The Roving Activist’s Blog

Rochester ADAPT sent this report on their recent hit:

A Kuhl Action!
Rochester ADAPT on the Trail of MiCASSA

On a warm fall day, Friday September 22, 2006 a band of forty ADAPT members met at Rundell Library. Under the ADAPT ‘invisibility cloak’, we were ‘hidden in plain sight’– just a group of people with disabilities on a field trip, chatting amicably while watching the regional law enforcement prepare for the visit of Vice President Dick Cheney. Vice President Cheney was coming to Rochester to support a fundraiser for Congressman Randy Kuhl. Despite repeated meetings and communications from ADAPT, Randy Kuhl has not become a MiCASSA cosponsor. When meetings, phone calls and letters don’t work - it’s time for ADAPT to take direct action.
 
There were sharpshooters on the roofs of the Convention Center, police on all floors of the parking garage, and the surrounding streets were cut off to pedestrian and car traffic. A protest action looked impossible. Nevertheless, ADAPTers tightly lined up, and marched right under the police line tape at South Avenue and Broad Street, in to the Vice Presidential Security Zone. Rochester Police positioned at the corner quickly responded 
by physically moving Shelly Perrin’s wheelchair, but our ADAPTers went around like water around a rock. Bruce Darling was grabbed and restrained, face down, on a police car. Norita Darling, Bruce’s mom, saw the incident, but kept on walking. Aware that there were larger issues at stake, she focused upon what needed to get done by ADAPT. As more and more ADAPTers poured into the security zone, City, county and state police sprinted down the street to greet us. ADAPTers were grabbed and pulled back to the other side of the police line. After nearly every ADAPTer had been into the secure zone and been dragged back out, we gathered our troops and did an about face, and marched off, down the Broad Street Bridge.

We headed for Main Street, wheelchairs leading the way. While the officers told the group to cross to the side of the street opposite the convention center, the group wandered back toward the convention center. When we got too close for the police’s comfort, things again got heated. ADAPTers and police met in the middle of  Main Street and started chanting. Though the police had already stopped traffic for the VP’s arrival, Cheney was in the building and the police wanted to get traffic moving again. Officers
redirected protesters, routing wheelchairs back to the yellow line, in the middle of the street. ADAPTers, after being moved, wandered back toward the convention center, again upsetting the officer’s plans. Outnumbered and beginning to get frustrated, the officers began to threaten arrest if ADAPT did not move back and go up onto the sidewalk.

Eventually, the group agreed to go onto the sidewalk. With no curb cut immediately available, we lifted powerchairs up onto the sidewalk. The officers brought barricades to make sure all the wheelchairs and walkers stayed up on the sidewalk. Several officers were assigned to ‘watch’ us, to make sure we did not attempt to cross the street and enter the Convention Center.

Q: What does ADAPT do when we are going to be somewhere for awhile?
A: Chant!

Anita O’Brien and Susan Norwood led the group in a variety of chants
including:
     What do we want?   MiCASSA!
     When do we want it?  Now!
     Our homes, not nursing homes!
     Free our brothers, free our sisters, free our people now!

Liz Andrzejewicz was busy capturing the events on camera. To her surprise, the role of photographer seems to carry the greatest risk of physical harm at a protest?! While trying to take photos of the ADAPTers, Liz was grabbed and again pushed back toward the sidewalk by an officer.  When she moved toward the sidewalk, Liz was ‘bumped’ in the back of the head by person or parties unknown.  Liz also literally “took it on the nose” for ADAPT, getting ‘bumped’ in the face with her camera when a hostile employee of the Rochester Convention and Visitor’s Bureau crumpled the ADAPT leaflet and shoved it at her. Liz handled it all with grace and importantly she has his picture!

Settled into a tight group on the sidewalk, we continued chanting. RPD brought in the mounted patrol, forming a line in front of the Convention Center. Several Cheney reception attendees and Convention Center staff peered out the windows at the demonstrators. Rochester ADAPT was situated in the front of the crowd. Users of power chairs/scooters- Fred Dievendorf, Charlie Smith, Anthony Griggs, Cindy Thrush, Cindy Hancock, and Richard Miller, were on the frontline, facing the Convention Center. Meanwhile in the rear of the crowd, Amerine Douse, and Pat and Pam Taggert passed out flyers about the need for Randy Kuhl to sign onto MiCASSA. Social activists Sister Rita, Sister Grace and Daniel Gantt, from the House of Mercy, joined us chanting their support for MiCASSA! 

As the protests continued in the non-violent manner, the police became friendlier, asking questions about MiCASSA and nodding their heads in support of our cause! Officers were seen tapping their toes in time with our chants and clapping when cars passing by honked their support for our efforts.

After about an hour, the anti-war groups in Washington Square Park marched down Main Street, and joined us across from the Convention Center. This group was composed of Metro Justice members, college students, gay activists, and anti war activists. Cars driving by honked their horn, in support of our demonstration. At the end of the fundraiser/picture event with Dick Cheney, a special bus was brought in for the Republican fundraiser guests, so they could scurry to safety, fearful that people across the street, behind barricades might ‘get’ them!! While leaving the event, Kuhl staffers and others leaving received a rousing round of “Boo’s!!” from the anti-war protesters.

Never content to have just one front to our action, as the war protestors did their chanting Marlene Waldron, Bruce Darling, Liz Andrzejewicz and Mike Volkmer had ‘disappeared’. This group had gone to the parking garage with MiCASSA leaflets, placing them under the wipers of everyone attending the fundraiser! While Marlene distracted the guards at the Convention Center entrance, Mike and Bruce went in to have a look.

The Convention Center was mostly empty as Vice President Cheney and fundraiser guests were gone. However, a group conversation was in progress in one of the meeting rooms. Being curious and with ADAPT Karma shining brightly - Mike and Bruce walked in to see Randy Kuhl doing a press conference.
 
Always ready with a question and never shy to ask it, Bruce cut off a reporter to ask why Kuhl did not support MiCASSA?  With TV cameras rolling, Congressman Kuhl replied that this was a staffer oversight and he would be interested in getting more information and MiCASSA sounds like something he would like to support. We’ve heard it before, so we’ll be following up immediately.

ADAPTers gathered to hear the news of our conversation with Congressman Kuhl
and discuss next steps. As our paratransit rides began to arrive, we asked ourselves…

Question: How do you spell power?
Answer:   A-D-A-P-T!

Media clips covering the protest:

http://www.wroctv.com/news/story.asp?id=24625&r=l
http://www.10nbc.com/index.asp?template=item&story_id=20239
http://www.10nbc.com/index.asp?template=item&story_id=20244

Free our people!

Here is the most recent list of MiCASSA co-sponsors in the Senate and in the House:

ALL MiCASSA CO-SPONSORS, BY STATE:

S.401 Sponsors: Sen Harkin, Tom [IA] and Sen Specter, Arlen [PA]
H.R.910 Sponsors: Rep Davis, Danny K. [IL-7] and Rep Shimkus, John [IL-19]

Alabama
Rep Bonner, Jo [AL-1 Mobile, Foley - R] - 4/5/2005

Arizona
Rep Grijalva, Raul M. [AZ-7 Tuscon, Yuma - D] - 7/12/2005

California
Sen Boxer, Barbara [CA] - 7/19/2006

Rep Waxman, Henry A. [CA-30 Los Angeles - D] - 5/19/2005
Rep Lantos, Tom [CA-12 San Mateo - D] - 9/8/2005
Rep Eshoo, Anna G. [CA-14 Palo Alto - D] - 9/8/2005
Rep Woolsey, Lynn C. [CA-6 Santa Rosa, San Rafael - D] - 9/8/2005
Rep Farr, Sam [CA-17 Salinas, Santa Cruz - D] - 6/9/2006
Rep Sanchez, Loretta [CA-47 Garden Grove - D] - 6/9/2006
Rep Waters, Maxine [CA-35 Los Angeles - D] - 9/26/2006

Colorado
Rep Udall, Mark [CO-2 Westminster, Minturn - D] - 9/29/2005
Rep DeGette, Diana [CO-1 Denver - D] - 10/7/2005

Connecticut
Sen Lieberman, Joseph I. [CT D] - 2/16/2005
Sen Dodd, Christopher J. [CT D] - 2/16/2005

Rep Larson, John B. [CT-1 Hartford - D] - 5/19/2005

Delaware
Sen Biden, Joseph R., Jr. [DE D] - 2/16/2005

Florida
Rep Hastings, Alcee L. [FL-23 Ft Lauderdale, West Palm Beach - D] - 9/19/2006

Georgia
Rep Bishop, Sanford D., Jr. [GA-2 Albany, Dawson, Valdosta, Columbus - D] - 5/19/2005
Rep McKinney, Cynthia A. [GA-4 Decatur D] - 6/8/2006
Rep Lewis, John [GA-5 Atlanta D] - 6/9/2006

Hawaii
Sen Inouye, Daniel K. [HI D] - 5/9/2006

Rep Abercrombie, Neil [HI-1 Honolulu D] - 10/7/2005

Illinois
Sen Durbin, Richard [IL D] - 6/21/2005

Rep Davis, Danny K. [IL-7 Chicago, Broadview - D]   introduced 2/17/05
Rep Shimkus, John [IL-19 Springfield, Collinsville, Centralia, Olney, Harrisburg - R] - 2/17/2005
Rep Biggert, Judy [IL-13 Willowbrook - R] - 4/5/2005
Rep Schakowsky, Janice D. [IL-9 Chicago, Evanston, Park Ridge - D] - 5/26/2005
Rep Weller, Jerry [IL-11 Joliet - R] - 6/16/2005
Rep Gutierrez, Luis V. [IL-4 Chicago D] - 9/20/2005
Rep Emanuel, Rahm [IL-5 Chicago D] - 9/29/2005
Rep Kirk, Mark Steven [IL-10 Northbrook, Waukegan - R] - 7/13/2006
Rep Rush, Bobby L. [IL-1 Chicago, Midlothian - D] - 9/19/2006
Rep Jackson, Jesse L., Jr. [IL-2 Homewood, Chicago - D] - 9/26/2006

Indiana
Rep Visclosky, Peter J. [IN-1 Merrillville - D] - 9/22/2005

Iowa
Sen Harkin, Tom [IA  D] (introduced 2/16/2005)

Kansas
Rep Moore, Dennis [KS-3 Overland Park, Lawrence, Kansas City - D] - 4/5/2005
Rep Ryun, Jim [KS-2 Topeka, Pittsburg - R] - 6/16/2005
Rep Moran, Jerry [KS-1 Hutchinson, Hays, Salina - R] - 9/20/2005

Louisiana
Sen Landrieu, Mary L. [LA - D] - 2/16/2005

Maine
Rep Allen, Thomas H. [ME-1 Portland, Saco - D] - 9/21/2006

Maryland
Sen Sarbanes, Paul S. [MD - D] - 3/10/2005

Rep Cummings, Elijah E. [MD-7 Baltimore, Cantonsville - D] - 4/19/2005

Massachusetts
Sen Kennedy, Edward M. [MA - D] - 2/16/2005
Sen Kerry, John F. [MA - D] - 2/16/2005
Rep Meehan, Martin T. [MA-5 Lowell, Lawrence, Haverhill - D] - 9/21/2006

Michigan
Rep Kildee, Dale E. [MI-5 Flint, Saginaw, Bay City - D] - 4/5/2005
Rep Conyers, John, Jr. [MI-14 Detroit, Southgate - D] - 9/19/2006

Minnesota
Sen Dayton, Mark [MN - D] - 2/16/2005

Rep Peterson, Collin C. [MN-7 Detroit Lakes, Red Lake Falls, Willmar,
Marshall, Montevideo, Redwood Falls D] - 9/20/2005

Mississippi
Rep Pickering, Charles W. (Chip) [MS-3 Pearl, Meridian, Natchez - R] - 5/25/2006

Missouri
Rep Cleaver, Emanuel [MO-5 Kansas City, Independence - D] - 5/9/2006

New Jersey
Sen Corzine, Jon S. [NJ - D] - 2/16/2005
Sen Lautenberg, Frank R. [NJ - D] - 2/16/2005

Rep Pascrell, Bill, Jr. [NJ-8 Paterson, Passaic, Bloomfield - D] - 5/26/2005
Rep Payne, Donald M. [NJ-10 Newark, Elizabeth, Jersey City - D] - 5/26/2005
Rep Holt, Rush D. [NJ-12 West Windsor - D] - 5/26/2005

New York
Sen Schumer, Charles E. [NY - D] - 2/16/2005
Sen Clinton, Hillary Rodham [NY - D] - 5/23/2005

Rep Hinchey, Maurice D. [NY-22 Kingston, Binghamton, Ithaca, Monticello,
Middletown - D] - 5/19/2005
Rep McHugh, John M. [NY-23 Watertown, Plattsburgh, Mayfield, Canastota -
R] -  5/19/2005
Rep McNulty, Michael R. [NY-21 Albany, Amsterdam, Schenectady, Troy,
Johnstown - D] - 5/26/2005
Rep Towns, Edolphus [NY-10 Brooklyn - D] - 9/8/2005
Rep Boehlert, Sherwood [NY-24 Utica, Auburn, Cortland -R] - 9/20/2005
Rep Slaughter, Louise McIntosh [NY-28 Rochester, Buffalo, Niagra Falls -
D] - 9/20/2005
Rep Walsh, James T. [NY-25 Syracuse, Palmyra - R] - 9/22/2005

North Carolina
Rep Miller, Brad [NC-13 Raleigh, Greensboro - D] - 10/7/2005
Rep Etheridge, Bob [NC-2 Raleigh, Lillington D] - 6/9/2006

Ohio
Rep Brown, Sherrod [OH-13 Lorain, Akron D] - 7/26/2006
Rep Kaptur, Marcy [OH-9 Toledo - D] - 5/19/2005
Rep Strickland, Ted [OH-6 Marietta, Wheelersburg, Boardman, Martin’s Ferry - D] - 9/6/2006

Pennsylvania
Sen Specter, Arlen [PA - R] - 2/16/2005

Rep English, Phil [PA-3 Erie, Butler, Hermitage, Meadville, Warren- R] -
4/5/2005
Rep Brady, Robert A. [PA-1 Philadelphia, Chester - D] - 10/27/2005
Rep Fattah, Chaka [PA-2 Philadelphia - D] - 1/31/2006
Rep Doyle, Michael F. [PA-14 Penn Hills, Mckeesport, Pittsburgh - D] -
4/4/2006
Rep Weldon, Curt [PA-7 Upper Darby, Bridgeport - R] - 6/21/2006
Rep Schwartz, Allyson Y. [PA-13 Philadelphia, Jenkintown - D] - 9/19/2006
Rep Holden, Tim [PA-17 Harrisburg, Pottsville, Temple, Lebanon - D] -
9/27/2006

Rhode Island
Rep Langevin, James R. [RI-2 Warwick - D] - 5/19/2005
Rep Kennedy, Patrick J. [RI-1 Pawtucket - D] - 2/8/2006

South Dakota
Sen Johnson, Tim [SD - D] - 5/9/2006

Tennessee
Rep Ford, Harold E., Jr. [TN-9 Memphis - D] - 9/20/2005

Texas
Rep Doggett, Lloyd [TX-25 Austin, McAllen - D] - 4/5/2005
Rep Reyes, Silvestre [TX-16 El Paso - D] - 6/16/2005
Rep Green, Gene [TX-29 Houston - D] - 9/8/2005
Rep Edwards, Chet [TX-17 Waco, Cleburne, College Station - D] 6/21/2006

Utah
Rep Matheson, Jim [UT-2 South Salt Lake, St George - D] - 9/21/2006

Vermont
Rep Sanders, Bernard [VT At large - I] - 9/8/2005

Virgin Islands
Rep Christensen, Donna M. [VI - D] - 5/26/2005

Virginia
Rep Scott, Robert C. [VA-3 Newport News, Richmond - D] - 10/27/2005
Rep Moran, James P. [VA-8 Alexandria, Reston - D] - 9/27/2006

West Virginia
Rep Rahall, Nick J., II [WV-3 Beckley, Bluefield, Huntington, Logan - D] -
6/16/2005
Rep Mollohan, Alan B. [WV-1 Wheeling, Clarksburg D] - 5/25/2006

Wisconsin
Rep Kind, Ron [WI-3 LaCrosse, Eau Claire - D] - 5/26/2005
Rep Baldwin, Tammy [WI-2 Madison, Beloit - D] - 9/8/2005
Rep Moore, Gwen [WI-4 Milwaukee D] - 6/9/2006

Today, ADAPT will be meeting with Timothy Kaiser, of the Public Housing Authority. The meeting is the result of the ADAPT action on Tuesday, September 12th. Mr. Kaiser is the person who has the authority to get the public housing authorities across the nation to set aside Section 8 vouchers for people with disabilities who are transitioning from institutional settings. I will find out what happened in the meeting and post it here.

On Friday, I attended a transportation seminar of sorts that was put on by the Dc Center for Independent Living (DCCIL). The seminar was mainly about the right of people with disabilities to use public transportation, with an emphasis on Metro. There were presenters from Metro Access, the office of ADA Programs (ADAP), and the Department of Transportation. I was asked to speak briefly about the Public Bus Forum that the Elderly and Disabled Committee would like to sponser.

Overall, the seminar was pretty good, and the attendance was good as well. Participants were able to ask questions and voice concerns about all aspects of transportation in the metro area. Of course, the main topic was the concerns about Metro Access. That is still a sore spot with many folks. Some of the folks wanted to know about getting orientation training so that they could use the fixed route system.

I wanted to know about any sensitivity training that Metro bus operators receive. My main concern is that the training is ineffective, and the bus operators are not retaining it. The operators, for the most part, are a polite bunch, but there are a significant number whose actions make it bad for all of their peers in the eyes of the disability community. I am also concerned that the operators are not retaining the training that they receive regarding the operation of the lifts and other accessibilty features. Another problem according to the seminar participants is that drivers are so scared of passengers that they will not ask them to give up the seats to elderly or disabled, particularly, folks who use wheelchairs. 

My frustration is that the community has no choice but to go to Metro for answers, but Metro, of course, will protect their employees, or defend their practices. I would like to attend a training to see for myself what these operators are learning. It would be interesting to see what kind of attitude the operators have about the subject matter, as well as the questions that they ask, or don’t ask.

Finally, I have a major frustration with Metro’s practice of not keeping their buses clean or working properly. I regularly ride the L2, which operates of of the garage known as Western. That garage is notorious for getting all of the old trash from Metro that goes out on the street. The bus sytem is nothing but the stepchild of Metro, full of poor and powerless people, while most of the money and resources are spent on the rail, which is chock full of affluent folks with lots of money and power. What ends up happening is that the buses are broken down and dirty, and according to bus operators, Metro doesn’t have the funds for bus upkeep. Metro says that the problem is with Maintainance; they aren’t making sure that the buses are functioning properly, or that they have the proper maps and schedules, and they sure aren’t making sure that the buses are clean.

Friday’s seminar brought to the surface a number of frustrations and issues, and in the coming months, I will be checking into some stuff, and having some deep conversations with Metro folks. The more I hear from Metro customers with disabilities, the more I am convinced that we need a Bus Forum to get things out into the open, and sort them out.

Wednesday, September 13

At 9 am, we began lining up in our assigned places. Soon we were off. I had to make the decision whether or not to get arrested if it comes to that. Normally, I would go in a heartbeat, but I had Candice with me, and I know that she didn’t want to be arrested. I decided to chill out this time, and stay back.

After a while, I noticed that we were in stealth mode again. Soon, we were streaming through the doors of the Capitol Hill Hilton. The various Managed Care Organizations (MCO’s) were having their convention here. With the government wanting more involvement of MCO’s in Medicaid, ADAPT wants them to respect the principles of independent living and consumer direction, and not try to make their money off of the backs of people with disabilities. Within minutes, the lobby was jam packed with hundreds of ADAPT folks yelling and chanting, “We are not your cash cows! Meet with ADAPT now!” We chanted, “Karen Ignagni, meet with ADAPT!” Karen Ignagni is the President and CEO of America’s Health Iinsurance Policy (AHIP), and her group, along with another were there. ADAPT wants Karen to write a national policy that would incorporate independent living, and consumer direction. 

I was amazed that we had managed to take over a hotel lobby two days in a row. I had memories of previous actions back in the day. I found myself near Babs and little Stephanie, who is now a teenager, and taller than I. To my left were Candice, Evan, and The Boys–brothers Eric and Andrew Roybal, from Denver. The Boys are 17 and 19, and it is their first action. They are rap artisits, and pretty good, too! There were several ADAPT folks dressed as cows, and everyone had a cool little cow mask. We rocked the Hilton so loud that they heard us on the second floor, where the meetings were being held. After a couple of hours, the negotiating team came down to annouce that Karen Ignagni would meet with us in 30 days. She was really interested in the things that ADAPT had to say, and the negotiators felt that the meeting was very positive.

Fresh from that victory, we then went over to the Rayburn Building where the Congressional Oversight Committee was having hearings on the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). About 100 or more of us stayed for the hearings, of which several important points were brought up, including the weakening of the definition of disability, and the impact that this has on people with certain disabilities such as epilepsy and diabetes.

Thursday, September 14

Thursday morning, cold and rainy, found us at HUD. That action brought back memories and flashbacks of earlier actions back in the day. HUD had been visited by ADAPT so many times that the police immediately took an ADAPT team upstairs to negotiate. We kept up the pressure downstairs with loud and rowdy chanting and singing in the rain. For a while the negotiations went bad, and the ADAPT team walked out, but not wanting to deal with several hundred angry ADAPTers, the Deputy Secretary of HUD brought the team back in, and began agreeing to the demands, one of which was to send out letters to all of the Public Housing Authorities supporting Access Across America, and earmarking Section 8 vouchers for people with disabilities transitioning from nursing homes and other institutions. She then came down and announced to ADAPT that the letter would go out before November 1.

We then headed over to the Republican National Committee Headquarters. ADAPT wants a meeting with Ken Mehlman, the Chair of the Committee. We want Mehlman to endorse MiCASSA, the Community Choice Act, and Money Follows the Person. So far, after several hits, we have never been able to get a meeting. Some of us managed to get into the building, while the rest of us shut it down tight! We blocked every entrance and sidewalk. I must say that along with the usual nasty remarks from angry Republicans, we did encounter some folks who truely wanted to know about MiCASSA.

The ADAPT gods, who’d been smiling upon us all week with successes, now smiled upon us again. We received notice through Mr. Jozefiak that Ken Mehlman has agreed to meet with ADAPT before the end of the year. This is amazing! The RNC has never before agreed to meet with ADAPT.

Friday, September 15

Dawn and I got up early today to listen to NPR. Joe Shapiro, a reporter for NPR who does stories on disability issues, and the author of Without Pity, a book about disability rights, has done a show about the collaboration between CMS administrator, Dr. Mark McClellan and ADAPT. The segment was very, very good, and brought back memories, as I was one of the ADAPT members out there blocking Pennsylvaina Ave., and who spoke with McClellan when he came out to meet with us. I swelled with pride when McClellan stated that his proudest achievement was working with ADAPT on MiCASSA and MFP.

ADAPT then prepared for its Day on the Hill. This is the day when we scour the Hill, visiting every Senator and Representative’s office, giving them information packets about MiCASSA, and thanking those that support it already. My group visited the offices of Sen. Dodd, Sen. Clinton, Sen. Bayh, Sen. Lott, and several other senators from Oklahoma, Georgia, Oregon, and Wisconsin. Rep. Bobby Rush, from Illinois, signed on to MiCASSA right there, and Sen John Kerry, a MiCASSA supporter took pictures with ADAPT activists. It is even possible that Sen. Ken Salazar, of Colorado might sign on. Dawn happened to be sitting directly behind him on the plane to DC, so she dashed off a two-page letter about the benefits of MiCASSA and Money Follows the Person, and how it can help Colorado. Sen. Salazar wrote Dawn back on his own stationary that he would check into both. He then had his staff call Dawn and invited her to a meeting that was already set up with Boulder ADAPT. Dawn says that the meeting went well.

Saturday, September 16

So ends a wonderful week of actions. I felt a twinge of sadness saying goodbye to everyone. This was a week of firsts for ADAPT, the most exciting for me being the involvement of so many youth. I noticed that kids who’d been born into ADAPT, or who’d come in very young were now growing up, and in their late teens, and early twenties. New ADAPT youth are coming in, and getting excited about standing up for themselves and others. I wish the young folks who are getting involved all the best, and I hope to see them around, and to eventually hand the baton of leadership over to them. Here’s what ADAPT had to say about the youth:

* ADAPT conducting its first Youth Summit, prior to the ADAPT Action, and having a general emphasis on youth throughout the week. Among the youth attending the action were disability rights filmmaker Eric Clow, from California; Candice Clark, from West Virginia, a member of the West Virginia Youth Disability Caucus that got legislation passed this year creating a Disability History Week in West Virginia; Eric and Andrew Roybal, brothers from Colorado who have written and recorded the first-ever disability rights rap song; Colin Olenick, a member of the Kansas Youth Leadership Network; Jamie, fresh out of a Georgia rehab facility; Sarah Watkins, a University of Michigan undergrad, who has spent most of 2006 researching the history and non-violent organizing strategies of ADAPT; Lisa Navarette of Texas; Paul Daye from Philadelphia; and Amber Smock of Chicago, one of the Youth Summit Organizers.

* The Kansas City Star newspaper following ADAPT youth Colin Olenick  from Overland Park, Kansas through the week.

http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/news/15531863.htm
(http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/news/15531863.htm)

Colin’s congressman, Rep. Dennis Moore (D-KS) has been a consistent and early co-sponsor of MiCASSA legislation. 

Lead on ADAPT Youth…Lead on!

Monday, September 11

I am excited about a number of things–seeing old friends, the upcoming week, and the fact that the young folks who’d stayed on after the ADAPT Youth Summit were out and about, and making friends.

Tuesday, September 12

 We lined up along the front of the hotel, then, set out single file, into the street. I notice that there aren’t many people about. I can’t figure out why until later, when we pass a group of people on the sidewalk near the Judiciary Square Metro station. A man calls out to me, and I recognize my friend, Bill O’Field, with the Board of Elections and Ethics. Now I know why the streets are empty. It’s Primary Day, and most folks are lined up in their polling places trying to vote. I’m glad I voted early!

We continue on chanting and singing, when suddenly, it goes dead quiet, and there is tension and urgency in the air. We pack it in tight, and move stealthily along the final blocks to our target. Suddenly, we dip into an underground parking lot, and find ourselves before a door leading to a hall, which led to a giant lobby. We stream through the doors, and down the hall, and burst into the lobby chanting, “We want Kaiser!” Timothy Kaiser is the head of the Public Housing Authority department that can assign Section 8 vouchers to persons with disabilities who are transitioning from nursing homes and other institutions.

I found myself at an escalator with Barbara Toomer on one side, and Sparky Metz, from Texas on the other. Some of our folks began unfurling our banners at the tops of some of the escalators. One of the building staff manhandled Sparky out of the way, but couldn’t get far. Barbara had to go and help with negotiations, so I took over the escalator, parking my wheelchair sideways, and placing my feet against the sides. No one could get past me without hurting themselves, and thankfully, no one tried! Pam Taggert, and Candice Clark were with me, and we got up a good, loud chant.

Needless to say, the police were running around trying to get the powers to be to meet with us. They warn them that we will not leave the lobby if they do not meet with us. The building staff are hoping and praying that we will go away. Meanwhile, we keep up the chanting and noise.

After an hour or so, we get the news that Kaiser will meet with us on the 25th of September. We also find out that our group had split off, and some of us had gone over to the meeting of the Coucil of Large Public Housing Authorities. That scene went bad at first, with threats of arrests, and a nasty attitude from the CLPHA folks. Finally through creative methods, ADAPT got the name of their head, and got directly in touch with her, and she directed the folks there to set up a meeting on October 4th.

We then went back to the hotel to get ready to welcome the folks from the Catholic Bishops. The organization, after a hit on them by ADAPT back in July, decided to meet today with several ADAPTers. They have decided to support MiCASSA, and wrote a letter to Rep. Danny Davis’s office to that effect.

Stay tuned for more…

The ADAPT Youth Summit was good. There were twelve youths from around the nation–California, Massachusetts, South Carolina, Pennsylvania, Michigan, West Virginia, Illinois, Virginia, Washington State, Florida, and Texas.

Friday, the 8th, began with introductions and icebreakers, dinner, ADAPT Jeopardy, and an intergenerational chat. Bob Kafka, Stephanie Thomas, Cassie James, Yoshiko Dart, Rahnee Patrick, Michael Heinrich, Randy Alexander, and I were the ADAPT veterans who chatted with the young folks. Some of them had never really advocated for themselves, or others, and had just come out of the “pity me” stage. Others had done quite a bit, like Candice, from West Virginia, a member of the West Virginia Youth Disability Caucus that got legislation passed this year creating a Disability History Week in West Virginia, and Eric Clow, a disability rights filmaker from California.

Saturday, the 9th, began with several games designed to teach the youth about power, and who has it, and negotiations skills. We then discussed ADAPT history, dynamics, and tactics. This then led to a session on organizing, and how to organize a meeting using the negotiation skills that were learned. The youths then organized a real action that would take place the next day.

Sunday, the 10th, was a beautiful sunny day, a perfect day for an action! The Starbuck’s located at 325 7th St., NW was inaccessible. There is a door on the side that is accessible, but that door is always locked. The youth participants had decided from start to finish how this action would come off. We vets were mainly there for support.

At about 11 am, we arrived at the Starbuck’s. Two of the youth leaders went in, and asked for the manager. After a few minutes, she came out, but was rude. She didn’t know why the door was locked, and she didn’t have time to speak with us.

We then went into full demo mode, whipping out signs, and passing out leaflets explaining what was going on, ans outlining our demands, which were that the accessible door remain open, and that there be signage at the front door regarding the accessible entrance.

Since the manager didn’t want to deal with us, we stepped it up by doing a “coffee crawl-up”. Eric and Cassie crawled up the stairs, opened the door, and blocked it. Later, I crawled up with Eric so that Cassie coud assist the youth leaders in dealing with the police. Eric and I began loudly chanting, “Access is our civil right!” The chanting reverberated throughout the Starbuck’s, and you’d better believe it, the police came fast! Since there wouldn’t be any arrests, we got away from the door, and the police began to help us negotiate with the manager.

In the end, we got the number to the regional manager for the DC Region, as well as the number to Starbuck’s corporate offices. We decided to call them tomorrow with the demands, and to set up a meeting. We would then do follow-up in the days and weeks to come.

We went back to the hotel to debrief those who did not go, and to plan our next steps. The Summit ended with the youth describing what their favorite part of the Summit, and telling what they would do when they got back to their home towns. Several of the youth participants, including Paul, Candice, Eric, and Dan, as well as youth facilitators, Amber and Sarah are staying for the entire week of ADAPT actions, and will follow up on Starbuck’s. I am so excited!

On Monday, the 11th, as ADAPT was coming into town, the ADAPT Youth Committee placed calls to the regional offices of Starbuck’s. The person was not available, so messages were left, and faxes were sent.

A few days later, the youth leaders received a call from Starbuck’s requesting more information about what happened. Here is the email that was sent:

Dear Ms. Huard,
 
Thank you so much for promptly returning our phone call this afternoon, September 15, 2006, regarding our concerns with physical accessibility at one of your Starbucks locations in Washington, D.C.
 
We visited the Starbucks on 325 7th St. NW on Sunday, September 10, 2006 as part of a direct-action ADAPT training for youth with disabilities, and discovered that the “accessible” entrance to the store was regularly kept locked and that it did not feature any signage indicating the entrance as accessible.
 
When we raised these concerns with the manager on duty, Sheila Dennis, we were treated disrespectfully and ultimately told that the decision to place signage at the accessible entrance rested with the Starbucks Company, not the local store.  We tried unsuccessfully to reach Mark Wentworth, the regional director for the D.C. area, by phone, at which point we contacted you.
 
Although our primary request is that the accessible entrance to the Starbucks at 325 7th St. NW remains unlocked and is properly marked, we are also concerned that a lack of physical accessibility and/or signage indicating the existence of accessible entrances is a problem at other Starbucks locations across the country.
 
We would like to work with you to ensure that all Starbucks stores are accessible and welcoming environments for customers with a variety of physical disabilities.   We would like to set up a conference call meeting with you and other relevant Starbucks personnel to discuss what Starbucks is currently doing to meet the needs of its customers with disabilities and how it needs to improve its services to customers with disabilities by the end of November, 2006.  Please contact our point person, Eric Clow, at (510) 685-9183 or eric.clow@hotmail.com to follow through on this issue.
 
Respectfully yours,
 
The ADAPT Youth Community
 
Candice Clark – Beckley, WV
Eric Clow – Berkeley, CA
Paul Daye – Elkins Park, PA
Stephanie George – Manassas, VA
Joe Hall – Pawley’s Island, SC
Dan Patterson – Chico, CA
Sarah Watkins – Ann Arbor, MI

Ms. Huard did respond to the email, but the ADAPT Youth Committee would like for more to be done. I will keep you posted on what happens.

Well, its been another week, or shall I say, ten days! On Thursday, the 7th, I did my last poll worker sensitivity training with Laura White, of the Inclusion Institute. That was fun! I also took pictures for a guide that the EAS will be putting out.

Before I took off for the day, I decided to vote, since I would not be able to do it on Tuesday. I did vote for Marie Johns. Though she didn’t win, I think that she did run a good race.

I then went home, and did some puttering about, then, packed and rested up for the ADAPT Youth Summit, and the 5 day ADAPT action that would follow. Both were amazing!

Stay tuned for the details…

Here is an email response from Gwyn Green, a member of the Colorado House of Representatives, regarding my Mum’s letter asking for support for MFP, as well as a request that the legislators encourage the state to apply for the MFP grants.

Dear Ms. Bozeman,

Thank you for writing of this worthy program, which I did not know even existed. I am a strong supporter of HCBS, and as you point out, we need the housing to go along with it.
It is incomprehensible to me that Mr. Tool would not be looking into this grant. 

It is really up to the governor to make sure the department heads he appoints do their job. The legislature cannot do so, although they can inquire, which I will. 

It is just so important that our new governor supports SOCIAL ISSUES such as good health care and independence.

Sincerely,
Gwyn Green

CMS has released the list of states that have expressed an interest in
applying for Money Follows the Person. 35 states and the District of
Columbia have shown their intent to apply.

This is NOT a list of states that have applied, they have said they are
intending to apply.  Applications are due November 1st.  If your state DID
express an interest you still want to make sure they DO apply, and if they
did NOT express an interest there is still time for them to do an actual
application — but they will need prodding RIGHT AWAY.

As of 9/15/06

States that DID express an interest in applying for MFP:

Arkansas

California

Connecticut

Delaware

District of Columbia

Florida

Georgia

Hawaii

Illinois

Indiana

Iowa

Kansas

Kentucky

Louisiana

Maine

Maryland

Michigan

Mississippi

Missouri

Montana

Nevada

New Hampshire

New Jersey

New Mexico

New York

North Carolina

North Dakota

Ohio

Oklahoma

Pennsylvania

Tennessee

Texas

Virginia

West Virginia

Wisconsin

Wyoming

States that did NOT express Interest in Applying for MFP:

Alabama

Alaska

Arizona

Colorado

Idaho

Massachusetts

Minnesota

Nebraska

Oregon

Rhode Island

South Carolina

South Dakota

Utah

Vermont

Washington