FYI--ISM

-----Original Message-----
From: [log in to unmask] [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
On Behalf Of [log in to unmask]
Sent: Thursday, November 04, 1999 12:08 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: ADAPT Indicts Taft and Holds Meeting with Medicaid Director



FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE           For more information, contact:
November 3, 1999                        Shona Eakin (419) 349-5483
                                        Marsha Katz (406) 829-9495
                                        Bob Kafka (512) 431-4085
                                        Mike Auberger (303) 356-2273

ADAPT Indicts Taft and Holds Meeting with Medicaid Director

    ADAPT secured a commitment for a meeting next week with Jackie
Romer-Sensky, Director of the Ohio Department of Human Services, and
delivered an indictment of Governor Bob Taft to the Governor's office
completing a successful week of demonstrations in Columbus, Ohio.

    The indictment of Governor Taft was delivered to the 30th floor of the
Riffe Building by 5 ADAPT representatives, following a public "reading the
names" of people who have died or are still being held in nursing homes and
institutions in Ohio and other states.

    Specific charges by ADAPT against Governor Taft include;
"Incarcerating over 100,000 people with disabilities, old and young, in
nursing homes and other institutions without real choice;"
"Spending 89% of long term care dollars on nursing homes and other
institutions;"
"Failing to implement the Supreme Court decision 'Olmstead v L.C. and
E.W.';"
and
"Ignoring requests by the disability community to meet to discuss the issue
of changing institutional bias in Ohio."

    As 400 ADAPT members demonstrated against Taft in front of the Riffe
Building, 5 representatives met with Ohio Medicaid Director Barbara Edwards
and other Human Services officials. This was the meeting that was prevented
Tuesday when Ohio's Highway Patrol began mass arrests of protestors just as
they were about to disperse peacefully on their own per their agreement with
Human Services staffer Sharon Bushong.  The half hour meeting concluded with
arrangements for a second meeting next week with Edwards, and another with
Romer-Sensky.

    "We made more progress with the state this week than in the whole past
year," said Ohio ADAPT organizer Shona Eakin. "Now they know we mean
business
and we're here for as long as it takes to free our people."
                                        ###



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FOR MORE INFORMATION on American Disabled for Attendant Programs Today
(ADAPT)
        Please visit our website at http://www.adapt.org/

For direct inquiries regarding this press release please use the contact
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