Disability Rights Activists Take Over MN Senate Gallery; Disrupt Session

St. Paul, MN, May 11, 2011- Members of ADAPT Minnesota, a grassroots disability rights organization have taken over the public gallery of the Minnesota State Senate. They are chanting phrases such as “Our Homes, Not Nursing Homes!” and “Cuts Kill!”. Today the Senate leadership insists on voting on a bill that would harm families by further restricting marriage rights. People with disabilities want the Senate to instead focus on strengthening families and communities by passing a budget that protects services that keep people with disabilities in their communities and out of institutions.

Members of ADAPT Minnesota will continue this nonviolent action until their demands are met! The activists are demanding that Senator David W. Hann, the chair of the Senate Health and Human Services Committee support a funding plan for Health and Human services that cuts no more that 2% from the overall budget. ADAPT Minnesota expects the legislature to raise new revenue from those who can afford it and opposes the legislature’s cuts-only approach to balancing the state’s budget.
The proposed budget for the Department of Human Services eliminates or reduces programs, which allow people with disabilities of all ages to live in their own homes rather than being forced into more costly institutions. “We we will continue demonstrating until Minnesota State Senator David W. Hann, commits to continued funding home and community-based supports including the ‘Community First ChoiceAct’ and the ‘Money Follows the Person’ programs in Minnesota”, said Chris Bell, a member of ADAPT Minnesota.

Senator David W. Hann, Chair of the Senate Committee on Health and Human Services, would cut over $1 billion in spending for medical necessities for the health, safety and freedom of those with disabilities of all ages. These cuts would be devastating to the disability community, which would include home-and community-based attendant services, habilitation and rehabilitation therapies, prescription medications, prescription glasses, dental services, prostheses, mental health services, and durable medical equipment, like communication devices and wheelchairs.

“Senator Hann’s bill threatens our liberty and very lives,” says ADAPT Minnesota organizer Galen Smith.

"Without this funding, we would not be able to live where we choose and hold the job we choose," said ADAPT Minnesota member Darrell Paulsen.

For more information on the effect of the cuts see DHS Commissioner Lucinda Jesson’s letter to the Health and Human Services Conference Committee: http://www.mnprogressiveproject.com/upload/4.27.11%20HHS%20to%20Conference%20Committee.pdf

ACTION ALERT: Demand Accessible Transportation at ALL Minnesota State Fair Park-and-Rides!

Sign our petition telling the Minnesota State Fair: Provide accessible transportation at ALL State Fair park-and-rides!

For the 2011 Minnesota State Fair, 27 out of 35 park-and-ride options (80%) have vehicles that are not wheelchair-accessible. Although, 7 park-and-ride options (20%) do use accessible vehicles, only 1 park-and-ride guarantees consistent availability of wheelchair-accessible vehicles.  The remaining 6 park-and-ride locations indicate wheelchair-accessible vehicles will be used when they are available, but do not tell us when they will be available, thereby making it nearly impossible to plan our trips.  Most of these accessible locations are relatively close to the fairgrounds; they are not equally distributed geographically. Therefore, individuals and families experiencing disability, chronic illness, or aging -- especially those living further away from the fairgrounds -- do not have an equal opportunity for equal participation in the Minnesota State Fair park-and-ride benefit. We believe this violates the Americans with Disabilities Act, which protects the civil rights of Americans experiencing disability.

ADAPT Minnesota, the sponsor of this petition, is a chapter of the national ADAPT. ADAPT is a grass-roots community that organizes disability rights activists to engage in non-violent direct action, including civil disobedience, to assure the civil and human rights of people with disabilities to live in freedom.  Originally, ADAPT was an acronym that stood for Americans Disabled for Accessible Public Transit.  In the early-80s, ADAPT's initial issue was to get wheelchair accessible lifts on buses.  Since then, the group has expanded to address all disability-related rights.

Metro Chapter Structure and Process Meeting -- Sat, 8/20 at 10 a.m. at Location to Be Determined

ADAPT Minnesota - Metro Chapter Structure and Process Meeting
Time: Saturday, August 20 from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m.
Location: To Be Determined

Description:We will discuss the creation of a structure and process for ADAPT Minnesota moving forward. Some of the agenda items will include:

• Decision making structure
• Legal Structure
• Leadership Structure

If you are interested in attending this meeting please RSVP please e-mail adapt.mn@gmail.com. If you are interested in attending but this date doesn't work for you let us know via e-mail as well. We may not be able to accommodate everyone's schedule but if this date doesn't work for the the majority of people who want to be a part of the meeting we will look for another date. We want to make sure we know how many people to expect so that we get a room that will accommodate all of us.

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, 8/10 at 6:30 p.m. at Griggs-Midway Building

ADAPT Minnesota - Metro Chapter Meeting
Time: Wednesday, August 10 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 discuss the following items:

• Potential Action Re: Lack of Equal Access to Minnesota State Fair Bus -- We will discuss potential actions and people who are interested can volunteer to work out the details.

• Fundraising -- We will discuss where we are now, what our goals are, and how we want to move forward with fundraising.

If you want to propose additional agenda items for the August 10 meeting, please e-mail adapt.mn@gmail.com. You can always bring additional items to the meeting and we can try to make time for them.

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.

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.