FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE   Who: National ADAPT When: Thursday, September 28th, 2023 What: National ADAPT calls on HHS Secretary Becerra to End Institutional Bias Where: United States Department of Health and Human Services                200 Independence Avenue, S.W. Washington, D.C. 20201   National ADAPT has tried effortlessly to work with the Center for Medicaid and Medicare and the Administration on Community Living regarding our issues with making sure all states are held accountable for ending the institutional bias. Some of these issues are how states allocate money for Home and Community Based Services. The attendant workforce needs network adequacy to begin getting a hold on retention of the attendant workforce. Attendants also need wages that will allow them to have health care and other benefits. Finally, to hold states accountable for the lack of oversight with guardianships. Again, National ADAPT calls on the Health and Human Services Secretary, Xavier Beccera, to come out and meet with us now.    We are asking the public to call HHS and request the secretary come out and meet with National ADAPT Toll Free number: 1-877-696-6775 Comment line for office of Secretary 202.205.5445 Correspondence offiice for office of Secretary 202.690.6392 Scheduling office for office of Secretary  202.690.6610 For more information, please contact:   Latoya Maddox, lmaddox83@gmail.com, Phone# 267.809.2454 Cathy Cranston, flacacata@aol.com, Phone# 512.650.6543

What:   National ADAPT calls on Kate Granger, chair of the Appropriations Committee, and Congress to immediately provide the necessary funding for  affordable, accessible, integrated housing

When: Wednesday, September 27, 2023, 12PM

Where: Rayburn House Office Building,
45 Independence Avenue SW,
Washington, DC 20515

Contact:
Pam Auer, pauer41@gmail.com , Phone# 717.418.0419
Gina Barbara, ginambarbara@gmail.com , Phone# 516.318.9460


ADAPT Demands Congress to “Protect Traditional American Values”                         
                        
ADAPT has been engaged in the struggle to end the institutional bias for over 40 years.  People with disabilities and Older Americans continue to wait for home and community-based services, continue to wait for an adequate Community Attendant Workforce that is paid a living wage, and continue to wait for accessible affordable integrated housing, so they don’t have to be institutionalized.  While Congress chooses to squabble over the budget or decides to fund our services at the same level as 2023, more people with disabilities and Older Americans go without services, are becoming institutionalized, and dying.
 
ADAPT demands Congresswoman Kay Granger, Chair of the House Appropriations Committee and Congress commit and create the following: 
 

1. A mandatory, fully funded, home and community services and supports program that is available in the US and Territories, that serves people without regard to age, diagnosis or type of disability that permanently eliminates waiting lists and that is available in urban and rural settings. 

1. A “Housing Moonshot” that develops, rehabilitates, and weatherizes housing that is affordable, accessible, integrated and weather hardened, that eliminates housing waiting lists and creates a human right to housing in the US and Territories in urban and rural settings. 

1. A home and community-based services and supports workforce that is paid a living wage with benefits and that has training available establishing adequate networks of workers available in the US and Territories in urban and rural settings. 

 
With this increase in funding, existing programs will be enhanced and more people with disabilities will be able to receive services. It is time for Congress to keep its promise to ADAPT and all Americans – that they will truly invest in the long-term services and supports infrastructure!
 
National ADAPT Community

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                         June 25, 2024
ADAPT
Contact:   Nicky Boyte                                                                                  
Tel: (910) 357-1292
Email: bellbusters@gmail.com

The Olmstead Decision established the constitutional right of all people to live in the least restrictive setting of their choosing and recognized that forcing people to live in nursing homes, institutions, and congregate living is a form of discriminatory segregation. Currently, there are 427 Nursing Facilities in North Carolina, with 36,148 residents waiting to transition into the community. This is unacceptable and unconstitutional. NATIONAL ADAPT demands immediate action to reconcile and resolve this ongoing violation of constitutional rights for people living in institutional settings.
Individuals not living in institutions regularly encounter monumental barriers to obtaining and maintaining affordable and accessible housing. In North Carolina, there are over 7,000 people on the waiting list to receive home and community-based services, and the wait list for rental assistance and Section 8 housing is 4-7 years. This is unacceptable.

National ADAPT demands:
1. Immediate investment in more permanent, affordable, accessible integrated housing!
2. Expansion of the availability of housing Vouchers for Disabled people transitioning from institutions to realize the promise of Olmstead and more accessible and visible information on how to access programs for housing vouchers and community-based services in all public human health service programs and materials.
3. Immediate investment from the State to allocate more money to fund housing and increased assistance for Disabled people applying for federal programs.

ADAPT is a national grass-roots community that organizes disability rights activists to engage in nonviolent direct action, including civil disobedience, to assure the civil and human rights of people with disabilities to live in freedom.
 
                                                                           ***

                                            
 

June 24, 2024

CONTACT: Nicky Boyte

bellbusters@gmail.com
(910) 357-1292

PRESS RELEASE

National ADAPT Calls on North Carolina HHS Secretary Kody Kinsley to Uphold the Olmstead Decision.

National ADAPT demands a meeting with Kody Kinsley, HHS Secretary of the NC Department of Health and Human Services, to discuss issues with Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS), in order to improve and provide HCBS to all NC citizens with disabilities to live independently in the community. This demand falls just after the 25th anniversary of the Olmstead Decision, a landmark ruling in which individuals with disabilities are guaranteed the right to live in the most integrated setting possible.

WHAT:  On Monday, June 24th, National ADAPT will be protesting to demand a meeting with Kody Kinsley, HHS Secretary of the NC Department of Health and Human Services, to discuss issues with Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS), in order to improve and provide HCBS to all NC citizens with disabilities to live independently in the community.

The demand to meet will address a multitude of issues and ensure ongoing accountability of North Carolina’s HHS office by implementing an equitable HCBS system for individuals with disabilities. People with disabilities cannot rely on churches, family, or other unpaid networks alone any longer. Additional state funding must be appropriated for people with disabilities to live integrated lives in the community. This includes a strong, well-paid community attendant workforce.

In addition, the policy for evaluating community attendant hours must be amended, to be based on an individual’s functional need, rather than their diagnosis. North Carolinians with disabilities have many barriers which prevent them from living independently in the community. They include, but are not limited to, a lack of durable medical equipment, a lack of home modifications, and HCBS funding being inequitably distributed between disability groups.

Media are encouraged to attend the protest and hear from constituents about the HCBS crisis in North Carolina.

WHERE: NC Department of Health and Human Services,  101 Blair Dr, Raleigh, NC 27603

WHEN:     Wednesday, June 24th, 2024
11:30am

ABOUT ADAPT:
ADAPT is a national grass-roots community that organizes disability rights activists to engage in nonviolent direct action, including civil disobedience, to assure the civil and human rights of people with disabilities to live in freedom. Learn more about ADAPT by visiting www.nationaladapt.org and by following us on social media at https://linktr.ee/adaptnational

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For Immediate Release

Who:  National ADAPT

What:  Demonstration to demand that Secretary Marcia Fudge from HUD  invest in people with disabilities

When: Tuesday September 26, 2023 (Happening Now)

Where: 451 7th Street, S.W., Washington, DC 20410

For More information:

Latoya Maddox, lmaddox83@gmail.com  Phone# 267.809.2454

Chris Murphy,  cjohnmurph@gmail.com  Phone# 507.340.3889

The disabled community has paid the price before and during COVID.  We have been locked away in institutions because of lack of affordable and accessible housing and have died at an extremely high rate while waiting to transition to affordable accessible housing.

In any funding going to housing we want to double the requirement under Section 504 to have 10% of housing units built as mobility-disability accessible and 4% as sensory-disability accessible.

Create permanent funding for a Barrier Elimination for accessibility modifications for people transitioning out of facilities and those at risk of going into facilities (i.e., nursing facilities).

Make Housing Choice vouchers an entitlement for all who need housing.

Continue to issue Mainstream vouchers for disabled people to transition out of facilities or at risk of going into a facility (i.e., nursing facilities).  HUD will track these vouchers.

Enact or include the Eleanor Smith Inclusive Home Design Act, this would allow for any new housing built to have one entrance to the house with no steps and a half a bathroom on the first floor, just large enough for someone in a wheelchair or other mobility device to use. This would allow for more  integration and interaction of people with disabilities into their communities.

WHAT:   Demonstration Exposing Broken Promises by the Biden Administration regarding Americans with Disabilities and their rights to community living.

WHO: National ADAPT

WHEN: Friday, May 12, 2023, 11am

WHERE: In front of White House, Washington D.C.

National ADAPT, a national grass-roots community that organizes disability rights activists to engage in nonviolent direct action, including civil disobedience, to assure the civil and human rights of people with disabilities to live in freedom for over forty years.

National ADAPT DEMANDS that President Biden follow through on his campaign promises to address the needs of people with disabilities for services and supports to live in and prosper the community!  National ADAPT is demanding to meet with President Biden to present him with a real list of what people with disabilities of all ages need:

1.    End the Institutional Bias by fully funding Home and Community Based Services as a right equivalent to institutional placement

2.    Invest and increase access to Affordable, Accessible, Integrated HOUSING

3.    Cease federal funding of Guardianships. Fund the prevention and restoration of rights under wrongful Guardianships.

4.    Medicaid and state funded Community Attendant Workforce’s / Direct Support

5.    Professional’s wage to be paid based on the Consumer Price Index

6.    Implement a 14 day timeframe for Medicaid/ Medicare Durable Medical Equipment maintenance, repairs, and immediate equivalent backup equipment.

President Biden met with ADAPT 20 years ago, in Wilmington DE., when we were marching from Philadelphia PA to Washington DC. We Voted, Marched, and Demonstrated, so that we could get legislation to keep people in the community and not in institutions! Here we are, 20 years later and we are STILL fighting for our RIGHT to live in the community,

National ADAPT urges President Biden to NOT LET US DOWN, NOW!

Meeting with us today, shows the world that he is following through on his promise and commitment to address the needs of People with disabilities for services and supports to live in and prosper the community!            Free Our People!!!

Media Contact:

Name: Chris Murphy Phone:(507)340-3889

Name: Brandon Heinrich Phone: (631)834-7598

E-mail: adaptnational@gmail.com

Follow us on social media: https://linktr.ee/adaptnational

Contact Name  Chris Murphy

Contact Phone (507)340-3889

Number Address for the Event: Outside U.S. Capitol, Washington, D.C.

MEDIA ADVISORY

National ADAPT Confronts Republican Party’s Proposed Cuts to Medicaid and Housing

WHAT: National ADAPT Protests Republican’s proposed Cuts to Medicaid and Housing

WHO: The disability activist organization, National ADAPT

WHEN: Happening NOW

WHERE: Outside U.S. Capitol, Washington, D.C.

WHY: The Republicans proposed cuts to Medicaid and Housing will affect the lives of millions of people with disabilities around the country.  Currently it is very difficult for people with disabilities to be able to obtain home and community-based services.  Cuts to Medicaid will make it impossible for people to remain in the community and will be forced into unwanted more costly institutionalization.  National ADAPT DEMANS that Mitch McConell, Kevin McCarthy, and others in the Republican party STOP PLAYING POLITICS WITH OUT LIVES.

HOW:  For interviews or additional information please contact:

Chris Murphy, (507)340-3889

Brandon Heinrich, (631)834-7598

Follow us on social media:  https://linktr.ee/adaptnational

For National ADAPT’s Housing Platform: https://nationaladapt.org/housing/

Press Advisory For Immediate Release

For information contact: 

Rhoda Gibson, 617-504-1792 rhodagibson2@gmail.com 

Jennifer McPhail, 512-627-5869 jennifer.adapt@sbcglobal.net
ADAPTNational@gmail.com

Who: National ADAPT 

What: Confronting Senators blocking passage of the Build Back Better social infrastructure bill
Where: In front of the Russell Senate Office BuildingWashington DC 20510 

When: Happening TODAY, Wednesday December 8, 2021, 12 PM 

Why: To demand the Senate pass the Build Back Better social infrastructure bill, and support full funding of Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS), which keeps people out of institutions. HCBS funding also provides living wages for the attendants who provide essential, often intimate care for older and disabled people. ADAPT is also demanding that senators support funding for affordable, accessible, integrated housing, because you can’t have HCBS without the “H.”

NationalADAPT.org @RealNatlADAPT on Twitter & Instagram, ADAPT National on Facebook and TikTok, National ADAPT on YouTubeADAPTnational@gmail.com#DisabledNotDisposable #CareCantWait #BetterCareBetterJobs #HoUSed #ADAPTandSurvive #TheGrandmasAreComing #BuildBackBetter

For Immediate Release                                                          September 20, 2022              

Contact:

Rhoda Gibson, rhodagibson2@gmail.com, (617)504-1792

Colleen Flannigan, colleen1979@gmail.com, (617) 435-0486

Gina Barabra, ginambarbara@gmail.com, (516)318-9460,

National ADAPT Demands Biden Administration Prioritizes Community Living for People with Disabilities

Who:  National ADAPT

What: Demonstration and Street Theatre exposing the need for expansion of Home and Community Based Services

When: HAPPENING NOW!

Where: In front of White House, Washington, D.C.

National ADAPT is peacefully protesting outside of the White House in Washington, D.C. as we  continue fighting for the civil and human rights of disabled people.  For 30 years ADAPT  has been demanding Congress recognize our right to live in integrated housing, we have been fighting for an increase in funding to expand and make permanent, the Money Follows the Person (MFP) demonstration project, which provides funding for home and community-based services (HCBS), and livable wages for our personal care attendants. 

32 years after the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act the freedom of people with disabilities continues to be denied.  People with disabilities continue to be forced to beg for the freedom that others take for granted.  People with disabilities still don’t have the right to get care in their own homes.  Public access is not a right that people with disabilities are allowed to fully enjoy. 

ADAPT is at the White House  in D.C. to peacefully yet assertively DEMAND that the Biden Administration stop ignoring us and TAKE ACTION NOW to FINALLY Free Our People. 

ADAPT Demands The Biden Administration immediately pass a bill that includes and prioritize funding for HCBS, increased wages for Community Attendants, and accessible housing for people with disabilities

ADAPT has been urging the Biden Administration to act on these critical issues since this Administration took office.  We have asked previous Administrations to do the right thing and while we have made strides, our people are STILL not free.  For over 30 years, National ADAPT has been fighting to end the institutional bias to FINALLY free our people from nursing homes and other institutions . 

Home and community-based services enable people with disabilities to live in their own homes instead of an institution. ADAPT demand that the Biden Administration pass a bill that includes funding for the following items:

1. Expansion of HCBS under Medicaid, Medicare, and the Affordable Care Act as a required service in all states (rather than a waiver-based program) to increase access, quality, and uniformity nationwide.

2. Increase payment rates for attendant care workers in a manner that will guarantee a “living wage” and benefits

3. Expand affordable, accessible, integrated housing development and rent subsidy programs targeting low- and moderate-income people with disabilities, especially people who receive HCBS services.

4. Expand access to accessible home modifications programs so people can leave or avoid institutional settings, thus saving millions of health care dollars.

5.  Immediately stop disparaging money into nursing homes and other institutions and fully fund Home and Community Based Services

6.  President Biden should meet with ADAPT and work on FINALLY ending the Institutional Bias

With this increase in funding, existing programs will be enhanced. It is time for the Biden Administration to keep its promise to ADAPT and all Americans – that they will truly invest in long-term care infrastructure!

@RealNatlADAPT will continue #FightingForOurLives because we are #DisabledNotDisposable and we want to live in #OurHomesNotNursingHomes

For more social media contact info: linktr.ee/adaptnational 

Who:  National ADAPT What:  Demonstration to demand that AHCA prioritizes Olmstead When: Tuesday, May 10th starting at 1PM Where:  AHCA, 1201 L Street N.W., Washington D.C., 20005 For more information:  Nina Bakoyiannis   646-709-2510   ninabakoyiannis@lhalvorson Misty Dion   570-367-6269   misty.m.dion@gmail.com    www.nationaladapt.org

Washington, D.C.-  National ADAPT, the nation’s largest grassroots disability rights activist organization, urges ACHA to hold themselves accountable for their role in promoting the institutional bias by being the largest lobbying organization for nursing homes and other institutions. As oppose to congregate settings, home and community based services enable people with disabilities to live in their own homes instead of an institution, which is exponentially more expensive for a lesser quality of care, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.  National ADAPT demands that AHCA:  Publicly supports funding for Home and Community Based Services to ensure that people with disabilities have true choice to live in the community. Without equitable funding, there is no true choice.  Create more appropriate regulations for members of ACHA to ensure that they are not exploiting their residents. They must use their resources in the best interests of the residents, not for financial gain. Acknowledge that nursing homes and other congregate settings are deadly. We see this most profoundly in the fact that 23% of all Covid-19 deaths have occurred in long-term care facilities, which translates to 201,000 individuals. If home and community based services had been prioritized, this would not have occurred. Truly adhere to Olmstead. They must make sure that their residents who want to leave the facility have the opportunity to do so with the necessary support. In order to do this, you must allow the transition specialists/CILs to have access to their residents.  Establish an ongoing communication with ADAPT. We request an initial meeting with CEO Mark Parkinson  Danny Saenz, activist from ADAPT of Texas, speaks of the loss of freedom when experiencing institutionalization. He says, “When you’re in a nursing home they tell when or if you get a shower.  You ask for permission if you want to go out. And have to be back by a certain time.” We must end the institutional bias that keeps people with disabilities at a disadvantage from accessing community services. It is time for ACHA to acknowledge the harm that they perpetuate by advocating for the entitlement for nursing homes.           ###

About ADAPTADAPT is a national grass-roots community that organizes disability rights activists to engage in nonviolent direct action, including civil disobedience, to assure the civil and human rights of people with disabilities to live in freedom.