The ADAPT Strategy Meeting

ADAPT still focusing on important issues for people with disabilities

 

By Allison Donald
As I sat in the plane eating my Ritz crackers shaped liked airplanes I was ready for whatever the snow-capped city of Denver had to offer on February 23^rd and 24^th.  This would be my first ADAPT strategy meeting and I was excited to continue the work that has been done in the workgroups, during of the November action in Denver, and the reintroduction ceremony for the Disability Integration Act both of which I attended.  

At the meeting in Denver,  ADAPTers started forming a circle to discuss the important issues in the Disability Rights movement. I could tell that this meeting was going to be different than any other that I had experienced previously with National ADAPT. 

Dawn Russell of Atlantis ADAPT began the meeting with a recap of the November Action in Denver.  ADAPT was able to get Republican Senator Corey Gardner from Colorado to support the Disability Integration Act.  Senator Gardner’s support was gained because of the tireless efforts of ADAPT.  

The goal is to have the 218 democrats needed in the Senate to get it to the floor, and have it passed by July 24, 2020 which would be two days before the thirtieth anniversary of the passage of the ADA.  In order to make this happen National ADAPT is asking for letters of support from each state’s Medicaid Director as well as letters from the HUD directors.

The Workforce workgroup headed by Cathy Cranston and Susan Stahl highlighted the work that has been using a social media campaign to show real individuals with disabilities who use personal care attendant services. They also spotlight the hard work by the personal care attendants themselves.  

The Workforce workgroup is also actively working to end the intrusive Electronic Visit Verification system.  This system uses the GPS capabilities among other systems to keep track of the people who use the system in order to clock in their personal care attendant.  The EVV system has so many holes, and the biggest one which is affecting whether or not personal attendants receive their correct pay on time.  As a result of that, the Workforce Workgroup is also pushing the Raise IT campaign which would push pay to $15.00 an hour.  In support of all of the causes that the Workforce Workgroup a regional action involving the Texas chapters of ADAPT as well as other chapters may be in the plan for April 4^th and 5^th. 

Ending Institutional Bias Workgroup, that is charged with stopping nursing homes and other facilities getting the lion share of funding,  wants to get ahead of the Money Follows the Person legislation.  There is a new version of the bill that will be introduced by Debbie Dingle.  National ADAPT is planning a calendar to promote the stories of individuals who have transitioned out of nursing homes back into the community.  

In concert with this effort the ADAPT Housing committee will be asking that ten thousand more units be dedicated housing for people with disabilities transitioning out of nursing homes and other congregate living facilities.   The housing committee is also urging for the continued education of housing advocates.  Educating the advocates is of particular importance, because investing in housing that is not accessible is not creating homes that are truly affordable more importantly, investing in housing without including access is not creating sustainable housing.

The strategy meeting was a learning experience for me and it underscored how much work has been done.  I do hope I get more opportunities to attend events like this in the future as a representative of Mid-South ADAPT and the Memphis Center for Independent Living.