ADAPT Action News Bulletin
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 8, 1998
Contact: Michael Auberger (901) 528-1800, Room M-4
or
Jennifer Burnett
ADAPT Announces 10 Worst States Awards
On May 10th, Mother's Day 1998, ADAPT will give out the Ten Worst States
Awards, recognizing ten states that clearly fail to demonstrate a
commitment to home and community-based service options. 600 disability
rights activists will be gathering at a rally on Sunday May 10th, at
3:30PM, Court Square in downtown Memphis, to focus attention on those ten
states which have continued to spend tax dollars in costly and
dehumanizing institutional settings, rather than create programs of home
and community-based services which promote independence, autonomy, and
dignity.
The following states will receive the Ten Worst States Awards at the May
10 rally: Tennessee, Mississippi, Louisiana, Missouri, Georgia, Illinois,
Indiana, Florida, Ohio, Kentucky. In addition, 5 Dishonorable Mentions
will be made to those five states which are doing nearly as bad a job in
demonstrating a commitment to home and community-based service options.
These are: Washington, D.C., Texas, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and
Arkansas.
ADAPT is a national grassroots disability rights organization, and ADAPT
members are travelling from across the nation to gather in Memphis for
four days of demonstrations in protest to America's very poor commitment
to REAL choice in long-term services. In America there are over 2.2
million people living in nursing homes and other institution, many of
whom
could live in their own homes with appropriate services and support.
However, the reality is that our tax dollars for programs affecting
people
with disabilities, including children and older Americans, are largely
spent on institutional care. Nationally, 80% of the Medicaid dollars
which go to long term care is spent in institutions, while a mere 20% is
spent in more cost- effective home and community-based alternatives.
ADAPT is working hard to change this national disgrace.
Since 1990, ADAPT has focused on changing the institutional bias. The
cornerstone of ADAPT's REAL Choice campaign for home and community-based
services is MiCASA, the Medicaid Community Attendant Services Act of
1997.
The legislation, also known as H.R. 2020, was introduced last June by
Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich. Co- sponsored by Minority Leader
Richard Gephardt, the bill now has over 60 co-sponsors, and endorsements
from over 400 organizations across the nation. MiCASA would give people
REAL choice, by allowing resources that now pay for individuals to live
in
nursing homes or other institutions to be used where they choose.
Research and polls demonstrate what common sense already tells us:
people
want to remain independent and live in their own home. A nursing home is
not where any of us want to live. MiCASA for REAL choice!!!
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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 information at the beginning of this message or Email adaptpr(AT)adapt.org
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