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ADAPT MN Questions the Governor About His Legacy About Supporting Ppl w Disabilities and Seniors
Yesterday (8/29) ADAPT MINNESOTA went to the State Fair to question Governor Dayton about not funding OVERTIME for Homecare. Gov. Dayton wa...
Thursday, October 30, 2014
Tuesday, August 26, 2014
Friday, April 12, 2013
ADAPT MN Asks for an Oral Amendment
Community First Services and Supports
ADAPT Minnesota Oral Amendment
Background: Community First Services and Supports (CFSS) is designed to replace the current Personal Care Assistance (PCA) program that is available as a State Plan service through Medical Assistance. The language creating this program is included in Section 43 (beginning at line 63.20 as introduced) of the Health and Human Services Omnibus Bill (SF 1034). The language was developed by the Department of Human Services in accordance with the Federal Community First Choice Option regulations (1915k) that are a part of the Affordable Care Act. The language was developed with some input from stakeholders who attended the Community First Services and Supports Development and Implementation Council meetings held by the Department of Human Services.
ADAPT Minnesota member, Galen Smith, was selected to be on the Development and Implementation Council and attended all meetings including many workgroup meetings over the last several months. ADAPT Minnesota supports the creation of CFSS as a more person-centered, self-directed option than what is currently available through the PCA program.
ADAPT Minnesota has one major problem with the language as it has been introduced. Subd. 16 (4) says that “Support workers shall not be a participant of CFSS.” This means that a person who receives services through CFSS for any reason is prohibited from being employed as a support worker for another person receiving services through the same program. This can be solved by offering a simple oral amendment.
Amendment: Strike Section 43, Subd. 16 (4).
This amendment is necessary because:
• Employment discrimination.
o People are denied employment for no other reason than their participation in a public program. This puts the State at risk of legal action on these grounds.
• It is unnecessary.
o Subd. 16 (3) already says that “Support workers shall have the skills and ability to provide the services and supports according to the person’s CFSS service delivery plan and respond appropriately to the participant’s needs.” If a person who receives CFSS services does not have the skills and ability to provide services this language already excludes them.
• CFSS is different from PCA.
o CFSS is available to: “assist with acquiring, maintaining, and enhancing the skills necessary to accomplish ADLs, IADLs, and health-related procedures and tasks”. People with disabilities are uniquely suited to assist other people with disabilities in acquiring new skills.
For more information contact: Galen Smith – 651-285-5364 – galen.d.smith@gmail.com or
Nikki Villavicencio – 651-455-3013 – nikkilee1984@gmail.com
ADAPT Minnesota Oral Amendment
Background: Community First Services and Supports (CFSS) is designed to replace the current Personal Care Assistance (PCA) program that is available as a State Plan service through Medical Assistance. The language creating this program is included in Section 43 (beginning at line 63.20 as introduced) of the Health and Human Services Omnibus Bill (SF 1034). The language was developed by the Department of Human Services in accordance with the Federal Community First Choice Option regulations (1915k) that are a part of the Affordable Care Act. The language was developed with some input from stakeholders who attended the Community First Services and Supports Development and Implementation Council meetings held by the Department of Human Services.
ADAPT Minnesota member, Galen Smith, was selected to be on the Development and Implementation Council and attended all meetings including many workgroup meetings over the last several months. ADAPT Minnesota supports the creation of CFSS as a more person-centered, self-directed option than what is currently available through the PCA program.
ADAPT Minnesota has one major problem with the language as it has been introduced. Subd. 16 (4) says that “Support workers shall not be a participant of CFSS.” This means that a person who receives services through CFSS for any reason is prohibited from being employed as a support worker for another person receiving services through the same program. This can be solved by offering a simple oral amendment.
Amendment: Strike Section 43, Subd. 16 (4).
This amendment is necessary because:
• Employment discrimination.
o People are denied employment for no other reason than their participation in a public program. This puts the State at risk of legal action on these grounds.
• It is unnecessary.
o Subd. 16 (3) already says that “Support workers shall have the skills and ability to provide the services and supports according to the person’s CFSS service delivery plan and respond appropriately to the participant’s needs.” If a person who receives CFSS services does not have the skills and ability to provide services this language already excludes them.
• CFSS is different from PCA.
o CFSS is available to: “assist with acquiring, maintaining, and enhancing the skills necessary to accomplish ADLs, IADLs, and health-related procedures and tasks”. People with disabilities are uniquely suited to assist other people with disabilities in acquiring new skills.
For more information contact: Galen Smith – 651-285-5364 – galen.d.smith@gmail.com or
Nikki Villavicencio – 651-455-3013 – nikkilee1984@gmail.com
Tuesday, October 23, 2012
A Conversation with Keith Ellison and the Disability Community
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Matt Roznowski (matt@keithellison.org or 414-839-2560)
Rep. Keith Ellison & ADAPT MN Co-Hosting
Disability Community Conversation
Event will focus on empowerment, inclusion, and voter turnout among people with disabilities
What:
Rep. Keith Ellison and ADAPT Minnesota are bringing the disability community together for a conversation about issues that have a big impact on people with disabilities, such as the voter restriction amendment, PCA funding, and the Community Choice Act.
The conversation will also focus on voting among people with disabilities will empower the community and lead to greater inclusion.
ADAPT MN will be giving Rep. Ellison the 2nd Annual Free Our People Award for his commitment to reaching out and working with people with disabilities to solve problems.
ADAPT Minnesota 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.
Who:
Congressman Keith Ellison (MN-05)
Chris Bell, Attorney [Panelist]
Debra Burke, Executive Director and Founder, Break Thru Home Care [Panelist]
John Tschida, Vice President, Public Affairs and Research, Courage Center [Panelist]
ADAPT MINNESOTA LEADERSHIP TEAM:
Galen Smith
Jay Wilson
Jim Carlisle
Claudia Carlisle
Becky Francin
Darrell Paulsen
Nichole Villavicencio
When:
Tuesday, October 23 from 6:00 – 7:30pm
Where:
Courage Center Atrium
3915 Golden Valley Road
Golden Valley, MN 55422
--
Matt Roznowski
Communications Director
Re-Elect Keith Ellison for U.S. Congress
Office: (612) 522-4416
matt@keithellison.org
CONTACT: Matt Roznowski (matt@keithellison.org or 414-839-2560)
Rep. Keith Ellison & ADAPT MN Co-Hosting
Disability Community Conversation
Event will focus on empowerment, inclusion, and voter turnout among people with disabilities
What:
Rep. Keith Ellison and ADAPT Minnesota are bringing the disability community together for a conversation about issues that have a big impact on people with disabilities, such as the voter restriction amendment, PCA funding, and the Community Choice Act.
The conversation will also focus on voting among people with disabilities will empower the community and lead to greater inclusion.
ADAPT MN will be giving Rep. Ellison the 2nd Annual Free Our People Award for his commitment to reaching out and working with people with disabilities to solve problems.
ADAPT Minnesota 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.
Who:
Congressman Keith Ellison (MN-05)
Chris Bell, Attorney [Panelist]
Debra Burke, Executive Director and Founder, Break Thru Home Care [Panelist]
John Tschida, Vice President, Public Affairs and Research, Courage Center [Panelist]
ADAPT MINNESOTA LEADERSHIP TEAM:
Galen Smith
Jay Wilson
Jim Carlisle
Claudia Carlisle
Becky Francin
Darrell Paulsen
Nichole Villavicencio
When:
Tuesday, October 23 from 6:00 – 7:30pm
Where:
Courage Center Atrium
3915 Golden Valley Road
Golden Valley, MN 55422
--
Matt Roznowski
Communications Director
Re-Elect Keith Ellison for U.S. Congress
Office: (612) 522-4416
matt@keithellison.org
Friday, October 19, 2012
Join Us {ADAPT MN} for a Disability Community Conversation!!
Join Keith Ellison and ADAPT for a Disability Community Conversation
Tuesday, October 23
6:00 - 7:30pm
Courage Center
3915 Golden Valley Road
Golden Valley, MN 55422
Our panel of experts will talk about issues that have a big impact on the disability community, such as the voter restriction amendment, PCA funding, and the Community Choice Act.
Thursday, January 26, 2012
Occupy the Capitol Rally: The First Day of MN Legislative Session 2012
Welfare Rights Rally
January 24, 2012
Good morning everyone! My name is Nichole Villavicencio and I am here representing ADAPT Minnesota. ADAPT is a national grassroots community that organizes disability rights activists to engage in nonviolent direct action, including civil disobedience, to assure the civil and human rights of people with disabilities to live in freedom.
In my few years here at the Minnesota Legislature, services for people with disabilities have gone from bad to worse. We have suffered cuts in all aspects of our lives: our healthcare, transportation, our ability to live in the community, jobs, education. Also simple, but important, things have been threatened and/or eliminated: for instance, eye glasses, dentistry, physical, speech and occupational therapies. The thing is, my fellow ADAPTers and I realize that many Minnesotans have suffered due to the economy. But what we can’t understand is why some legislators insist on making cuts that hit people with disabilities so hard while refusing to raise taxes on those who can afford it.
I want the legislature to know is that this session we will not allow it! We will not allow them to make cuts that threaten our independence, while they continue to protect the rich from paying their fair share! We will hold them accountable!
Already some in the are working very hard to disenfranchise low income people, people with disabilities and senior citizens from the right to vote. We cannot let them squash our voice! The legislature is also attempting to change the state constitution to only allow Minnesota to raise taxes if there is a "super-majority" vote. This would put any future legislature into gridlock and make it nearly impossible to raise income taxes. We cannot allow them to continue to protect the rich!
As a community we must come together and fight these absurdities and all the ones to come! We need everyone here to stay tuned in this session and stay in contact with your legislators. Call them! Email them! Visit them! Tell them we will not allow them threaten our freedom and independence while they protect the one percent! FREE OUR PEOPLE!
January 24, 2012
Good morning everyone! My name is Nichole Villavicencio and I am here representing ADAPT Minnesota. ADAPT is a national grassroots community that organizes disability rights activists to engage in nonviolent direct action, including civil disobedience, to assure the civil and human rights of people with disabilities to live in freedom.
In my few years here at the Minnesota Legislature, services for people with disabilities have gone from bad to worse. We have suffered cuts in all aspects of our lives: our healthcare, transportation, our ability to live in the community, jobs, education. Also simple, but important, things have been threatened and/or eliminated: for instance, eye glasses, dentistry, physical, speech and occupational therapies. The thing is, my fellow ADAPTers and I realize that many Minnesotans have suffered due to the economy. But what we can’t understand is why some legislators insist on making cuts that hit people with disabilities so hard while refusing to raise taxes on those who can afford it.
I want the legislature to know is that this session we will not allow it! We will not allow them to make cuts that threaten our independence, while they continue to protect the rich from paying their fair share! We will hold them accountable!
Already some in the are working very hard to disenfranchise low income people, people with disabilities and senior citizens from the right to vote. We cannot let them squash our voice! The legislature is also attempting to change the state constitution to only allow Minnesota to raise taxes if there is a "super-majority" vote. This would put any future legislature into gridlock and make it nearly impossible to raise income taxes. We cannot allow them to continue to protect the rich!
As a community we must come together and fight these absurdities and all the ones to come! We need everyone here to stay tuned in this session and stay in contact with your legislators. Call them! Email them! Visit them! Tell them we will not allow them threaten our freedom and independence while they protect the one percent! FREE OUR PEOPLE!
Wednesday, November 23, 2011
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
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
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