May 12, 1998
Contact: Michael Auberger (901) 528-1800, Room M-4
Marsha Katz (901) 522-9700, Room 312
Mayors Rout and Herenton Support ADAPT
While Sunquist Plays Scrooge
500 ADAPT members stormed the Donnelley J. Hill State Office Building
Monday morning demanding Governor Don Sunquist support more home and
community based services for older Tennesseans and those with
disabilities. Over 100 ADAPT activists occupied the Governor's 12th floor
office, remaining there throughout Monday night despite being denied
food, water and medication by the governor.
When the governor refused to allow protesters food and medication, the
remaining 400 ADAPT members closed off entrances to both the state and
county parking garages under the Hill Building trapping employees at the
close of the work day. ADAPT re-opened the garages after a negotiated
joint press conference with Memphis Mayor W. W. Herenton and Shelby
County Mayor Jim Rout. Both mayors voiced strong support for home and
community based services, and on at least 3 occasions had called the
governor to urge provision of food, water and medications to the
protesters.
ADAPT members not occupying Sunquist's office held a vigil all night in
support of their colleagues and the thousands of men, women and children
with disabilities warehoused in nursing homes against their will.
According to information from the Health Care Financing Administration
and the State of the States in Developmental Disabilities, Tennessee is
the nation's worst state when it comes to tax dollars supporting
institutions over community services.
Meaningful, flexible home and community based services are non-existent
in Tennessee, forcing older persons and people with disabilities into
nursing homes. ADAPT wants Sunquist to amend Tennessee's Medicaid Waiver
to provide home and community based services which are available
statewide, which don't confine people to their homes, and which are
flexible according to individual need.
When asked if there was anything he'd like to say to Governor Sunquist
about home and community based services, Sam Ware, a disabled Memphian,
replied, "Yes, tell him to have a heart. Tell him to help us be part of
this community instead of forcing us into nursing homes."
# # #
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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