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.