Western PA ADAPT

PA ADAPT members gathered at the administration offices of the New Castle Area School District (NCASD) today to demand that the district immediately begin taking the steps required to insure that all programs and schools in the NCASD are accessible to all students.

Under Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act, public schools must have evaluated their programs and facilities, and have developed a transition plan setting forth the steps necessary to make their programs accessible by January 1992. All barrier removal activities were to be completed by no later than January 26, 1995.

The NCASD has said that they do not have; nor have they completed this plan. The district is out of compliance, and is not accessible. PA ADAPT members had been speaking with district officials and the School Board for some time, but were unhappy with the speed of progress regarding this rather sensitive matter.

PA ADAPT initially blocked the main administration office entrance and parking lot entrance. The police arrived shortly after and threatened arrests if the members didn’t move from the entrances. ADAPT agreed to move to the sidewalk if George Gabriel, the Superintendent of Schools would come out to talk.

As the police went inside to speak with the Superintendent, the press began to show up. During ADAPT’s discussion with the district and the School Board, the public wasn’t told that there was a problem by the local media. ADAPT felt it was time that the public know that the district is out of compliance.

Soon after the police came back out and said that the Superintendent would speak to ADAPT inside. The spokespeople demanded that he come outside to talk. He finally agreed to meet with them at another entrance to the building.

A list of demands were presented to him:

• Begin the required self-evaluation by no later than September 30, 2010.
• Schedule a meeting with PA ADAPT members within the next seven days to allow people with disabilities to be involved in the self-evaluation.
• Develop the complete transition plan by no later than March 31, 2011.

After a short negotiation, he agreed to the demands in writing.

A meeting has already been scheduled for September 2, 2010 with district officials to talk about the self-evaluation.

Other school districts in Western Pennsylvania and across the United States need to know that the Americans with Disabilities Act prohibits discrimination against persons with a disability. In education, this means that a person with a disability has the right to a well-rounded education as well as equal access to resources, transportation and post school activities.

Representative Glenn Thompson Signs On

PA ADAPT attended a meeting with US Representative Glenn Thompson at his DC office in early September to ask him to sign on to the Community Choice Act (CCA). Representative Thompson was one of two Pennsylvania Legislators who had not signed onto the bill (HR 1670).

Representative Thompson promised to read the bill, and said he believes that all 50 states should have a mandate to provide community care instead of institutionalized care.

Representative Thompson has joined 116 other Representatives as a cosponsor of CCA on Wednesday, October 21, 2009. Please call his DC office at (202) 225-5121 and thank him for supporting real choice for people with disabilities to live in their own homes.

A Critical Moment in Health Care Reform

With chances of the CCA successfully being passed being slim, ADAPT has been working to have the Community First Choice (CFC) Option included in health reform legislation. The CFC Option would get the key provisions of the CCA into health reform. The option would encourage states to provide Medicaid home and community based attendant services (rather than require them as the original CCA would do).

On Tuesday, September 22, 2009, the CFC Option was incorporated into the Senate Finance Committee bill.

Senators are meeting TODAY to merge the Finance and HELP Committee health reform bills. They will be making decisions on whether to keep the CFC Option in the combined bill. The merged bill may go to the Senate floor to be debated as early as next week.

Please take Action now! THIS IS URGENT!

Contact both of your Senators’ offices today and ask for their support. You may call toll-free (thanks to Families USA): 1-800-828-0498 or use the Capitol switchboard: 202-224-3121.

PA ADAPT members from Western Pennsylvania visited State Senator Bob Robbins’ office in Greenville, PA on September 30, 2009 to ask him to right the wrongs he’s done to the disabled community by supporting budget cuts which will force more disabled people out of their homes and into nursing homes.

During a visit to Senator Robbins Harrisburg office in June, 2009, PA ADAPT activists were asked to leave his office and not return.

Robbins supported the cuts to vital human service programs that were established in SB 850 back in May, saying that the bill was fair and that cuts had to be made. When Robbins voiced his support for the cuts, he was asked if “he had any problem sentencing these people to death?”

Forcing people out of their homes and into nursing homes would undoubtedly lead to death for some of these individuals. Throwing them into a nursing home would preclude them from getting the level of care that they need to live.

Our Legislators need to ponder the long term effects that their political dealings have on the lives of real people. Throwing taxpaying citizens out for pointing out the potential results of morally irresponsible budget cuts is wrong.

In Greeneville, the PA ADAPT activists asked for an apology from Senator Robbins for throwing them out and demanded that he pledge not to vote for and budget agreement that does not maintain level funding equal to last year’s budget for vital human service programs. In addition, the activists called on Robbins to help end the recently established waiting lists for the OBRA Waiver and Act 150.

The activists knew that Robbins would not be in Greenville. At first his staff said that Robbins would not be available all day for any phone conversation. After the press was called in to get the group’s message out to his constituents, a call was quickly arranged between Robbins and one of the activists who live in Robbins’ district.

Robbins gave a drawn out account of the history of the budget impasse. He said that he has always been supportive of the disabled and their home care. PA ADAPT disputes this. Robbins and other Republican Senators often attempt to cut funding for people who need the services the most.

Robbins declined to apologize for asking PA ADAPT to leave his office in June.

Later on Mike Hengst, a Robbins staffer in Harrisburg spoke with individuals from the group regarding the budget issues. The conference call system at Robbins’ office was conveniently broken, preventing a conversation with the entire group.

The activists asked for a letter signed by Robbins pledging that he would not support any cuts to vital human services programs. Hengst promised to speak to the Senator about drafting a letter.

Will PA ADAPT get such a letter? Probably not!

Robbins, however, definitely knows PA ADAPT is watching him. He hasn’t seen the last of PA ADAPT.

You can view pictures of this action in the Western PA ADAPT Group Photo Album on Facebook:

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=99551317361#/photo_search.php?oid=99551317361&view=all

PA ADAPT activists traveled to State Senator Jake Corman’s fundraising golf tournament at Toftrees Resort in State College, PA on September 17, 2009. PA ADAPT found it unacceptable that Senator Corman was holding a campaign fundraising event when Pennsylvania did not have a budget.

Senator Corman, Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee and member of the State Budget Conference Committee, reportedly was not at the function.

The activists assembled in the resort parking lot and marched up to the tournament staging area. The resort management attempted to stop the procession. The activists stopped to listen to their pleas, then proceeded onward anyway.

On the way to the staging area, Corman’s father, J. Doyle Corman, a Pennsylvania State Senator for 21 years, told the activists that his son was in Harrisburg. He then attempted to sweet talk the activists to stop them from proceeding. Again, PA ADAPT politely listened, then preceded anyway.

The golfers were quite surprised to see the 25 activists lined up at the putting green holding signs that protested the budget situation. PA ADAPT thought they needed to know that people were in danger of losing their services while they put money into Corman’s coffers for playing golf.

The press was alerted to PA ADAPT’s presence, but did not show up to cover the protest. One media outlet asked if anyone from Central Pennsylvania was present. It’s kind of funny that in their opinion worthy news revolved around some of Corman’s constituents being there.

Regardless of the lack of press, a strong point was made to the people present at Toftrees Resort. The activists created an uncomfortable feeling for the tournament players and the staff of the resort. It’s almost certain that Senator Corman was also uneasy with the protest. It just proves that PA ADAPT will go anywhere to anytime to get their message across.

You can view pictures of this action in the Western PA ADAPT Group Photo Album on Facebook:

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=99551317361#/photo_search.php?oid=99551317361&view=all

PA ADAPT members from Western Pennsylvania visited Washington DC on September 8 and 9, 2009 to speak with the US Senate’s “Gang of 6″ and other Senators on the Finance Committee to let them know that any health care reform package is incomplete if it does not include elements of the Community Choice Act (CCA). The 30 activists also attended a meeting with US Congressman Glenn Thompson to encourage him to sign on to CCA.

The Community Choice Act would provide people with disabilities and seniors with the option of receiving home support services rather than having to go into nursing homes and institutions. On March 24, 2009 Representative Danny Davis and Senator Tom Harkin introduced the CCA bills in Congress.

Following up on the recent action to Senator Jay Rockefeller’s Charleston WV office, the activists visited his DC office to continue the push. Senator Rockefeller is a member of the Senate Committee on Finance, and Chairman of the Subcommittee on Health Care.

The Senator was unavailable, but his health care liaison agreed to meet with the 30 activists after giving the usual “fire hazard” routine because of so many wheelchairs blocking up his office. Rockefeller’s liaison was educated on the facts about CCA. The activists continued insisting on speaking with the Senator but he was “too busy”.

ADAPT relented to visit Finance Chairperson Baucus, MT, an important member of the Gang of 6. The activists walked right into the perfect storm. Numerous news cameras and reporters were gathered outside of Baucus’ office. Baucus was assembling the Gang of 6 in his office for the Finance Committee’s first talk on Health Care Reform.

The Gang of 6 was forced to walk past ADAPT as they entered the meeting room. The activists managed to engage Senator Bingaman, NM, for a short conversation and provided him with the LaPlante Cost Study and information on CCA. The activists also were able to explain the need for a Community Choice Option in health care reform NOW.

The media were intrigued by ADAPT’s presence at Baucus’ office and began talking to the activists about their mission. ADAPT members were interviewed by members of the media, including ABC and NBC. A sea of orange shirts was visible during two CNN live reports. The publicity was priceless, spreading ADAPT’s view of health care reform and the Community Choice Option to a worldwide audience.

The ADAPT activists eventually made visits to each Senator’s office from the Finance Committee with about a 50% success rate in reaching the Health Care Reform legislative aides for an ADAPT style conversation on the Community Choice Option.

Following up on a recent visit to Representative Glenn Thompson’s office in Titusville PA, the ADAPT activists also attended a meeting with the Congressman at his DC office. Representative Thompson is one of two Pennsylvania Legislators who have not yet signed onto the Community Choice Act.

The expected 10 minute meeting with 5 people turned into a meeting with 30 lasting over one hour. After listening to the activists’ personal stories and the history of HB 1670, Representative Thompson promised to read the bill, and he let ADAPT know soon if he could sign on. Thompson has extensive experience in the health care field, and said he believes that all 50 states should have a mandate to provide community care instead of institutionalized care.

ADAPT talked about the current drive to include the Community Choice Option for states in health care reform. Representative Thompson said he respected the decision to compromise to make progress, and he told ADAPT that he looked forward to joining in the fight for community care in all 50 states in the future.

The ADAPT members believe that Representative Thompson was sincere in his statements and will await confirmation that he has signed on to the Community Choice Act.

Finally ADAPT paid a visit to the office of PA Senator Bob Casey. The activists spoke with his health care aide and thanked Senator Casey for his good work as part of the Health, Energy, Labor & Pensions Committee, which finished their work on a version of the Health Care Reform Bill prior to the recess.

While at Casey’s office, ADAPT also learned that Senator Tom Harkin would become the new Chairman of the Senate Health Care Committee. Senator Harkin is a friend of the disabled community and sponsor of the Senate version of the Community Choice Act. The ADAPT Members were extremely happy to learn of this. With Harkin at the helm, the likelihood of CCA becoming a reality is more realistic.

You can view pictures of this action in the Western PA ADAPT Group Photo Album on Facebook:

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=99551317361#/photo_search.php?oid=99551317361&view=all

PA ADAPT members from Western Pennsylvania visited State Senator Joe Scarnati’s office in Warren, PA on September 1 and 2, 2009 to speak with him regarding the state budget impasse and to demand that any state budget fund people first. Senator Scarnati is the President Pro Tempore of the Pennsylvania Senate, our Lieutenant Governor and a member of the State Budget Caucus.

On August 4, 2009 the Pennsylvania House of Representatives voted 195-3 to pass Senate Bill 850 to pay workers. As written, S.B. 850 makes deep cuts to key programs that would force more disabled people out of their homes and into nursing homes.

The PA ADAPT members were told that the senator was busy in Harrisburg. With the senator unavailable, the group had a conference call with Casey Long, Scarnati’s director of legislative affairs. Mr. Long attempted to answer the group’s concerns with typical political rhetoric.

Unsatisfied with this dialogue, the PA ADAPT members requested to speak with the Senator via phone, and decided to stay at Scarnati’s office until he talked to them. A short time later, Warren City Police were dispatched to the senator’s office. Since the group wasn’t blocking access to the senator’s office or other offices, they were allowed to remain.

The PA ADAPT Members spent the afternoon of the 1st and the morning of the 2nd waiting to speak with Scarnati. Although the senator’s staff members where polite and understanding, it became obvious that the senator had no intention of speaking with the group. “Ignore them and they’ll go away” seemed to be his strategy.

On the morning of the 2nd, all public restroom facilities in the building were locked, preventing PA ADAPT Members from using them. This rude move provided another subtle hint that the senator didn’t want to deal with the group.

The PA ADAPT members are appalled at Scarnati’s refusal to speak with concerned citizens of Pennsylvania about the budget. He needs to realize that he represents all PA citizens in the state budget negotiations. His refusal to speak with PA ADAPT members gives the undeniable message that he DOES NOT CARE about what the citizens of Pennsylvania think.

Despite Scarnati’s refusal to speak with the PA ADAPT members, local radio and newspaper helped spread the word to his local constituents. Additionally the group got to speak with local citizens, and almost all agreed with the message.

PA ADAPT is not finished with Senator Scarnati. He now has been introduced to PA ADAPT and will hear from the organization again in the near future.

You Can Help! Call Senator Scarnati’s offices and tell him to stop playing politics with peoples’ lives. Demand that state government quit using the disabled community as political pawns. Tell him to fund people first.

Harrisburg, PA – 717-787-7084
Warren, PA – 814-726-7201
Brockway, PA – 814-265-2030
Wellsboro, PA – 570-724-5231

Members from ADAPT Chapters in Western Pennsylvania and advocates from West Virginia visited Senator Jay Rockefeller’s main district office in Charleston, WV on August 25, 2009 to demand real choice in health care reform. Senator Rockefeller is a member of the Senate Committee on Finance, and Chairman of the Subcommittee on Health Care.

The Senator was not present at his office, but the activists were able to meet with two of his top aides regarding health care reform. The message conveyed was that any health care reform package would be incomplete without including real choice for people with disabilities to live in their own homes, rather than having to live in a nursing home or other institution.

The vehicle for enabling this choice already exists in the Community Choice Act (CCA). On March 24, 2009 Representative Danny Davis (D-IL) [H.R. 1670] and Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) [S. 683] introduced the Community Choice Act in Congress. The Community Choice Act would mandate that states offer people with disabilities the option to use Medicaid funding to pay for community-based rather than institutional care.

President Obama wants to “make health care more affordable by increasing competition, providing more choices and keeping insurance companies honest.” It is a fact that home and community-based services cost about 1/3 of what it costs to keep someone in a nursing home for a year and provide “choice” for our most vulnerable citizens.

Senator Rockefeller’s staff members were educated on the facts about CCA. They were asked to set up a meeting between Senator Rockefeller and concerned constituents. His staff members said that they would make sure that the Senator received information about CCA and would be told about the meeting request.

The ADAPT members requested that they be given a signed letter stating that a meeting with the Senator and/or his health care aide(s) would be scheduled within 30 days. The staff members said that they could not do this. After some negotiation, the ADAPT members were able to get a memo style document, with no signature, stating that a meeting might be set up  after possible scheduling dates were provided by the West Virginia constituents.

Western PA ADAPT feels that the Senator’s staff members were being noncommittal and should have been forced to set up a meeting while the ADAPT members were there. Unfortunately, several factors worked against accomplishing this goal.

Some redemption was realized when a TV crew from the Charleston ABC/Fox affiliate accepted an invitation to cover the action. This coverage at least enabled the message about CCA to get out to constituents in the Senator’s home district. This report was later broadcast to the local audience.

Currently, the Community Choice Act is not included in any of the various versions of the health care reform bill.  Also, Senator Rockefeller is currently not a cosponsor of the Community Choice Act.

YOU CAN HELP! Contact Senator Rockefeller and demand that the Community Choice Act be included in health care reform. Also request that he sign onto the bill as a cosponsor immediately:

http://rockefeller.senate.gov/contact/

You can view pictures of this action in Western PA ADAPT’s Facebook group:

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=99551317361#/photo_search.php?oid=99551317361&view=all

Note: More local ADAPT actions will be commenced in the coming weeks.

Fifteen plus people with disabilities, many using wheelchairs and other mobility aids, from ADAPT Chapters in Western Pennsylvania gathered at Senator Elder Vogel’s New Castle, PA office today (August 14, 2009) to demand that any approved state budget must FUND PEOPLE FIRST.

The ADAPT members demanded that any approved budget needs to at least maintain current funding for vital human service programs.

The Pennsylvania State Government continues to use the disabled community as a political pawn. Although times are tough, cutting vital human service programs as is fiscally and morally irresponsible. The plain truth of the matter is that receiving these services is a matter of life and death to some disabled Pennsylvanians.

After blocking Senator Vogel’s office for about an hour and protesting outside on the street, ADAPT members succeeded in getting him to schedule an August 19th meeting to discuss budget issues.

How do you spell power? ADAPT!

Note: More local ADAPT actions will be commenced in the coming weeks.

The Pennsylvania House of Representatives voted 195-3 to pass Senate Bill 850 yesterday afternoon. As written, S.B. 850 would make deep cuts to key programs would force more disabled people out of their homes and into nursing homes. The $27 billion budget now goes to Governor Rendell, who is expected to line-item veto all but the items essential for the Commonwealth to pay it’s employees and vendors. Rendell stated during a news conference that he will sign this “stopgap” budget this morning, August 5.

The stopgap action doesn’t solve the bitter partisan impasse that has left Pennsylvania without a budget for more than one month. Pennsylvania is broke. The effects of the recession are expected to push Pennsylvania’s budget shortfall to $3.2 billion in the current fiscal year. The continuing budget impasse magnifies the threat of substantial cuts to funding for severely disabled adults in Attendant Care and other community based programs without an increase in state revenues.

You Can Help!

Contact Governor Rendell, remind him to veto the lines that do harm to home and community based services, and ask him to take care of our disabled citizens in the final budget.

Phone: (717) 787-2500
Fax: (717) 772-8284
E-mail the Governor’s Office (Link opens in a new window)