http://www.duhcity.org/flash/harkin/harkin.swf

Check out the video. If it stops on you, keep hitting the play button.

http://www.adapt.org/freeourpeople/cca09/report05.htm (read Senator Harkin’s statement about civil disobedience)

http://media-dis-n-dat.blogspot.com/search?q=ADAPT

http://www.patriciaebauer.com/page/4/

http://www.katrinadisability.info/wordpress/

http://cdrnys.org/wordpress/?cat=55

http://dread1mynproductions.com/rablog/

http://www.itodaynews.com/OCTOBER2007/adapt.htm

Second “Nick’s Crusade” Video Blog: ADAPT Action and the Olmstead Decision
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xO-AFhILuko&eurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nickscrusade.org%2Fwordpress%2F&feature=player_embedded
Posted by nickdupree – April 29, 2009

Transcription (as captioned):

This is Nick, of Nick’s Crusade blog. This is day 243 of me being in an institution in this lovely blue hospital gown. Right now, ADAPT activists are protesting in Washington, DC to end unnecessary institutionalization, like I’m experiencing, and making care available in the community.

10 years ago, there was a lawsuit that went to the Supreme Court about two women, Lois and Elaine, who, for no apparent reason, just because they had mild disabilities, were stuck an institution in Georgia. The Supreme Court ruled 10 years ago that under the Americans with Disabilities Act, unnecessarily institutionalizing people is illegal, and that we deserve, and have a right to, our services in the most integrated setting. So this case, this Olmstead decision, got Lois and Elaine out of the institution. And right now, Lois is protesting in Washington with ADAPT.

With millions of people still in institutions, when they don’t need to be, the promise of Olmstead has been a lie. The states have not implemented Olmstead, and it’s ridiculous. It’s time for a change.

Yesterday, the ADAPT activists met with the president’s health-care “czar,” and this “czar” said that they don’t have time to change institutional bias in their health care reform package this year. In response, ADAPT activists chained themselves to the White House fence, and 91 of them got arrested.

We have to fight back. It’s time to fight back against administrations that don’t keep their promises, against states that break the promises.

It’s time to fight back, time to support ADAPT, it’s time for the Community Choice Act – NOW!

Nick

Justice delayed is justice denied. Implement the Olmstead decision, include the CCA in health care reform NOW!

I’ve been tied down wrong. I’ve had drivers drive maliciously knowing I’m sensitive to bumps (and laughing about it). I’ve reported them (only to have them reprimanded — so they refused to talk to me or help me put my money in the slot since I was the reason they got in trouble) and re-reported them. Finally, I just said f-it. The Disability Network in town doesn’t give a crap (the FBI actually confiscated stuff from their office — they too have been in hot water) and it is so much trouble to get a ride, I only go out if I have to. Luckily, my doctor comes to my house as does my PT.

There is one other transport service. It will take you outside the county, but only for doctors appointments. The days they run are limited. They are relatively inexpensive, but you have to schedule your appointment at least one month in advance. Needless to say, I very rarely use their service, but they are more reliable/friendly than the in county transport.

My county is the very worst for disability rights offering and assistance. It’s a joke here.

I have been invited to conferences for work in California (and elsewhere), but have been unable to go due to lack of transportation. So, if there is a solution to the flying problem, I’d love to know!

Obviously, I don’t know a lot about you or your situation. From what you have written, you don’t get out much for various reasons, none of which sound fair or justified. No one should be “locked” literally or figuratively in their home because of lack of services. Clearly, things have gotten worse in MI than when I was there 12 years ago. I worked at one CIL, didn’t think much of it. There are a few good ones, most marginal and some downright pathetic, so sorry you seem to be in the bad area.

It’s too bad you are not able to travel more. Must be from the “fall” injury? We have folks at ADAPT actions that are on respirators, use sip’n'puff wheelchairs, HELL, Ed Roberts was in an iron lung for a good part of his life and traveled the world, so I know pretty much everyone “can” travel, its just having the proper supports in place to make it happen. Many of Jerry’s Orphans are on the line with us, so would think they would have similar needs. Anyway, not for me to make assessment/judgement online….

Keep up your work and we’ll do the same and let’s hope something works sometime soon.

bob

I believe some of the action ADAPT is taking is great. Phone calls, emails, spreading the word on blogs, twitter, Facebook, and across the web gets the word out. The web is the wave of the future for transporting information and taking action. Meeting with officials, speaking before Congress, passing out pamphlets, etc. That all is great. I do believe in peaceful protests to an extent, but not as far as civil disobedience.

The media is reporting ADAPT did not get a permit to protest in front of the White House (which is a group’s right). My question — why not? If you could have done that, why not legitimize the effort? I think this just adds to the rebel mentality. You chose not to get the permit even though it was clear there was probably going to be a protest. Protesting is a right of expression in this country, and it should be exercised when necessary, but there are procedures and protocols that should have been adhered to.

You guys wanted to be arrested. You wanted to cause a ruckus/trouble in Washington, so you didn’t follow the proper procedures. Where do you draw the line between being civilly disobedient and unlawful, illegal acts? What you were doing was illegal because you didn’t follow said procedures, which is why some of you did get arrested. Wouldn’t it have been better to protest and be able to continue to protest….thanks to the fact that you did follow said procedures?

I don’t think people found 500 people in wheelchairs protesting without a permit and getting arrested for it shocking. Most who commented on it (online) found it idiotic. That’s not what ADAPT should want them to think. I don’t think they should feel that way, because I do want some in the majority to support CCA and to realize it can/will affect them in some way, too. I don’t think the protest got the message across to them, because what you think is shocking seems silly and pointless to the majority.

I’m not 100% sure what the right answer is to get them on our side, but I can say if they are there then the government will have no choice but to act. They can’t quiet an entire nation…just the minority.

I am outraged that I have to fight for everything I get through painstaking methods, but I don’t believe I need to whine about the things I don’t have. I am also outraged about the poor economy, poor children who go hungry, homelessness, the unemployment rate, and various other issues in this nation. As bad as I have it, I’m not starving. I’m not 3 and without a home. I’m not living on the street because I’ve lost my home. My house seriously sucks, but at least I have a home — so I can have the patience to advocate for myself until I work for the things I need.

I know about PASS. I was on it before I got injured (I fell out of my wheelchair — I’ve spent much of the past five years bed ridden as a result of my injury). Since I had to drop out of school to recover, I lost my PASS and my van. I have been patiently waiting until I can return to college and enduring intense physical therapy to be able to be in my wheelchair every single day. Sure, I’m outraged, but all I believe I can do is keep plucking forward until I can finally return to college to finish my degree. No sense in letting my outrage eat me up.

I’ve had discrimination happen my entire life. I was discriminated against in school. I only had two or three IEPs to my knowledge. I later learned that I was supposed to have them every year. I was denied an Aide in school (no IEP — no need), faced discrimination to the point where a disability advocacy group had to get involved or my doctor wouldn’t let me return to school (when the organization sided with the school and I told them to basically f– off since they weren’t punishing those who were responsible for the discrimination — I was told I had to return anyway or face failing), had to go to High School because my Jr. High wasn’t accessible (which led to much hatred from my peers who also had to go to our High School building for classes they had with me) and had many other problems. By the time I knew my rights, it was too late to sue. We live and learn from these lessons.

My caregiver gets paid less than minimum wage. I was denied any help from my Medicaid care services (they claim they can’t even pay $600-$800 for my Hoyer motor – imagine help for a van) even though they told me they have paid for equipment in the past for others. I live 2 minutes from the Disability Network office in my area, but was told I’m out of the city limits, so I couldn’t get assistance with a ramp. I was denied help by HUD and eventually had to get my ramp donated by a Catholic church. They guy who made the ramp promised to seal it, but never did, so it is already starting to rot/fall apart.

Sure, I’m outraged about these things. Yes, things need to be changed, but I am not out creating a ruckus to get my issue out into the media. I blog, spread my thoughts online, call my elected officials, heck I’ve even met with them when I did have transport (back in the day). I also work to get myself these things. Blogging does help pay my bills.

The ADA could have been so much more, ensuring true freedom in any and every public building regardless of the buildings age. Heck, I fought the first University I attended (I went directly to the press — I was somewhat known in my area from being a former MDA poster child) over accessibility issues. They spent their funding to put an elevator up to the alumni seating in their football stadium, which outraged me. I fought them the entire year I attended, trying to hold them to their promises they made when I signed up to attend the school — and it had quite a bit of media attention, but I eventually said F– em and went to the more accessible Wright State the following year. For all the media attention was worth, the University was never held accountable. I found a better option.

I am outraged. I do care that the CCA is passed, but I won’t be out causing trouble to get it passed. That’s just the way I roll.

Furthermore, I can’t stand up, so sorry if my sitting on my butt offends you

Not all of us are able to travel. I can’t fly on a plane (they aren’t accessible — I’m incapable of transferring without my Hoyer) and I have no vehicle. That public transport I speak of doesn’t leave my county either, and there isn’t much going on in my county. Kind of funny you’d condemn what a person in a wheelchair is capable of doing, as being ‘not enough’ simply because I’m not out there physically protesting (especially when its clear…I can’t currently – though why would I want to when it is those making such condemnations who are out protesting).

Just like people are trapped in nursing homes, there are plenty of us who are trapped in our houses, too.

What I don’t understand (and you certainly haven’t convinced me that civil disobedience doesn’t work) is what do you think would work that hasn’t been tried? I know you don’t think much of the ADA, but it is what we have and if the feds would enforce it, it would mean much more. But if not for civil disobedience, the ADA would never have passed. It took ADAPT folks and others crawling up the Capitol steps to engage Congress to sign it. If not for civil disobedience, the regulations for Section 504 of the Rehab Act would never have been written and guidance given as to what expectations are for government agencies and those receiving federal dollars.

At the CO site, people seemed to think civil disobedience didn’t work because it is so difficult to get the “shock value” needed for change. 500 people in wheelchairs protesting 100 of which get arrested is SHOCKING to the public and as Marsha pointed out, we have gotten positive outcomes from the activities–Systems Change Grants, Money Follows the Person, targeted Section 8 vouchers for pwd’s, etc.

I would welcome alternative strategies you think would work, that haven’t been tried. And as pointed out previously, its not that CO is all that ADAPT does. We write, call and go to too many meetings to get the change we need and will continue to do so.

bob