Action Report Day 4

Tennessee needs the DIA

By Allison Donald

September 27, 2017- The last day of a National ADAPT action in Washington DC are reserved for visits to Capitol Hill.  Before, we could ascend on the hill ADAPT decided to have "brunch" at the home of the Health and Human Secretary Thomas E. Price.  ADAPT took over the street chanting, “We told you once we told you twice, ADAPT is here to talk to Price.”

Although there have been increased opportunities for community living, many individuals remained trapped in nursing facilities and other institutions and many of that underpin the progress we’ve made are being eroded or eliminated.  Tom Price has the ability to enforce the laws so that the civil rights and civil liberties of people with disabilities remain protected under the law.  If you would like to view ADAPT’s demands to HHS Secretary Price go visit www.adapt.org.  

As he stood looking down at from the upstairs window of his house, I hope he remembers that he can’t run from us, because we know where he lives and have no problem shutting down the street until he faces us.  

Our day was not done National ADAPT had meetings to attend with elected officials to speak with them about cosponsoring the Disability Integration Act (HR 2472) in the house and (S910) in the Senate.  My team members were Rodney Whitmore, Susan Norwood, Cathy Cranston, Brian Johnson, Toni Saia, and Michael Heinrich.

As a team we visited a total twelve Representatives and Senators from across the country. Michael Heinrich and I split off into a team and visited five representatives Gaetz (R-Fla.), Banks (R-Ind.), McSalley (R-Az.), McArthur (R-NJ), and Kustoff (R-TN.).  We did not get an opportunity to meet with any of these representatives, but we were given cards and we left them with a packet of information about the Disability Integration Act.  

I will be following up with David Kustoff, because he is a Representative from Tennessee.  Michael and I also visited Congressman Cohen’s office as a follow-up visit and to thank him for being a co-sponsor of the DIA.

Our final meeting of the day was with the staffers of Senator Lamar Alexander.  Lamar Alexander is the chairman of the H.E.L.P (Health Education Labor and Pension) committee.  His support is critical to the successful passage of the DIA.  Furthermore, it is imperative that he stands up for the life and liberty of Tennesseans with disabilities.

Mid-South ADAPT has visited the Memphis office of Lamar Alexander many times over the past several months and all we have gotten in response is lip service and pre typed letters mailed to our homes.  Mr.  Morton expressed to us that Senator Alexander does not support many bills.  I was not worried about the bills he chooses to support.  As a person with a disability I am concerned about the inadequate home and community based services that are being delivered, the lack of a cohesive plan that will allow people with disabilities to work on the necessary independent living skills a person is going to need to stay in the community, and the mediocre wages some personal care attendants are earning.  In all of these issues Tennessee ranks near the bottom in providing for its citizens with disabilities and the people who take care of us.  The Disability Integration Act (HR 2472) (S910) will address these needs.

I was sitting at the head of the table as Michael unrolled the scroll of three hundred names who had all signed on in support of the Disability Integration Act.  The scroll hit Alexander’s staffer who was seated at the other end of the table Michael was sitting informed Mr. Morton (Alexander staffer) that Alexander’s inaction and his unwillingness to answer whether he is firmly for or against the civil rights is no longer and acceptable answer.  

"I do not have much faith in the state of Tennessee to do what’s right by its citizens," said Michael Heinrich, “because in the past former administrations have had to be taken to court to enforce the civil rights of people in Tennessee who have a disability.”

Senator Lamar Alexander it is your move. Do you support civil rights for people with disabilities Yes or No?  The people of Tennessee deserve an answer, because disability rights are constitutional rights. 

#ADAPTandResist

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