ADAPT Minnesota Proud to be a Safe Space

To ensure equal opportunity for equal participation for everyone and promote consumer-direction/self-advocacy, ADAPT Minnesota has developed the following safe space guidelines:

• People with Disabilities Lead
• No "Erasing" or Hierarchies
• Access Is a Value
• Share Your Access Needs
• Be Scent-Free (more information about scent-free spaces)
• Value All Ways to Participate
• Talk One at a Time, so That We Can Listen to Everyone
• Be Respectful
• Don’t Be a Jerk
• Violence, fighting, and physical or verbal abuse will not be tolerated.
• Treat everyone with courtesy and respect. Use polite language and think about the power and impact of your words.
• Address other participants by the pronouns and names they prefer.
• Speak for yourself and let others speak for themselves. If a person isn’t in the room, they shouldn’t be the topic of conversation. Gossip and rumors don’t build our community up, they break it down.
• No Oppressing in Any Way: Including Racism, Ableism, Classism, Ageism, Gender Normativity, etc.
• Honor the diversity within our community -- disability, age, gender, sexual orientation, race, economic status, gender identity, and more!
• Challenge Each Other Gently
• Consent, No Pressure
• Respect the privacy of all participants. Anything that is shared during an ADAPT Minnesota activity should remain confidential, unless otherwise noted.
• Cameras and audio/video recording equipment should not be used without advance permission from the subjects being photographed or recorded.
• Take Care of Yourself
• Ask for Help
• Seek clarification if you do not understand something someone else is saying.
• Nothing Is Perfect
• Take responsibility for group discussions and interactions. Make an effort to include others in conversation and try not to dominate discussions. Be sure to speak up if things turn negative or someone violates the safe space guidelines.
• While we ask ADAPTers to be scent-free and keep confidentiality, we are aware that we don't always have control over our environment, since we meet in public places and often have newcomers. We will work to create access in such situations. If you have concerns about confidentiality or scent-free access, please let the meeting leader know right away. We may be able to move the meeting, help a person to become scent-safer, or move around for greater access.
• Be Patient with Each Other (but Not with Injustice)

Metro Chapter Meeting -- Wed, 6/1 at 6:30 p.m. at Griggs-Midway Building

ADAPT Minnesota - Metro Chapter Meeting
Time: Wednesday, June 1 from 6:30pm until 8:30pm
Location: Griggs-Midway Building
1821 University Avenue; Saint Paul, MN
Map: http://bit.ly/lxzY9P

   
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 -- life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness for everyone -- instead of voting  to limit equal opportunities throughout our communities for our allies and taking away funding essential to our independence. Everyone is welcome!  Please remember that all our activities are scent free and safe spaces to offer equal opportunities for equal participation for everyone.

Future Meetings: We currently plan to meet every Wednesday through at least the end of June as state leaders continue to hammer out a budget resolution.  We haven't decided on meeting locations yet for June 8, June 15, June 22, or June 29.  More information will be released in the next week or so.

ACTION NEEDED IMMEDIATELY: Defend Our Health, Safety, Security, and Freedom

Call, email, and fax Minnesota Governor Dayton immediately. Tell him to do the following:

• veto the Minnesota Health and Human Service Conference Committee Report Bill (S.F. No. 760) -- it will mean tremendous hardship and loss of independence for many individuals and families experiencing chronic illness, disability, and aging;
• veto the Jobs bill that cuts funding to Self-Advocacy;
•  join the disability community for a "disability roundtable" to discuss how cuts will impact us and build collaboration regarding our ideas for reform and redesign -- "nothing about us, without us".

E-mail forum link: http://mn.gov/governor/contact-us/form/
Telephone: 651-201-3400
Toll Free: 800-657-3717
Minnesota Relay: 800-627-3529
Fax: 651-797-1850

RESOURCES:

S.F. No. 760, Health and Human Services Budget Conference Committee Report - Posted 05/17/11
LINK: https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bin/bldbill.php?bill=ccrsf0760A.html&session=ls87
DESCRIPTION: most recent budget proposal with cuts to individuals and families experiencing poverty, chronic illness, disability, and aging


May 2011 Senate Health and Human Services Budget Discussion Videos
LINK: http://www.senate.leg.state.mn.us/media/media_list.php?ls=87&archive_year=2011&archive_month=05&category=floor&type=video&ver=new#monthnav
DESCRIPTION:  Begins Wednesday, May 18th.  Fast-forward to the mark 4 hours 20 minutes from the beginning (i.e. video for the day is 8 hours 39 minutes; discussion begins about 1/2 through to get to the beginning of the debate).  Senator Berglin begins her passionate opposition at 04:45 and she speaks often on frequently, describing the significant cuts, and describing the devastating impacts.  Discussion continues through beginning of Thursday, May 19 video.

Metro Chapter Meeting Next Week

ADAPT Minnesota - Metro Chapter Meeting
Time: Wednesday, May 18 from 6:30pm until 8:30pm
Location: Griggs-Midway Building
1821 University Avenue; Saint Paul, MN
Map: http://bit.ly/lxzY9P

   
Come learn more about ADAPT Minnesota and be a part of upcoming actions and events to get state Republicans to focus on what matters -- life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness for everyone -- instead of voting  to limit equal opportunities throughout our communities for our allies and taking away funding essential to our independence. Everyone is welcome!  Please remember that all our activities are scent free to offer equal opportunities for equal participation for everyone.

ADAPT Minnesota Is Proud to Be Scent Free!

ADAPT Minnesota members, friends, neighbors, and allies are asked to adhere to our scent-free policy to minimize the participation barriers and health risks that can be created by scented products for individuals experiencing challenges related to sensory, respiratory, neurological, immunity, and other bodily systems.  Scented products may include, but certainly are not limited to, the following:

• Perfume, cologne, aftershave lotion
• Deodorant
• Hair care products including shampoos, conditioners, gels, mousses, hairsprays
• Hand and body soap
• Hand and body lotions
• Makeup
• Shaving cream
• Sunscreen
• Laundry soap and stain removers
• Dryer fabric softener sheets
• Air fresheners, scented candles

We ask for your support in limiting or eliminating the use of scented products whenever possible, but definitely during any ADAPT Minnesota activity.  Instead, we ask that you choose from the many unscented alternatives that are widely available.  If you'd like more information or free samples of unscented alternatives, please let us know.  Also, feel free to check out Google Search: "scent free".

Thank you for your assistance and support ensuring equal opportunities for equal participation exist for everyone!

Only the Beginning of a Long Journey...

SUCCESS = SAFE, INFORMED, ORGANIZED, AND IMPACTFUL
After reflecting on Wednesday's activities, we feel our direct action in the Minnesota Senate gallery was successful: it was safe, we were informed, we were organized, and impactful.  There are several accounts of the activities from various media sources:

• UpTake Video 5/11 (with a fantastic raw video by Bill Sorem capturing the passion of supporters and professionalism of security)
• WCCO 5/11 (great coverage/video by Pat Kessler; perfect delivery of our message)
• KARE 5/11 (great interview with Nikki)
• Star Tribune Hot Dish Politics 5/11 (with a great photo of Galen being arrested)
• MinnPost 5/11
• SMILES CIL 5/11
• Pierce County (Wisconsin) Herald 5/11
• Area Voices Capitol Chatter 5/11
• Google Web Search: Minnesota Senate disability protest

NUMEROUS CONTRIBUTORS TO SUCCESS
The success of our action would not have been possible without every one of the 15 ADAPTers who were at the Capitol, all the ADAPTers in Minnesota and throughout the country supporting us, and all of the people participating in our local ADAPT chapter.  Special thanks go to Galen Smith, Chris Bell, Nikki Villavicencio-Tollison, and Darrell Paulsen for your leadership, courage, and voice speaking on behalf of our community.  Thank you to OutFront Minnesota and the Welfare Rights Committee for their friendship, solidarity, and support.  Thank you to Capitol Security and the State Troopers for their professionalism, understanding, and patience.  And, thank you to the many MANY people behind the scenes and numerous supporters nationwide that made our action possible and successful.  Everyone contributed to our action being safe, informed, organized, and impactful.



WE WILL NOT GO AWAY UNTIL EQUAL RIGHTS ENJOYED BY *EVERYONE*
We'll continue fighting alongside our allies to demand that local, state, and federal officials ensure there is Nothing About Us, Without Us.  We'll insist that they recognize us as People, Not Patients.  We'll make sure officials understand it's better for *EVERYONE in our society* to be in Our Homes, Not Nursing Homes.  We'll be sure they understand Real Cuts cause Real Harm for Real Lives -- inevitably, Budget Cuts Kill.  We'll call for them to Stop Defunding Our Freedom and Start Defending Our Rights.  For our friends and neighbors who've already lost their freedom, we'll implore officials to Free Our People.  In the end, we know that People United, Will NEVER Be Defeated.  Until there is Equal Opportunity for Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness for EVERYONE throughout our communities, we WILL continue to Defend Our Rights and Freedom; We WILL NOT Go Away.  We'd Rather Go to Jail than Die in a Nursing Home.


UPCOMING MEETING FOR ADAPT MINNESOTA TWIN CITIES METRO
People with a passion for equal rights and equal opportunity are welcome to join us next Wednesday, May 18, 2011 between 6:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. at the Griggs-Midway Building ( 1821 University Avenue West, St. Paul, MN 55104 ).  We'll offer a very quick overview of the disability movement, the role of ADAPT, and how people can become involved in our fight by sharing their skills at whatever level of commitment they are comfortable with.  Please remember that all our activities are scent free to offer equal opportunities for equal participation for everyone.


MORE INFORMATION (links provided for informational purposes only and do not imply endorsement nor participation)
•    MN Budget Project: Cuts-Only Approach Jeopardizes the Independence of People with Disabilities
•    Change.org Petition: Restore funding for disability services and programs!
•    Legislative Updates by Minnesota Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities

Four ADAPT Minnesota Activists Removed from Senate Gallery

Four members of ADAPT Minnesota were briefly detained and removed from the Minnesota Senate gallery around 10:50 a.m. this morning as they shouted "I'd rather go to jail than die in a nursing home!"!  Defending Our Freedom were: Galen Smith, Chris Bell, Nikki Villavicencio-Tollison, and Darrell Paulsen!

ADAPT Minnesota is a local chapter of a national group of people with disabilities who are fighting for our lives in the community. We advocate and work with other groups. Because our lives depend on it, we also use peaceful direct action when you’re

not listening.

We are demonstrating today because the cuts that the Republican leaders have proposed to Health and Human Services will send us to expensive and  unhealthy nursing homes and institutions, keep us from work & community life and cost the state more money! 

Please call Senator David Hann at 651-296-1749 and tell him that his cuts will kill and institutionalize thousands of Minnesotans with disabilities!

For more information contact our metro chapter at: ADAPT.MN@gmail.com

Blog: http://adaptmn.blogspot.com                          Twitter and Facebook: ADAPTMinnesota National Website: www.adapt.org 

Free our people

ADAPT Minnesota is a local chapter of a national group of people with disabilities who are fighting for our lives in the community. We advocate and work with other groups. Because our lives depend on it, we also use peaceful direct action when you’re

not listening.

 


We are demonstrating today because the cuts that the Republican leaders have proposed to Health and Human Services will send us to expensive and  unhealthy nursing homes and institutions, keep us from work & community life and cost the state more money! 

 


Please call Senator David Hann at 651-296-1749 and tell him that his cuts will kill and institutionalize thousands of Minnesotans with disabilities!

 


For more information contact our metro chapter at: ADAPT.MN@gmail.com

Blog: http://adaptmn.blogspot.com                          Twitter and Facebook: ADAPTMinnesota National Website: www.adapt.org 

 

ADAPT to Washington: "Stop De-funding Our FREEDOM!"

Washington, D.C.- Over 400 members of the national grassroots disability rights organization, ADAPT will converge on Washington, D.C. from all parts of the country April 30-May 5 to tell Congress and the Obama Administration to "Stop De-funding Our FREEDOM!"

"For people with disabilities and those who are aging, it feels like we are being drowned in a man-made tsunami of cuts to Medicaid services," said Bruce Darling, ADAPT organizer from Rochester, NY. "Between the draconian cuts we are experiencing in our home states, and the added threat of collateral damage from the budget wars here in Washington, we are not only at risk for losing our freedom to live in our own homes, but we are truly afraid for our lives."

The 1999 U.S. Supreme Court Olmstead decision, affirming Title II of the 1990 Americans with Disabilities Act, mandates that people with disabilities of all ages should be served in the "most integrated setting," which almost always is their own home and community. Olmstead further states that isolating people unnecessarily in institutions is segregation, and therefore illegal.

Yet today, at least 38 states are proposing or have made cuts to Medicaid that threaten the civil rights of older and disabled Americans to live in their own homes and neighborhoods. These cuts are proposed in a variety of areas, from home-based attendant services, to medications, vision and dental services, to mental health services, and durable medical equipment like wheelchairs. All of these services and equipment are medically necessary for the health and safety and freedom of those with disabilities and who are aging.

"Our own home states are treating us like second class citizens, and it's no better here in Washington," said Mike Ervin, ADAPT organizer from Chicago. "For 20 years we've been telling everyone that removing the institutional bias from the Medicaid program, giving people who need some daily assistance the choice to stay in their own home to receive services, would save the government money along with being in compliance with the law. And yet, even with research to back us up, Congress has chosen not to make this simple change in the law and save both money and lives."
Medicaid currently mandates states to pay for nursing homes, but does not similarly mandate that states can pay for the same services in a person's own home. This is not a partisan issue. The Obama administration says it is open to any solutions that could help reduce the deficit, and Democratic congressional leaders like Sen. Tom Harkin (IA) and Rep. Danny Davis (IL) and Sen. Max Baucus (MT) have long supported home and community-based legislation. Republican Representative Dennis Rehberg (MT) has stated, "To control long-term care costs, Congress and the Administration should also examine ways to move Medicaid away from institutionalized care and toward home and community based care," and Republican Governor (WI), Scott Walker, recently wrote, that Medicaid is "...is biased toward caring for people in nursing homes rather than in their own homes and neighborhoods."

"We'll be in Washington this week DEFENDING OUR FREEDOM, and demanding that Congress stop de-funding our freedom," said Rahnee Patrick, ADAPT Organizer from Chicago. "Many of us live on $674/month, 75% of poverty level. Federal and state budgets should not be balanced on the backs of the poorest of the poor.

Follow what ADAPT is doing in Washington DC at the ADAPT Action Report.

The ADAPT Action Report is organized to let you follow the ADAPT Action in Washington DC. This year the direct-action group will use video phones to upload video on YouTube.com. The idea is to show the hard-work and exciting in-your-face advocacy of ADAPT. There is nothing like the experience of an ADAPT Action, but if you cannot be in Washington, the ADAPT Action Report will try to capture some of the feel of being there.

Follow the Action on Twitter: http://twitter.com/NationalADAPT.

Look for Twitter photos: http://twitpic.com/photos/NationalADAPT.

If you don't have a Twitter account; follow the action on the adapt site with a "Twitter Feed." http://www.adapt.org/twitter#twitterfeed

Visit the Defending Our Freedom blog: http://www.defendingourfreedom2010.blogspot.com/
Action information on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/people/NationalAdapt-Freeourpeople/100001054868604
Follow this link for the YouTube action: http://www.youtube.com/ADAPTvideo.
The Action Reports are news of the day with photos of the ADAPT activists in action. The ADAPT Action Blog is so you may have first-hand accounts from people involved in the ADAPT Action. News releases are collected in the news section and there is a direct link to the photos by Tom Olin of the Action and a link to activists uploading video from the action on YouTube.