marsha Katz 406-544-9504
http://www.adapt.org


Disability Rights Advocates Challenge McCain and Republicans on Lack of
Support for Community Choice Act: McCain's Office Responds by Arresting
Over 40


Washington, D.C.--- ADAPT took over the offices of Sen. John McCain and
the Republican National Committee Tuesday, demanding support for the
Community Choice Act (S799, HR1621) from the only presidential candidate
who has thus far not signed on as a co-sponsor. What they got for their
efforts were arrests, excuses, and statements about how the National
Republican Committee doesn't have the power to call its own presidential
candidate to ask for a meeting.


"I don't get it," said Cassie James, an Organizer with ADAPT of
Pennsylvania, "Sen. McCain's website says 'There is no cause greater
than protection of human dignity.' We were at his office asking him to
partner with us to protect OUR human dignity by supporting legislation
that allows all older and disabled Americans to live in their own homes
instead of being forced into nursing homes where all dignity and personal
privacy are lost. This is not rocket science; it's basic human and civil
rights!"


About 250 ADAPT activists filled Sen. McCain's office in the Russell
Senate Building and the halls just outside the office. 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, who was
trapped inside the RNC building for nine hours and not allowed to use a
bathroom. "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."

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.
The 500 ADAPT activists in Washington this week from nearly every state in
the union represent thousands more ADAPT members back home who don't have
the ability travel to the nation's capitol, a very expensive destination,
to make their voices heard. And those thousands of ADAPT members
nationally are only the tip of the disability voting bloc nationally, a
voting bloc that is currently feeling disrespected and ignored by Sen.
McCain and the Republican Party.

# # #
FOR MORE INFORMATION on ADAPT visit our website at http://www.adapt.org/

ADAPTStorms HHS


*Our man Teddy is holding the big yellow/white umbrella. -s



500 ADAPT disability activists from the county surround the US Department of Health & Human Services in the pouring rain. They demonstrate in support of the thousands of people with disabilities and older Americans who continue to be unnecessarily forced into and kept in nursing homes and other institutions because of the inaction and development of barrier-ridden regulations by HHS and the Bush Administration.

Keep up to date on what is happening: http://www.disabled-soapbox.org

Photo: Under yellow & white umbrella is Teddy Fitzmaurice. 7873 Woodingham, West Bloomfield, MI
--
Susan Fitzmaurice

Disabled Soapbox - everything I do under 1 roof!
http://www.disabled-soapbox.org

Teddy's Ts - Messages of Empowerment
http://www.teddyfitzm.info

CCA hearing set

The House Hearing for the Community Choice Act has been set!

The hearing on CCA and other long term care issues will be held on
Wednesday, January 16, 2008 at 10 am.
The hearing will held by the Health Subcommittee of the House Energy and
Commerce committee. we still don't have the details on what room but we will
let
you know when we get them.

We want a BIG turnout, like we had for the Senate hearing. If you have a
orange shirt, wear it because it showed up very well not only in the hearing
room, but on the internet as well!

This hearing will keep the momentum going for passage of CCA and reform of
the long term services and supports system.

Let's keep pushing MFP and getting it implemented in the states, BUT let's
also focus on passage of CCA! This hearing is the next step.

AMA adopts new policies on disabled patient care

AMA supports reforms for disabled patients: The AMA passed new policy supporting Medicaid reforms that would provide disabled patients with equal access to home and community-based services so that they can live as independently as possible. The AMA supports passage of congressional legislation, the Community Choice Act of 2007, that would achieve these goals. This policy was recommended to the AMA by the American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and the American Association of Neuromuscular and Electrodiagnostic Medicine.

“People with disabilities who rely on Medicaid should not have to choose between the important care they need and the ability to live independently,” said AMA Board Member Rebecca J. Patchin, MD. “We support Medicaid reforms so that disabled patients, together with their physicians, can decide where the best place is to receive medical care and support based on patients’ individual needs.”

AMA Adopts New Policies On Disabled Patient Care

AMA supports reforms for disabled patients: The AMA passed new policy supporting Medicaid reforms that would provide disabled patients with equal access to home and community-based services so that they can live as independently as possible. The AMA supports passage of congressional legislation, the Community Choice Act of 2007, that would achieve these goals. This policy was recommended to the AMA by the American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and the American Association of Neuromuscular and Electrodiagnostic Medicine.

"People with disabilities who rely on Medicaid should not have to choose between the important care they need and the ability to live independently," said AMA Board Member Rebecca J. Patchin, MD. "We support Medicaid reforms so that disabled patients, together with their physicians, can decide where the best place is to receive medical care and support based on patients' individual needs."