ADAPT Minnesota Raising Funds for Washington, DC National Rally Trip

Three of our ADAPT Minnesota members and one personal care assistant (PCA) will be traveling to Washington, DC from September 17th through Thursday, September 22nd, 2011 to participate in the National ADAPT Fall Action.  The trip includes participating in the Demand Responsible Medicaid Reform rally being held Wednesday, September 21, 2011. During the rally, ADAPT will join other disability, aging and civil rights groups as we demand responsible Medicaid reform that supports our civil right to live in the most integrated setting. We need Medicaid reform that not only contains costs, but also protects the civil rights of seniors and people with disabilities.

In order to make the trip, we need to raise nearly $6,000.  Therefore, we are asking individuals, families, and organizations throughout our communities for assistance raising funds plus spreading the word.  One very ambitious member has already raised nearly $500!  We invite you to join with us in solidarity in this struggle as we go to Washington DC to work for change.  Each dollar counts.  Please let your family, friends, colleagues, and vendors know about the opportunity to support the disability community through this event.  For more information, please e-mail adapt.mn@gmail.com.

ADAPT Minnesota is the local chapter of a national organization advocating for the rights of people with disabilities to live in and contribute to our communities. ADAPT has a proud history of fighting for accessible transportation; affordable, accessible, and integrated housing; plus, living, working, and serving in our chosen communities.

Metro Chapter Meeting -- Wed, 7/20 at 6:30 p.m. at Griggs-Midway Building

ADAPT Minnesota - Metro Chapter Meeting
Time: Wednesday, July 20 from 6:30pm until 8:30pm
Location: Griggs-Midway Building
1821 University Avenue; Saint Paul, MN
Map: http://bit.ly/lxzY9P

Description: Everyone is welcome!  We will continue our discussion of fundraising, organizational planning, and discussing the recent budget agreement.  Become part of our growing ADAPT Minnesota Metro Chapter plus be a part of upcoming actions and events to get our state leadership and citizens to focus on what matters -- assuring the civil and human rights of people with disabilities to live in freedom -- instead of voting to limit equal opportunities throughout our communities for our allies and taking away funding essential to our independence.  Support equal opportunities for equal participation in life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness for everyone!

Scent-Free and Safe Spaces:  Please remember that all our activities are scent-free and safe spaces to offer equal opportunities for equal participation for everyone.

Metro Chapter Meeting -- Wed, 7/13 at 6:30 p.m. at Griggs-Midway Building

ADAPT Minnesota - Metro Chapter Meeting
Time: Wednesday, July 13 from 6:30pm until 8:30pm
Location: Griggs-Midway Building
1821 University Avenue; Saint Paul, MN
Map: http://bit.ly/lxzY9P

Description: Everyone is welcome!  Become part of our growing ADAPT Minnesota Metro Chapter plus be a part of upcoming actions and events to get our state leadership and citizens to focus on what matters -- assuring the civil and human rights of people with disabilities to live in freedom -- instead of voting to limit equal opportunities throughout our communities for our allies and taking away funding essential to our independence.  Support equal opportunities for equal participation in life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness for everyone!

Scent-Free and Safe Spaces:  Please remember that all our activities are scent-free and safe spaces to offer equal opportunities for equal participation for everyone.

FUTURE MEETINGS: We'll meet 6:30 p.m. until 8:30 p.m. on Wednesday, July 20th at the Griggs-Midway Building.

Metro Chapter Meeting -- Wed, 7/6 at 6:30 p.m. at Griggs-Midway Building

ADAPT Minnesota - Metro Chapter Meeting
Time: Wednesday, July 6 from 6:30pm until 8:30pm
Location: Griggs-Midway Building
1821 University Avenue; Saint Paul, MN
Map: http://bit.ly/lxzY9P

Description: We'll discuss the draft letter to the legislature regarding our opinion about the shutdown and/or special session.  We'll also start putting together a group to perform the strategic planning and creating the more formal legal structure/existence for our group.  Everyone is welcome!  Become part of our growing ADAPT Minnesota Metro Chapter plus be a part of upcoming actions and events to get our state leadership and citizens to focus on what matters -- assuring the civil and human rights of people with disabilities to live in freedom -- instead of voting to limit equal opportunities throughout our communities for our allies and taking away funding essential to our independence.  Support equal opportunities for equal participation in life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness for everyone!

Scent-Free and Safe Spaces:  Please remember that all our activities are scent-free and safe spaces to offer equal opportunities for equal participation for everyone.

FUTURE MEETINGS: We'll meet 6:30 p.m. until 8:30 p.m. Wednesdays on July 13th and 20th at the Griggs-Midway Building.

Personal Story: Living Life with having to depend on Personal Care Attendants!

I have lived in Minnesota for over 30 years, coming from ND and I lived in many institutions in my time. Some institutions were very bad and some not so bad.

My dream was always to live independently, but had so many people against it. Some were afraid that I couldn’t live by myself or they knew I could do it, but were afraid I would be bored and hate it and I would have to wait for a while to get back into an institution again.

Much to people’s dismay, I loved living independently and loved my own independence.

I couldn’t have done it without the help of the Personal Care Attendant Program. Without this wonderful program a lot of people would be stuck in some type of nursing home.  

Now my husband and I live together and we use shared PCA services.

My husband, Jim built our home from ground up in 1996. We both have very involved cerebral palsy. although we are very active people. We can be very active because of our Personal Care Attendants. Without these people, we would not be able to live in the community. We would be in nursing homes rotting away and costing taxpayers a lot more money.

Many of us (people with disabilities) are taxpayers, too. Having these attendants is not a luxury, it is a necessity! If the state starts cutting our hours you are taking away our willingness to live!

This Personal Care Attendant Program allows us to be a part of society in which we live in. We are able to work, go on vacations and all that a person would do if they didn’t have a disability.

~Claudia Carlisle

Minnesota Government Shutdown Activities Thursday

There are several government shutdown events going on from 10 a.m. until midnight Thursday that ADAPT members (especially as informed Minnesota citizens) may wish to participate in as a show of solidarity and active citizen participation even though the events are not directly organized or sponsored by ADAPT...

1.      Invest in Minnesota Action at 10 a.m. [ More Information on the Web ] [ More Information on Facebook ]

2.      Welfare Rights Committee Action at Noon [ More Information on Facebook ]

3.      USuncutMN FIGHT BACK!  Minnesota!  Shutdown Eve Parade and Rally at 1:30 p.m. [ More Information on the Web ] [ More Information on Facebook ]

4.      MAPE Pre-Vigil Cookout at 6:30 p.m. [ More Information on the Web ]

5.      AFSCME / MAPE Shutdown Eve Vigil at 9:00 p.m. [ Flyer from AFSCME ] [ More Information from MAPE ]

NATIONAL ADAPT: Say "NO" to Massive Medicaid Cuts, Block-Granting

URGENT ACTION NEEDED: Contact Representative Bachmann, Representative Ryan, and Speaker Boehner to say "NO" to massive Medicaid cuts and block-granting. 

ACTION OPTIONS:

·         Most Effective Yet More Time-Consuming: Call the following US Congressional Officials:

o   Representative Bachmann -- 202-225-2331 / 651-731-5400

o   Representative Ryan -- 202-225-3031

o   Speaker Boehner -- 202-225-6205

o   Senator Hatch -- 202-224-5251

o   Senator Baucus -- 202-224-2651

o   Your US Representatives and Senators

·         Less Effective Yet Less Time-Consuming:

o   Generic Fax, Letter, or E-mail Generator to US Representatives

o   Generic Fax, Letter, or E-mail Generator to US Senators

MORE INFORMATION:

·         US Representatives Action

·         US Senators Action