There are numerous articles about what happened on the CDR website, as well as articles I’ve written for Associated Content that will outline the full story. Needless to say, it was quite nasty (and possibly illegal) on the County’s part!

Thank you to ADAPT folks from Binghamton, NY, Philadelphia, and Georgia who came to Maggieville to support us!

UPDATE

It looks like the judge reserved his decision, so it could take up to another two weeks before we hear what the final decision will be.

Just as I was getting back into the swing of regular workdays, I was rushed to the hospital with horrible pain in my legs, from my hips to my ankles. At first, it was thought that there were blood clots in my legs, but thank goodness, that’s not the case. My doctor says that there are a number if things going on simultaneously, but he has to figure out what they are. I do have arthritis in my hips and knees, but that doesn’t account for all the pain that I’m in. The doc thinks that something neurological is going on, and wants me to get a nerve conduction test, or EMG in my legs as well as an MRI of my brain, as he thinks that there could be lesions on the brain due to Multiple Sclerosis.

I am at home for now. The doctor will not release me to return to work until he sees me again in early September. It’s just as well, since I can neither sit nor stand for any length of time. Hopefully, the three new pain meds that I’m now on will kick in and start to work. I’ll keep you updated on what is going on.

I’m excited because I’ll be assuming the duties of the sitting Region II Rep, and beginning my own two-year term as Region II Rep!

I also will be doing two presentations – one with our Transportation Advocate, and one with my friend, Cliff Perez, from Albany, NY about the fight for accessible public transit in the US. This is the twentieth anniversary of the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act, and accessible public transportation is an important part of the ADA.

I’m looking forward to seeing my ADAPT friends there!

How do I feel, and whats in store for me? I’ve written about that in an article at Associated Content. Click here to read about whats next for me!

My Interview with Fox News

Nancy Pelosi Heckled by Disable During Speech

Public Restroom Etiquette and the Wheelchair Accessible Stall

What is a Regional rep, and what do they do? Here it is straight from NCIL:

“The Regional Representative is the pivotal position in NCIL’s communication system with its membership. The Regional Representative is responsible for communicating at least quarterly with NCIL members regarding IL issues and working with any other group interested in pursuing NCIL’s goals within his or her respective region. The Regional Reps will assist the NCIL board and committees in building and coordinating grassroots coalition to advance NCIL’s advocacy activities. The NCIL Regional Representatives will also assist in the recruitment and retention of NCIL members. The regional representatives will disseminate information related to regional or state advocacy efforts to their regional members.”

NCIL is divided into 10 regions across the nation. Region 2 includes New York, New Jersey, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands. I am excited and honored to run for this position, and honored that Diane, our Director of Advocacy, and my boss, nominated me for this. Here is the text of the nomination:

2010 Nomination

National Council on Independent Living

Region II Representative

Anita Cameron has been an activist for the rights of people with disabilities for over 20 years.  Ms. Cameron is a member of ADAPT, National Council on Independent Living (NCIL), American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD), and Not Dead Yet. Over her many years as a leader in the disability community, Ms. Cameron has demonstrated a commitment to grassroots organizing, direct action, civil rights, communication, and diversity.  Ms. Cameron embodies many of the values which NCIL embraces.

Ms. Cameron currently lives in Rochester, NY, and works for the Center for Disability Rights.  She has lived in Chicago, Denver, Philadelphia, and Washington, DC, among others.  Ms. Cameron’s father is of Cuban decent and she has family in Puerto Rico.  In her work and volunteer activities over the years, Ms. Cameron has:

•    Served on and chaired ADA transit advisory committees in major cities;
•    Written numerous disability rights articles published in both disability and mainstream publications, including the Greeley (CO) Tribune, and Associated Content;
•    Maintained her own disability rights and social justice blog entitled The Roving Activist;
•    Served as a strategy team leader in national ADAPT actions pushing for disability civil rights regarding transportation and long term services and supports;
•    Composed email action alerts on disability issues that generated over 22,000 advocate communications to policy makers in 2009 alone

In our discussions about possibly becoming the representative for Region II, Ms. Cameron expressed sincere excitement about being able to communicate with the NCIL members across New Jersey, New York, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.  She also expressed a desire to work toward greater involvement of the NCIL grassroots in working for the systems changes that will improve the lives of people with disabilities across our nation.

Ms. Cameron would happily seek and communicate input from the disability community in Region II regarding NCIL issues, effective immediately, at her email acameron@cdrnys.org. She has stated that she looks forward to being able to proudly represent the people of Region II.

A cloudy sky greeted ADAPTers yesterday morning as we stepped of to begin our day. Rain was forcasted but we were prepared with varous types of rain gear.

Off we went to the first of what would be two hits. The first target was the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ). ADAPT wants Attorney General Eric Holder to aggressively and affirmatively enforce Olmstead and protect the civil rights of people with disabilities.

I had been having scooter troubles, and five minutes into the march, the scooter died. Fortunately, we have vans follow us for just this purpose. I was scooped up and taken to the action site.

Things were underway when I arrived. The AG’s staff were being obstinate, but the police were helping to facilitate negotiations. They were worried about a Free Mumia protest scheduled for later, and did not want to deal with two sets of protesters.

Finally it was agreed for two ADAPT leaders would go inside and meet with AG Holder. He agreed to meet with us again on Wednesday at our hotel so that he could hear stories from our folks about people being unnecessarily institutionalized. He also agreed to pusue Olmstead complaints.

After our victory, we had lunch, and headed to our next target, the National Governors’ Association (NGA). ADAPT wants the NGA to support the Community Choice Act. We also want them held accountable for the budget cuts that are devastating our community.

Things were intense at first, but after some time, three leaders went inside to meet with NGA Executive Director, Ray Sheppach. He agreed that NGA would work on implementation of states Best Practices policy, and also agreed to meet with ADAPT again in ten days.

Today, we’re going to be out there again working to FREE OUR PEOPLE!!! Stay tuned.

I have been wheeling and dancing my way around Upper Senate Park to help raise money to keep the work of ADAPT going. I have been in ADAPT for 24 years, and have witnessed, and have been a part of it all.

I am SO pumped up for our upcoming direct actions! I’ll keep you posted.

I’ll be in and out with updates about what is going on. Stay tuned!