Adapt Marks Freedom Day in Albany Again
Adapt activists nationwide designated Martin Luther King's January
15 birthday as "Freedom Day" to bring attention to the goal of de-institutionalizing
people with disabilities.
In New York state about 30 activists traveled to Albany. They marched
quietly into the Capitol Building at around noon, passed through the
security checkpoint and made their way swiftly to the second floor
where the governor has his office. They didn't stop in the governor's
waiting room, where many sit-ins have been held and where a year
ago eight activists were arrested, but marched right to the door
of the governor's office. State troopers guarded the door from the
inside, so the activists blocked all comings and goings. "Our Homes Not Nursing
Homes" they chanted as many colorful signs were held up.
"Governor Pataki has failed to make Olmstead implementation a priority
for New York state," said upstate organizer Bruce Darling. "In his
State of the State address he made no mention of Olmstead or the right
of people with disabilities and seniors to live in the community."
Downstate organizer Nadina LaSpina added, "It has been four years
since the Supreme Court's Olmstead decision. And it's four months
since Pataki signed the Most Integrated Setting Bill into law. That law
was needed because we couldn't get the state moving on Olmstead implementation.
And still the state hasn't gotten moving. The coordinating council
which is supposed to develop the implementation plan, and which is
mandated by the law, hasn't even been appointed yet. We cannot wait
any longer."
"I save the state a lot of money by living at home with attendant
services rather than in a nursing home," said Danny Robert of New
York City (NYC) ADAPT, waving the Freedom Day handout. The leaflet
points out that community-based services are less expensive than institutional
care. Based on a cost analysis study, providing services in a person's
own home rather than in a nursing home saves the state $1,624 per
person per month.
The activists maintained the demonstration for nearly two hours,
keeping up a loud and consistent chanting. They attracted a lot of
attention including that of Pataki's staff members who committed to
communicating the activists' message to the governor. Then, after a quick
lunch, the activists marched across the concourse to the Department
of Health (DOH).
"The DOH had been holding quarterly meetings with ADAPT, but our
December meeting was cancelled and it hasn't been rescheduled. We just want
to remind them about it," said Chris Hildenbrand of Rochester ADAPT.
The activists lined up against the doors to the DOH and again chanted.
They did not completely block passage, though. It was 4:30 p.m.and
the DOH staff was ready to leave. Everyone who walked out got one
of ADAPT's leaflets. At 5:30, after a last loud chant of "How Do You
Spell Power? A-D-A-P-T," the activists marched out of the building
to head back home. "I think we got our message out loud and clear,"
said LaSpina. "Oh yes," agreed Carr Massi of NYC ADAPT, "so loud that
now I'm totally hoarse and my ears are ringing."
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