What a Week–part 2
The odyssey continues…
Monday, Auguat 21
Mum and I head down to Atlantis where we learn that there has not yet been any response from HCPF. I catch up on old times with Dawn, and several friends in the office. One project that Dawn and Babs are working in is making the arrangements for two youths, brothers aged 19 and 17 to go on the upcoming action to DC. They want to go, and have permission from their aunt, who is their guardian, but the airline is refusing to take them because they both use ventilaters due to Muscular Dystrophy. Babs send the airline a copy of the Air Carriers Act, which clearly states that ventilaters are allowed, but the contact says that FAA regulations trump the Air Carriers Act. She tries to make arrangement for brothers to travel on another airline, but it will cost ADAPT a fortune.
Later, Dawn, Sheila, and I go to a coffeehouse called Wired for drinks. Dawn has befriended the owner, and they have worked on several activities together. There on the walls is some beautiful artwork, done by our friend, Sher Stewart. Cool!
Back at the office, Dawn gives me a tour of the How To Place, a community resource center primarily for people with disabilities that she has founded. I remember when she was working on getting the space, and the funding for it. Already, they are doing great things! Dawn says that when they have done some redecorating, I can post a link here so that folks can see the new look. I’m looking forward to that!
Tuesday, August 22
Mum and I head back to Atlantis, where we learn that Larry Williams has spoken to Steve Tool, director of HCPF. He informs them that he will not be participating in the conference call with CMS. He states the same reason for not doing so. Larry and Dawn ask him to at least place a call to someone at CMS who can verify once and for all if Colorado is eligible to aplly for the MFP grants. They give him the number, and Tool says that he may call the person at CMS but he’ll give us a call about 11:30.
At the appointed time, there is no call, so ADAPT decides that we will go down to the HCPF office ourselves to see if we can convince Mr. Tool to make the call, or have one of his staff to do so. We decide that if we can’t get them to make the call, we will make the call, ourselves. We also plan what action to take in case we are not allowed into the building, which is a distinct possibility.
Nine of us go down to the State Human Services Building, where the HCPF office is located. We tell the woman at the front desk that we are there for the conference call. She is, of course, confused, and we ask her to have Diane Rodriguez come down. Diane comes down, and tells us that Tool, et al, still don’t know if they will participate in the conference call. We inform Diane that we will stay there, and do the call ourselves if the decision is made not to participate. We ask her to listen in if she wants, but she declines, saying that she hasn’t been given the authority to do so. She asks that if we intend to stay, to make a pathway so that people can get through. This, we gladly do, and promise that we would leave after the call.
Shortly before 1:00 pm, the time of the call, Diane comes back to us with a message from Steve Tool. He wants the entire hallway cleared, and us to go into the lobby, which would entail going back outside, going around to the front of the building, and hoping and praying that the lift, which is unreliable, at best, will work. Citing this, we politely, yet vehemently refuse to leave our spot. Diane spends a few minutes trying to convince us to move, or even leave, but then realizes that her attempts are futile, and leaves.
It’s one o’clock, and time for the call. Since Dawn’s cell phone has the best signal strength, the call will be made from it, and Dawn will participate, with the rest of the group listening in via speakerphone. I formulate and write down the question based on the information given to us by HCPF. At first, we realize that we have the wrong number, and start to call Babs for the correct number, but then, I remember that I have the right one, whip it out, and we make the call. Dawn signs in as herself, and says that she is at the State Medicaid Building. We listen to the information, which is so full of technobabble, that I can’t remember it now. After a few minutes, we see Steve Tool go by giving us angry looks. In fact, we see a number of HCPF staff whom we have been working with pass by giving us baleful looks. Diane Rodriguez comes down with a couple of state troopers with bikes, and goes into a far corner, out of sight.
The time comes for call participants to ask questions. They must state their name and affiliation, and then wait for the opportunity to ask their question. Dawn once again, gives her name and states that she is at the State Medicaid Building, then, waits in the queue. Several people from around the country ask questions, and receive answers. When it comes to Dawn’s turn, the facilitator says, “Dawn Russell, with the State Medicaid office”. I wince at this. Dawn reads the question, which basically asks if the fact that the state uses its budget in an MFP-like fashion, and the existence of the Community Transition Services waiver would prevent it from being eligible to apply for the MFP grant. CMS staff respond with a resounding NO, and goes on to say that states with prior participation in MFP demonstration projects will not automatically get the grant money, but that Colorado should apply for the grant. We erupted in a chorus of cheers and clapping, listened for a few more moments, then ended the call and left the building as we had promised.
We called Babs and told her the good news. She did not realize that we, ourselves, were on the call. We then got lunch at Burger King (a horrid affair, complete with exceedingly rude staff) and went back to the office to regroup and debrief the others.
Mum and I went to a shop call the Karmic Cafe. The place was the kind of shop that I love, replete with incense, crystals, Tarot cards, music, and artwork. The owner is a friend of Mum’s named Richard, who is quite nice. All of us then go to the ARC thrift store, and Mum buys me a ton of stuff, including jeans, slacks, sweats, T-shirts, and sweaters for only $17.50, thanks to her Senior Discount! We then go home, and Mum prepares some of her delicious chicken and pastry. We all enjoy dinner, and I tell Richard a bit about myself, and what I do.
Wednesday, August 23
I spend most of the day reading, resting, and taking some calls from back in Dc. Later in the afternoon, we go to the office so that I can say goodbye to everyone. I almost didn’t get to see Dawn because latonya told me that she was in a meeting, but didn’t tell me that the meeting was in the How To Place. David, Dawn’s fiance, who is the new wheelchair repairman and DME person at Atlantis comes in, and I ask him to tell Dawn goodbye. He goes back and brings Dawn with him. It turns out that she is meeting with Miss Wheelchair Colorado. Dawn and I hug, and say our goodbyes. Mum then takes me to a sports store to get some new gloves.
Later, I pack my things and reminisce about the week. I smile remembering my and Dawn’s coffee outing at Colorado Mills Mall on Sunday, and our decision to crash Sheila’s Wrestling Summer Slam party. Sheila didn’t invite us because she thought that we didn’t like wrestling, but she was glad to see us when we came. I got to see Derrex, who’s taller than me, and now working at Atlantis, Alan, and Angie. I had a good time, and spent the night so that Mum wouldn’t have to make that long trip to Sheila’s to pick me up. I reminded myself to call peggy. I’d seen her on the bus the next day, on my way to Atlantis. Peggy is a dear friend, who is the daughter-in-law of another dear friend, and ADAPT member. I also saw Julie Reiskin, of Colorado Cross Disabilities Coalition. Since she serves on the state Medicaid Board, I told her about what happened with Steve Tool. I was glad that I’d gotten to sit down with my buddies, Larry Williams, Larry Ruiz, Juan, Nola, Duc, Linh, Radine, Rich Bueno, Frank Rodriquez, Jeannette, and the Learning Center crew. I wanted to go see Rick Viator, my former neighbor, who is also an ADAPT member, but he was in Louisiana visiting his family. Shucks and darn!
I spent the rest of the evening with Mum and Harry, who’d come by to say goodbye. I’ll miss him; he’s a sweetheart, and fun to talk to. I played with Streak, who’s normally a scared kitten, but who allowed me to pet and play with her.
Thursday, August 24
We get an early start, and stop by Walgreens to get some headphones for my CD player. We then get to the airport, where Mum drops me off after we hug and say out goodbyes. I’m a bit worried about Mum. I know that she is missing Popz, and going through it, but she is putting a brave face on it. I want her to be able to stay busy, and she promises that the will stay in close touch with ADAPT, and do stuff with them. I have, in turn, pressed the folks at the office to call Mum when stuff comes up, and not to leave her out of the loop. Since Mum is a magnet for folks with disabilities in need of help and advocacy, I know that she will be busy in that respect, too. Plus, she has groups and therapy, so I know that in the long run, she’ll be all right. Still, I’m going to mak sure that I call her more often just to see how she’s doing. I love her so much, and want her to be around for a long, long, time. After all, we’ve got lots of work to do! 
The flight was uneventful. I didn’t get sick this time. I went to get my bag, and then, turned on my cell phone. Not two minutes later, I got a call from the chief of staff of a Mayoral candidate. The candidate want me to join their campaign. I ask the staffperson if I can sit down with the candidate before I commit to anything, and the staffperson promises to get back with me. Since the primary is only a few days away, I don’t anticipate hearing from them, whci may turn out to be ok, because to be honest, though I won’t be serving in the Primary due to the ADAPT activities, I intend to serve as a poll worker in the General election in November, so I won’t be able to work on a campaign.
I make it home, get in the door, and realize how exhausted I am! I unpack, thankful that Mum has a washing machine, and I didn’t have to bring home a load of dirty clothes. I check my email, and answer some phone messages, and realize that I probably won’t get much rest over the weekend…