-----Original Message-----
From: Stephanie Thomas <adapt(AT)austin.com>
To: 'GINI' <gini_intl(AT)email.msn.com>
Date: Thursday, March 05, 1998 9:37 PM
Subject: RE: HR 2020
Joan, Thank you for this excellent letter! Can we count GINI among our
MiCASA supporters? Also is it OK if I include this with testimony we submit
at the hearing on March 12th?
Thank you again! Stephanie
PS It would be a huge help if you could share the info on testimony and on
C-span with some of the people in your network. By the way, did you see the
Dear Abby letter in support?
----------
From: GINI[SMTP:gini_intl(AT)email.msn.com]
Sent: Thursday, March 05, 1998 1:53 PM
To: commerce(AT)mail.house.gov
Cc: georgia6(AT)mail.house.gov gephardt(AT)mail.house.gov bkafka(AT)juno.com
jfa(AT)mailbot.com adapt(AT)austin.com epbcddc(AT)aol.com
Subject: HR 2020
Dear Rep. Bilirakis:
Gazette International Networking Institute (GINI) strongly supports the
civil rights of all Americans, but specifically advocates for the inclusion
of people with disabilities. For forty years, GINI has been dedicated to
networking information for polio survivors, users of home mechanical
ventilation, and other people with disabilities.
Today, many individuals with significant disabilities have no other option
but to be institutionalized to meet their basic needs. This
institutionalization is not only costly but wrong. Many individuals could,
if given the choice, live productive lives in their communities with their
families as you and I do.
As a result, GINI unequivocally supports the expansion of community-based
attendant services and urges you to support H.R. 2020, known as MiCASA. The
cost savings to Social Security's Medicaid program is substantial.
Please lend your voice to the bi-partisan call for this bill introduced by
Speaker Gingrich and co-sponsored by House Minority Leader Gephardt to be
approved by the Commerce Committee. Please become a part of the debate and
push this bill into a law that will improve the lives of so many of your
constituents.
If there is any way our network can assist you in your efforts to establish
national attendant services, or if you have any questions regarding the
details surrounding such legislation, please do not hesitate to contact me
or Justine Craig.
Sincerely,
Joan L. Headley
Executive Director
Gazette International Networking Institute
(G.I.N.I.)
coordinator of the International Polio Network
and the International Ventilator Users Network
4207 Lindell Boulevard #110
Saint Louis, MO (Missouri) 63108-2915 USA
314/534-0475 314/534-5070 fax
gini_intl(AT)msn.com
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MiCASA Supporter
______ Please list our organization as a MiCASA Supporter.
______ We would like to work on the state level to support MiCASA.
______ We can provide in-kind resources to support MiCASA.
______ We can provide financial support for MiCASA.
______ Please add us to the MiCASA mailing list for updates.
Name of Organization: _______________________________________
Contact Person: ____________________________________
Address: __________________________________________________
City: _________________ State: _________________ Zip: ____________
Phone: (___) _______________ Fax: (_____) ________________
TDD: (____) _______________ e-mail: ______________________
Send to:
MiCASA Supporter
1319 Lamar SQ. DR Suite 101
Austin, TX 78704
512/442-0252
512/442-0522 (fax)
adapt(AT)adapt.org
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Although the number of speakers at the hearing is very limited, written testimony will be included in the record of the hearing. There are many parts of the story of why we need HR 2020, MiCASA. Personal stories are among the most important parts of the story we can give.
SO...what we need to do is get as many folks as we can to send in written testimony. It can typed or written.
Don't make it too long, about a page.
Include some specific details to illustrate your point:
In the nursing home my room was 8'x12';
We had to go to bed at 7:00 pm;
My girlfriend and I were never able to be alone till I moved into my own place;
The staff repeatedly told me I'd never live on my own in the community.
My attendants know I am the boss and dress me the way I like.
Let them know what your connection to the issue is, why you care about MiCASA:
I lived in a nursing home 5 years,
I use attendant services and it keeps me out of a nursing hom.e
I worry about going to a nursing home when I am older
Other themes you can emphasize are: REAL choice - money follows the individual; Institutional bias - 80% of the dollars go to institutions, only 20% to community services; Family values - Children should be raised at home; Independence/Empowerment - Choice/Control; Potential for work and contributing to the community.
You can either send the testimony to ADAPT MD before March 11 to be handed in at the hearing as part of the MiCASA supporters packet: Gayle Hafner & Crosby King 234 Lord Byron Lane Texas, MD 21030 fax: 410/666-5080 e-mail: maryland.adapt(AT)erols.com
OR mail it directly to the Committee before March 18th (NO faxes or e-mail this way) Ask that it be included as testimony on HR 2020.
The Honorable Michael Bilirakis Chair
Health and the Environment Subcommittee
2125 Rayburn House Office
Washington DC 20515-6115
Send a copy to your own Representative, with a personal note.
Send another copy to ADAPT 1339 Lamar SQ DR #101 Austin, TX 78704
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Content-Disposition: attachment; filename="HR 2020MiCASA.eml"
From: "Mark_Johnson(AT)shepherd.org" <Mark_Johnson(AT)shepherd.org>
To: "gold(AT)tripil.com" <gold(AT)tripil.com>
Cc: "adapt(AT)adapt.org" <adapt(AT)adapt.org>, "national(AT)adapt.org"
<national(AT)adapt.org>, "bkafka(AT)juno.com" <bkafka(AT)juno.com>, "aimparato(AT)ncd.gov" <aimparato(AT)ncd.gov>
Subject: HR 2020/MiCASA
Date: Thu, 5 Mar 1998 14:28:34 -0600
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E-mail C-Span, events(AT)c-span.org or call, 202-626-7963 and ask them to
televise the press conference at 9am, hearing at 10am.
Also send Dear Abbey a thank you for her interest in HR 2020/MiCASA. She
talked about HR 2020 in her March 1 article, entitled, Pending Bill Would
Let Seniors Stay Home.
Dear Abbey
P.O. Box 69440
LA, CA 90069
Thanks,
Mark
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