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
Featured Post
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...
Tuesday, October 23, 2012
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
Monday, August 22, 2011
ACTION ALERT: Demand Accessible Transportation at ALL Minnesota 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.
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.
Friday, August 5, 2011
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:
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.
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
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:
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.
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.
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