Category: 2018

By Azi Nas
Chicago ADAPT

Whenever Chicago ADAPT is having a hard time securing a meeting with the governor of Illinois, we know exactly what to do. We call in ADAPTers from other cities and they help us shut down the James Thompson Center, where the governor’s Chicago office is located.

In 1992, hundreds of ADAPTers blocked entrances, escalators and elevators at the Thompson Center and Chicago ADAPT secured a meeting with Governor Jim Edgar. The same thing happened in 2007 and Chicago ADAPT secured a meeting with Governor Rod Blagojevich.

And the same thing happened again today, April 11, 2017. ADAPTers from Wisconsin and Texas helped Chicago ADAPTers storm and again take over the Thompson Center. After a three-hour standoff, staff for Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner scheduled a meeting for Chicago ADAPT and Rauner for Friday April 14 at the state capitol in Springfield.

This is a huuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuge victory! Rauner took office more than two years ago and repeated attempts by Chicago ADAPT to to meet with him have failed. But today, as about 100 spirited members of ADAPT and SEIU occupied the first floor of the Thompson Center and held their ground, staffers for Rauner sent a message down asking for a meeting with ADAPT leaders. Ryan McGraw, Susan Aarup, Emmanuel Camargo and Mike Ervin we chosen to represent ADAPT. In the meeting, the cordial staffers said they were getting many complaints from building tenants and visitors about the protest. So the ADAPT representatives said everyone would happily leave the building in exchange for a meeting with Rauner. The staffers then offered the Friday appointment.

And the rest, as they say, is history. It was a beautiful illustration of the power of ADAPT. Rauner is a billionaire who made part of his fortune owning a chain of nursing homes. He loves projecting the image of a tough guy who won’t back down from his agenda. But when ADAPT shows up in force, even Rauner must yield.

The ADAPTers who meet with Rauner will tell them how much we cherish the Home Services Program, through which the state pays the wages of the assistants we hire to help us in our homes. We will tell him how disabled people get trapped in nursing homes and how difficult it is for them to get out. We will tell him how his agenda, which favors wealthy people like him above all, keeps disabled people locked up in institutions. We will present him with a list of demands.

What a great day! Free our people!

Thurs, 7/26/18 Philly ADAPT Housing Protest on Mayor

Last Thursday, on the anniversary of the ADA, at 10:30 in the morning, 25 members of Philly ADAPT stormed the back entrance of our City Hall and it took over – Business As Usual, Is Not Gonna Happen! At first the new city’s ADA coordinator, Daniel Lopez (some of you may recognize the name) came to try to appease, but we came to demand: Mayor Jim Kenney, any money coming into the City for housing, at least half need to go to people living at and below 30% AMI, which is around $33,000 a year, and below – which is most of our community living on SSI and SSDI, where people live on $9,000 – $15,000 a year. We came to see the Mayor and no one else, this administration has ignored our community since they came to power – We came to demand for Affordable, Accessible, Integrated Housing, and we weren’t going to leave without a commitment!

After two deputy mayors and a few staffers came to try to, “hear your (our) demands,” and “this is the first we ever hear about this,” we saw an opening an took over every door in sight! A few hours of back and forth with Mayor Kenney’s staffers and bump ups, including a city staffer flashing his phone’s light inches in one of our members face, Michelle McCanddless, who gets seizures, and violently jerking her powerchair out of the way as she was blocking the door to this guy’s working space (video link below), we took off, NOT! Philly ADAPT chanted, We’re ADAPT, We’ll Be Back! left and went around to the main entrance, squeezed by security without them noticing -go figure- and took over the four elevators and the stairway.

We chanted for 7 hours all together, Who Do We Want, Mayor Kenney, When Do We Want Him, NOW; and What Do We Want, HOUSING, When Do We Want It, NOW!

Philly ADAPT has been demanding for Affordable, Accessible, Integrated Housing for decades! And, now we have more than 88 thousand people on waiting lists in our city. Mayor Kenney never came to see us, even though in the street he’d shake our hands, and instead had his police arrest 11 of us. Germán Parodi was the first they arrested, and instead of directing him where to go, two tall cops just grabbed him out of his chair and carried him away, then held him up in the air for a while, until they figured out Germán kinda really DOES need his chair, so they brought it and put him back on it. Obviously, they did not know what they were doing at first, but they told the other 10 ADAPTers that they were under arrest and asked them to move toward the processing area one by one. Outside, the folks that had camped by the entrance of City Hall for three weeks demanding AbolishICE welcomed us out, cheering us on.
Mayor Kenney has now arrested Philly ADAPT for demanding Affordable, Accessible, Integrated Housing – stay tuned ADAPT, more arrests coming from our Chapter, or a commitment from the Mayor for Affordable, Accessible, Integrated Housing!

Pictures from the action
Video from the action

Throughout last week, 20 ADAPT Chapters across the nation demanded their FEMA regional administrators to send ADAPT’s open letter to FEMA Administrator Brock Long in DC.

The letter to Administrator Brock Long called-out FEMA for implementing the 2018-2022 Strategic Plan without real disability stakeholder input.

FEMA’s strategic plan needs to include input from, and reflect the experiences of, people who have lived through natural disasters, who have perspective on service delivery gaps following disasters, and who have ideas and initiatives for addressing such gaps. And frankly, able-bodied people cannot speak to our needs.

Nor is the current plan’s oversight in failing to include people with disabilities in the strategic plan something that can be fixed by holding “after-the-fact” meetings. CMS blanket waivers to expedite nursing institution placement is not the appropriate disaster relief for people with disabilities. Therefore, ADAPT demands that FEMA go back to the drawing board and restart the planning process with people with disabilities at the table during the formulation of the plan.

ADAPT Demands FEMA Commit to the following:

• CANCEL the FEMA meeting on November 8, 2018 for the 2018-2022 Strategic Plan that did not include input from people with disabilities in the creation of this plan that they are legally abided to.
• TRASH the plan that was created without Real stakeholder input and develop a new plan that includes all stakeholders in the planning, creation, and implementation.
• MEET with Us! ADAPT Demands a meeting with FEMA Administrator, and convenes DHS, HHS, DOJ Secretaries, and Red Cross Administrator.

Regional Reports:

Region I:
In Region I, Boston ADAPT traveled to their FEMA Regional Office in Boston, MA. to hand-deliver our open letter to Region I Administrator, Paul Ford. They were able to reach the 6th floor but were stopped by security immediately after exiting the elevator. Even though the four folks from Boston ADAPT were calm, cool, and collected the cops were on the scene the whole time. A staffer eventually came out and talked with them and took their printed letter for Brock Long inside the Region I office. Another staffer came out to talk to them, and assured Boston ADAPT that they will look into our demands and get back to them. Colleen Flanagan reports that no one from the office has gotten back to them on if Region I Administrator, Paul Ford received the letter or sent it to Brock Long as requested.

Region II:
Rochester ADAPT and NY Capitol Region ADAPT made phone calls and sent emails to their Region II Administrator, Thomas Von Essen. Neither Anita Cameron from Rochester ADAPT, nor Julie Farrar from NY Capitol Region ADAPT received any response from the Region II office.

Region III:
Philly ADAPT and Baltimore ADAPT, went to the Region III FEMA office in Philadelphia to demand the Region Administrator, MaryAnn Tierney send our open letter to Administrator Brock Long. Since MaryAnn was not in the office, Philly ADAPT met with the Region Director of External Affairs Dan Stonekind, the Region Branch Chief Steve Simpson, and the Region Disability Integration Specialist PJ Mattiacci – Mr. Stoneskin then sent our letter directly to Brock Long while we waited with DHS cops on the scene. Crosby King from Baltimore ADAPT said, “I was proud to take part in the very successful action directed by Philly ADAPT. The action was great! After a short march to the federal building, we stormed the lobby and demanded to see the FEMA regional administrator. If we don’t get our demands met, we’ll be back! And I’ll be there too.”

Philly ADAPT received a response within minutes from the Region III Administrator saying she would be glad to meet in the near future, and a response from Administrator Long’s Chief of Staff, Eric Heighberger confirming he received the letter. Lastly, our FEMA regional office agreed to schedule a meeting with us and the Region Administrator, including Region Directors from HHS, DHS, DOJ, HUD, and the American Red Cross.

DC Metro ADAPT went to the FEMA Headquarters in attempts to drop off the letter personally to Brock Long, but were stopped at the main entrance. They were able to get one of Brock Long’s staff to come down, so they could stress the importance of having real disability stakeholder input in the 2018-2022 Strategic Plan. The staffer was able to confirm with Laura Halvorson and Ruti Reagan that the Administrator was receiving ADAPTs demands, and had just received the letter from the Region III office in Philadelphia before meeting with DC Metro ADAPT.

Region IV:
Georgia ADAPT went to their Regional office in Atlanta, GA to take our demands to Region IV Administrator, Gracia Szczech; however, they were stopped by security and not allowed entrance into the building. Zan Thorton and Butch Brosman from Georgia ADAPT continued to call, email, and fax the office, but did not receive any response.
Carol Jones and Tara Booska from Florida ADAPT attempted to call and email the Region IV office as well, but had no luck in reaching or getting a response from Administrator Gracia Szczech or any regional staffers.

Region V:
Although members from Southeast Wisconsin ADAPT and Clark (Weasel) Goodrich from Grand Rapids ADAPT Michigan did not receive a response when trying to contact Region V Administrator James Joseph, their attempts must have pushed the Region enough when Cal Montgomery from Chicago sent his email. A staffer from Region V conveyed to Cal that he understood our demands, agreed to convene a meeting with ADAPT Chapters in the region and regional administrators from HHS, HUD, DOJ, DHS, and Red Cross at the table, and is eager to work with the disability community throughout the Region V to better serve and prepare the disabled community before, during, and after disasters.

Weasel, “Administrator Long, simply acknowledge that these are complex issues, and that despite your best intentions, there is no way that you could anticipate the depth or variety of our individual needs, nor the effect or implications on our lives and livelihoods of even your very best plans. Recognize this, and accept that ours is a realm outside your most astute imagination. If you do not give space at your strategy planning table to those who live the lives you’re charged to protect, if you do not allow for the direct input of people with disabilities, then your audacity will be the cause of injured bodies and lives lost.
These issues persist ONLY because, and to the extent that, people with disabilities are not at the table where you’re devising your strategies! Be the man to put this foolishness to rest once and for all! Cancel the upcoming meeting and meet with ADAPT! Let’s start saving lives together!”

Region VI:
Activists from Texas ADAPT attempted to reach Region VI Administrator, Tony Robinson but was unable to receive a response from anyone in the office.

Region VII:
Ami Hyten from Kansas ADAPT not only sent an email to Region VII Administrator Paul Taylor, but also attempted to hand deliver the demands at the Region VII office in Kansas City, MO. She was not able to meet with the Administrator and there was barely anyone around, but was able to pass the letter along to a staffer. Ami has not received confirmation from the office on if the letter was received by Region VII Administrator Paul Taylor or sent to Brock Long, as requested.

Region VIII:
From Montana ADAPT, Marsha Katz and Shyla Patera called on their Region VIII Administrator, Lee dePalo to include the voices of rural Americans with disabilities in the FEMA 2018-2024 strategic plan. People with disabilities in Montana and throughout rural America need and demand Home and Community Based Services to thrive at all times but particularly in times of and throughout disasters. Marsha and Shyla requested the Region VIII office send our demands to cancel the November 8 Strategic Plan meeting, and neither have heard a response from anyone in the office. As Marsha Katz puts it, “ADAPT calls on FEMA to not only rewrite its strategic plan with attainable goals and action steps that will assist communities in maintaining accessibility during disaster planning, we also call on FEMA to work toward ending the institutional bias in disaster planning.”
Atlantis ADAPT followed up with the Region VIII office the next day to try and schedule a meeting with Administrator Lee dePalo. Dawn Russell from Atlantis ADAPT sent a specific request to meet with Region VIII by November 7th, and has yet to receive a response from anyone in the region. “This isn’t over and we won’t give up! Region VIII must respond to Atlantis ADAPT and work with us to Free Our People and Save Our People!” – Dawn Russell

Region IX:
Activists from Tucson ADAPT, and Larry Wanger from Fresno California reached out to Region IX Administrator, Bob Fenton. None of these ADAPTers received a response from anyone in Region IX and won’t stop trying until our demands are met.

Region X:
Janine Bertram and Kristina from Washington West ADAPT and Michael Bailey from Oregon ADAPT reached out to Region X Administrator, Mike O’Hare and to no avail did not receive any response. Janine and Michael won’t let Region X off the hook, and will continue to reach out until they receive a response and the demands are met.

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By Friday, November 2, 2018 Administrator Long had one of his Senior Advisors get in touch with Regional ADAPT organizers requesting to meet with a “representative” from ADAPT. We let Administrator Long and his Senior Advisor know that ADAPT works as a group – and there will be Nothing About Us Without ALL of Us! We are now in negotiations for an initial conference call with Regional ADAPT organizers and Administrator Brock Long to further explain our demands and next steps forward.

To read ADAPT’s open letter to FEMA Administrator Brock Long go here.

On December 6, 2018, PA ADAPT went to Governor Tom Wolf’s office at the same time the Managed Services and Supports (MLTSS) Subcommittee meets because the managed care agencies and the Office on Long Term Living have not been working with the disability community, and have not been listening to our demands and concerns during the rollout, specifically the transition in the Southeast (who makes up 40% of manage care) to provide Real Choice.

Conveniently, it was our Capitol’s annual Tree Lighting Ceremony and Governor Wolf was scheduled to make an appearance. After two elevators and a small diversion around the Christmas tree, by 10AM all 23 of us were in and outside of Wolf’s office for nearly two hours chanting: “Who do we want? Governor Wolf! When do we want him? Now!” with Capitol police surrounding (and “trying” to control) us.

“Who do we want? Governor Wolf! When do we want him? Now!”

Before the choir was set to sing Governor Wolf came up to his office and hushed our chanting with his apologizes that managed care is not rolling out smoothly, and that it is his top priority to work with us to fix these problems for all Pennsylvanians receiving long term services and supports. He promised to have next steps specific to our demands sent to us by Tuesday, December 11th.

After we met with the Governor, we marched from the State Capitol over to the Department of Education building – just in time for the public comment section of the MLTSS Subcommittee agenda. Since we had just protested this meeting on November 7th demanding they extend the enrollment period for the Southeast, they were not unfamiliar with our demands. Zack Lewis from Philly ADAPT reminded the managed care organizations and the Office of Long Term Living that, “We will not accept the MCOs & OLTL lack of response to our demands, and to prove it – we just got in from the Governors office who is in full support of our demands and has promised to hold everyone in this room accountable for what’s happening to the disability community in Pennsylvania.”

PA ADAPT DEMANDS OF GOVERNOR WOLF:

• EXTEND THE PERIOD IN WHICH PEOPLE HAVE TO CHOOSE THEIR MCO IN THE SOUTHEAST!
• ACCESS TO THE MINIMAL DATA SET (MDS)!
• KEEP GOOD SUPPORT COORDINATION AGENCIES!
• DRAMATICALLY INCREASE FUNDING TO HOME CARE AGENCIES SO THAT ATTENDANTS CAN EARN A HIGHER WAGE!

PA ADAPT has not heard a response from Governor Wolf’s office as of Monday, December 10, 2018 but we are eager to hear from him as he promised.

On December 14, 2018 North Central PA ADAPT went – yet again – to Congressman Tom Marino’s office in Williamsport PA.

For over a year NCPA ADAPT has tried to meet with Congressman Marino to secure his support for disabled and elderly Americans to live in freedom in the community. Not only has the Congressman avoided us at scheduled appointments with him, but has also broke his promises to us as a group and to individuals in our group about sitting down and meeting with him.

Every now and then his DC staff will pretend to work with us and “promise to get us the Congressman’s response” to our demands, but at every turn his staff stop responding and continue to ignore us.

On Friday, December 14th we decided enough is enough! It’s time for Congressman Marino to know that NCPA ADAPT Demands his support!
Disabled constituents are just as much constituents as anyone else and it’s time for him to work with us!

Since his staff in the Williamsport office were not willing to at least get Marino on the phone, 10 NCPA ADAPT Activist sat inside his office chanting:

“Who do we want? Marino! When do we want him? Now!”

“Marino, Marino come on out – ADAPT has something to talk about!”

while two of our other ADAPTers handed out flyers to people coming out of Planet Fitness and informed the public why we were “disrupting” their workout. Nearly every passerby was in support of our demands.

After two hours of chanting Congressman Marino had the Williamsport Police show up to tell us we were “trespassing.” It was only noon and the office was clearly open, since it’s a public entity, he is Our Congressman, and we weren’t going anywhere – we called the cops bluff. We stayed chanting for another half hour while the cops stood outside tapping their hands to the beat of our chanting.

Congressman Marino is well aware that we were in his office, and who knows, maybe he was hiding in the back like he has in the past. We decided to save of our ADAPT Power for future follow up, so before heading out for the day we made sure his staffers heard that all he has to do is respond to us – otherwise ADAPT will be back.

We let it known that all we want this Holiday Season is for our Congressman to stop being a Grinch, and give the gift of SHOWING his support for our right to live in the community and not in institutions.

North Central PA ADAPT Demands:

Congressman Marino show us his support by:

• Committing to sponsor Money Follows the Person legislation in the 116th Congress
• Committing to sponsor the Disability Integration Act in the 116th Congress
• Meet with North Central PA ADAPT!