Author: Josue Rodriguez

For Immediate Release:  May 10th, 2023

Who:  National ADAPT

What:  Demonstration to demand that the Administration for Community Living Stop Funding Guardianship Systems that Institutionalize People with Disabilities 

When: Wednesday, May 10th 1pm

Where:  Administration for Community Living,  330 C St SW,  

                                                                                                 Washington, DC 20201

For More information: 

Misty Dion                         570 367 6269                     mdion@cilncp.org                                    

Latoya Maddox                267 815 8688                     lmaddox83@gmail.com          

National ADAPT Social Media:  LinkTree: https://linktr.ee/adaptnational 

National ADAPT Demands that Administration for Community Living (ACL) Immediately Stop Funding Guardianship Systems that Institutionalize People with Disabilities and Prioritize People With Disabilities 

Washington, D.C.-  The disabled community has paid the price  of guardianships.  National ADAPT Demands that the Administration for Community Living (ACL) Stop Funding Guardianship Systems that Institutionalize People with Disabilities.

National ADAPT strongly opposes the use of guardianship as a tool for institutionalization and  for infringing on the rights of people with disabilities.  Upholding the mission of independent living (IL), we call for the end to all systems of oppression that segregate and incarcerate our people. Guardianship, by diminishing our self-determination, dignity, and community participation, is wholly incompatible with the IL philosophy.

Contrary to the Olmstead decision and its own IL principles, ACL continues to fund agencies that wrongly pursue guardianships through profit-taking schemes and unethical relationships with peer agencies and the legal profession.  These guardianships force people into long-term care facilities and other institutions where they lose access to less restrictive alternatives and community supports.  We demand ACL stop funding these entities and to explicitly oppose unwarranted guardianships.  National ADAPT further calls on ACL to ensure that anyone subjected to guardianship, whether institutionalized or not, will have full access to federally mandated Centers for Independent Living (CIL) services and the unimpeded opportunity to enjoy less restrictive alternatives. 

On the 40th Anniversary of National ADAPT,  National ADAPT, the nation’s largest grassroots disability rights activist organization, has been urging ACL to act on these critical issues.  These programs enable people to live outside institutions and in freedom in their communities. National ADAPT calls for a meeting with ACL w/in 30 days of this Action to ensure that the voices of countless Americans with disabilities and aging adults under, or at risk of unnecessary guardianship are heard.  

ADAPT Demands ACL:

1. Immediately audit the use of ACL funds in states to identify financial support going to guardianship programs that do not adhere to the spirit and letter of the Americans with Disabilities Act and Olmstead decision.

2. Immediately cease funding to Area Agency on Aging (AAA)  that operate conflicting, dual roles as guardians, Adult Protective Services (APS) or ombudsmen; and direct those funds to a collaborative partnership between a CIL and a Protection and Advocacy System (P&A) with an emphasis on the mitigation and restoration of unnecessary loss of rights for those at risk and under needless guardianship.

3. Within 45 days of this Action issue federal guidelines and directives to the Administration On Aging (AOA), its funded state aging programs & AAAs that clearly affirm the federally mandated role of the Office of Independent Living Programs (OILP), its CILs, Supportive Independent Living Centers (SILC) and Protection & Advocacy agencies to advance the community integration of people with disabilities, including providing for the least restrictive supports and services in the settings of their choice. Reaffirming the most integrated settings mandate of Olmstead.

4. Immediately institute strict parameters on ACL funding to states, requiring transparency, accountability, reporting and adherence to the Administration’s underlying mission. This is imperative for accountability on all systems involving guardianship.

 5. Immediately apply penalties to states using ACL funds that violate the civil and human rights to self-determination and due process of people with disabilities through abusive guardianship practices.

National ADAPT calls on ACL to uphold its commitment to IL and include those with lived experiences in assessing support for agencies that establish or promote the use of guardianships. As outlined in Senators Bob Casey and Mike Braun’s proposed Guardianship Bill of Rights, work with the Secretary of Health and Human Services to develop procedures that will offer real protections to our community and finally stop the abuse and exploitation of our people. 

Free Our People Now!

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 For Immediate Release:                                                                       May 10th, 2023

Who:  National ADAPT

What:  Demonstration  Demanding Secretary Becerra and HHS work with ADAPT to end the Institutional Bias

When: Wednesday, May 10th 10am

Where:  The Hubert H. Humphrey Building, 200 Independence Avenue S.W.
                    Washington, D.C., 20201

For More information: 

Misty Dion                         570 367 6269                     mdion@cilncp.org                                    

Latoya Maddox                267 815 8688                     lmaddox83@gmail.com          

National ADAPT Social Media:  LinkTree: https://linktr.ee/adaptnational 

National ADAPT Demands that Secretary Xavier Becerra and HHS work with ADAPT towards Ending the Institutional Bias  

National ADAPT has attempted for over a year to get the Center for Medicare and Medicaid to push policies down to the states that will help with Ending the Institutional Bias for our brothers and sisters with disabilities to remain as independent and free from barriers while living in the community.

National ADAPT is protesting today to  Demand Secretary Xavier Becerra and HHS work with ADAPT towards Ending the Institutional Bias.

ADAPT Demands: 

1.   A meeting with Secretary Xavier Becerra

2.   Community Attendants be paid a living wage with healthcare plans and benefits.

3.   Secretary Becerra directs CMS to create network adequacy standards for all HCBS that provides under the Managed Care Long Term Services and Supports system.

4.    Secretary Becerra appoints one of our members to the IL Specialist seat on the Guardianship Council outlined in Casey’s Federal Bill of Rights.

5.  ADAPT Demands: that HHS puts a policy in place for emergency durable medical equipment repairs[1] [2] 

---

DME: Timelines and penalties for the enforcement

and attendant workforce coverage if the attendant has & emergency, we demand HHS has a policy in place to cover these needs in a manner equivalent to consumers’ physical emergencies.

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For Immediate Release: May 9th, 2023

Who:  National ADAPT

What:  Demonstration to demand  Speaker McCarthy invest in people with disabilities 

When: HAPPENING NOW

Where:  Rayburn Building, Washington, D.C.

For More information: 

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

Pam Auer, (717)418-0419, pauer@cilcp.org

    www.nationaladapt.org 

National ADAPT Demands that HUD Immediately Include and Prioritize Funding for Accessible Affordable Housing for People With Disabilities 

Washington, D.C.-  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. On the 40th Anniversary of National ADAPT,  National ADAPT, the nation’s largest grassroots disability rights activist organization, has been urging HUD to act on these critical issues.  These programs enable people to live outside institutions and in freedom in their communities. National ADAPT calls on Speaker Kevin McCarthy to do the following: 

1-Funding going to housing must be doubled, that is the requirement under Section 504 for housing units to be built as mobility-disability accessible needs to be increased by 10% and as sensory-disability accessible needs to be increased by 4%.

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

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

4-Continue to issue Mainstream vouchers for disabled people to transition out of facilities and who are at risk of going into facilities (i.e. nursing facilities).  HUD will track these vouchers.

5-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 to use. This would allow for integration of disabled into their communities to visit others.

With this increase in funding, existing programs will be enhanced. It is time for Speaker McCarthy to keep his promise to National ADAPT and all Americans – that they will truly invest in accessible affordable housing.  We pay taxes and vote!

National ADAPT Demands that American Health Care Association (AHCA) prioritizes Olmstead

Who:  National ADAPTWhat:  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@gmail.com 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.

Photo Description: Recipe style format. White and blue snowflakes run across the top of the page. Along the right side of the page is a deer and various style leaves.

Image Text:

The Disability Community’s Recipe for Freedom

1. Pass Build Back Better

To prepare this you will need $150 billion for Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) sprinkled with $ 150 billion for Affordable, Accessible, Integrated, Housing.  Spread these ingredients throughout the community and allow to settle in.

2. Once these funds have been infused in the community; they are ready to be used to:

• Expand HCBS in Medicaid, Medicare and the Affordable Care Act throughout to increase access, quality, and uniformity nationwide.
• Increase payment rates in a manner that offers attendants a “living wage.”
• Expand affordable, accessible, integrated housing development and rent subsidy programs targeting low- and moderate-income people with disabilities, especially people who receive HCBS services.
• Expand access to accessible home modifications programs to enable people to leave or avoid institutional settings thus saving millions of health care dollars.
• And to ensure that your recipe is a success, make the program Money Follows the Person permanent.

This recipe will help more people be Home for The Holidays!

Season Greetings!

ADAPT

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 Building Washington 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 National ADAPT on YouTubeADAPTnational@gmail.com#DisabledNotDisposable #CareCantWait #BetterCareBetterJobs #HoUSed #ADAPTandSurvive #TheGrandmasAreComing #BuildBackBetter

National ADAPT applauds the framework for the provisions in the Build Back Better legislation that provides $ 150 billion for home and community-based service and includes $150 billion for affordable housing throughout the United States. We additionally appreciate working with Rep. Maxine Waters and her staff in adding the $2.5 Billion of the $150 billion for 811 funding specifically for the disability community.

The process has just begun for this framework to become law but members of ADAPT are committed to continuing to be the voice for all who have been forced into institutions because of lack of either home and community-based services or affordable housing. It is in this spirit, we look forward to working with the Biden Administration and Congress to pass this legislation and end the institutional bias by providing HCBS and affordable, accessible, integrated housing.

We call on all of our political leaders to support this framework in its entirety and Free Our People!

For Immediate Release
For information contact:
Mike Oxford: 785-224-3865
Rhoda Gibson: 617-504-1792
Jennifer McPhail: 512-627-5869
ADAPT Starts Daylong Vigil in DC Joins Disability, Aging, and Caregiver Coalition to Press for Passage of Build Back Better Social Infrastructure Bill
Washington, DC, October 6, 2021—ADAPT and 15 other disability, aging, and caregiver organizations are holding a daylong vigil on Capitol grounds starting tonight to impress upon Congress the crucial need for fully funded Home and Community-Based Services, and affordable, accessible housing. Funding these two programs would help prevent the over 200,000 largely preventable deaths that have occurred in nursing facilities so far during the COVID-19 pandemic.“We in ADAPT have been fighting over 30 years for the services and housing that would allow those of us who are disabled and aging to live in our own homes and communities with the services we need instead of being forced into nursing homes and other institutions,” said Latoya Maddox, Philadelphia ADAPT organizer. “Congress has so far failed to ensure our freedom, and as a result Congress is partly responsible for the horrific number of nursing home COVID deaths.”Organizations participating in the vigil include the ACLU, ADAPT, The Arc of the United States, Autistic Self Advocacy Network, AAPD, Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law, Be A Hero, Care Can’t Wait Coalition, Caring Across Generations, Little Lobbyists, Justice in Aging, National Council on Independent Living, National Domestic Workers Alliance, National Council on Aging, National Health Law Program, and SEIU. “We need home and community-based services to be a fully funded guarantee for older and disabled people, “ said Mike Oxford, ADAPT organizer in Kansas. “We need the caregivers who help us dress and bathe so we can work and go to school and volunteer to be paid a livable wage with benefits. And we need affordable, accessible housing so we have homes where we can receive the services that will help us live productive, contributing lives, and be included in our communities.” The vigil begins at 7pm tonight EDT. Coalition organizers invite all Republican senators along with Democratic Senators Manchin and Sinema to meet with vigil participants to learn how much their constituents need and support passage of the Build Back Better bill.

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

October 6, 2021
Press Advisory For Immediate Release

For information contact:
Lydia Nunez: 832-630-8419
Rhoda Gibson: 617-504-1792
Jennifer McPhail: 512-627-5869
ADAPTNational@gmail.com
Disability Activists Confront #BuildBackBetter Holdout Senators 
Who: National ADAPT
What: Confronting Democratic Senators blocking passage of the Build Back Better social infrastructure bill
Where: Outside Hart Senate Office Building at 120 Constitution Ave NE, Washington, DC 20002, Offices of Sen. Kyrsten Sinema and Sen. Joe Manchin
When: Happening Now, Wednesday, October 6, 2021
Why: To demand Sen. Sinema and Sen. Manchin stop blocking passage of 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 both senators support funding for affordable, accessible, integrated housing, because you can’t have HCBS without the “H.”
View our Demands here.

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