-----Original Message-----
From: [log in to unmask] [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
On Behalf Of ADAPT Press Releases
Sent: Tuesday, November 02, 1999 2:43 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: No More Business as Usual--ADAPT Demands Change
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE For more information, contact:
November 2, 1999 Shona Eakin (419) 349-5483
Marsha Katz (406) 239-7485
Bob Kafka (512) 431-4085
Mike Auberger (303) 356-2273
No More Business as Usual--ADAPT Demands Change
COLUMBUS, OH -- Despite a restraining order restricting five or more ADAPT
activists from entering any Ohio state office building, today ADAPT will
call
upon Jackie Senski, the Director of the Ohio Department of Human Services.
The 500 activists are directing Senski, whose office is responsible
for
administering the Medicaid program in Ohio, to implement the US Supreme
Court decision known as Olmstead v. L.C & E.W. That decision, announced in
June, upheld the Americans with Disabilities Act integration mandate, which
says, " A public entity shall administer services, programs, and activities
in
the most integrated setting appropriate to the needs of qualified
individuals
with disabilities."
Despite several requests by ADAPT of Ohio, Senski has refused to meet
with the group. Today national ADAPT will pay her a visit in her Rhoades
Tower office, 30 E. Broad Street in Columbus.
They will bring a list of demands which include establishing a Ohio
Community Integration Committee and appointing 5 ADAPT representatives to
the committee, developing a comprehensive plan to identify people in nursing
homes and other institutions, creating a timetable for getting those people
who
choose to receive services in the community out of institutions, and
request
funds in the budget to implement the plan.
Yesterday ADAPT occupied the offices of Governor Bob Taft and House
Speaker Joanne Davidson for 14 hours. "We sent a message to the
administration and Ohio legislature that ADAPT will not settle for what is
going
on in this state," said ADAPT organizer Bob Kafka of Texas, "There are over
100,000 people in Ohio waiting for community services."
132 arrests were processed during the demonstration, including several
arrests for criminal trespassing when activists attempted to use the
bathroom
of the state office building.
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Please visit our website at http://www.adapt.org/
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