For Immediate Release

For information:  Bob Kafka bobkafka10467@gmail.com

Subject:  ADAPT of Texas Demands HHS Commissioner Young Take Action on Durable Medical Equipment (DME)

Members of ADAPT of Texas will, on Thursday October 31st at 2:30pm at 4601 West Guadalupe, drop off a list of demands to rectify the “HORROR” people with disabilities and older Texans are experiencing in repairing and acquiring DME, like wheelchairs, walkers and other critical equipment we need to live in the community. 

This is no joke. It is unacceptable HHS fails to realize or care the impact loss of this equipment has on Texans real lives.

“People are stuck at home or sometimes in bed for months because they can’t get their wheelchair fixed,” said Nancy Crowther ADAPT Organizer.

“We have seen increased medical conditions because Commissioner Young fails to act” said Ron Cranston longtime ADAPT of Texas Activist.

ADAPT of Texas has met with HHS with little concrete improvements.
              

visit www.adaptmuseum.net

On Oct 31, 2024, at 7:05 AM, Austin Free Press <contact@austinfreepress.org> wrote:

40 years of Disability Rights Activism – Into the Future of Empowerment

Please come join us to celebrate 4 decades (how did that happen?) of disability rights activism and help us take this legacy into a future of empowerment.

When: Saturday October 26th 3pm to 6 pm

Where: the ADAPT office 1100 S IH 35, Austin Texas — bus routes #7 & #20

Music from local disability musicians and our allies, delicious food, history videos and stories, great company, and a big surprise!

But it won’t be the same if you aren’t there with us, so please come!

RSVP to 512-442-0252 ronniebonners@aol.com

*Accommodations upon Request*

WHAT’S BEEN GOING DOWN IN THE PAST FOUR DECADES? Well for a start…

Katz’s Deli     Fun*Run   We Will Ride    

Access Capital Metro, SunMetro, DART, VIA, METRO of Harris Co, APTA and more

Bomb or boombox under the blanket at CapMetro BOD meeting?

Anti EVV (Electronic Visit Verification)     Pay for spousal attendants  

Dallas Atlantis Office      Ride that Dirty Dog (Greyhound)       ABA/UBOA

Free Our People     Campaigns Access to City Parks Lifts on Dillos  

Our Homes not Nursing Homes         Close State Schools

Piss on Pity Campaign for delegating catheterization and toileting help

Wheelchair Santa at Armadillo Christmas Bazaar and various other locations

Rider 37 Campaign that started Money Follows the Person

Protesting Michael Hickson death from discrimination over COVID treatment

Masks and vaccines for community based service workers and customers

Justice for Justin – access to Commission of National Rehab. Services Admin’s bathroom

Take-over of Governor Richard’s Capitol Office and spending the night there

Threat of lawsuit for Campaign revealing nursing home profits in Texas

ADA lawsuit Campaign with Texas Civil Rights Project making over 200 local businesses comply

NUMEROUS sidewalk (and curb cut) campaigns       Pitchfork Approach to Advocacy brainchild

504 and Fair Housing Voluntary Compliance Agreement with HUD and the City

Visitability – first city in nation to adopt this for all new homes

Hitting THCA conventions and shutting down their office on Guadalupe

Adopt-A-Legislator Campaigns       SB1 Lemons   ACCESSIBLE Family Bathroom                     Hank’s Café      Starbucks

ADA Testing Campaign for local chains and businesses

Oral histories with Virginia Raymond

Angel Home Care campaign so agencies don’t “own” clients or attendants

Campaign $8      Campaign $10         Campaign $13     Campaign $15    Rai$e IT!

Bus Stop survey          Olmstead Activation/Implementation Campaign

Access to Voting actions   &    Disability Voting Action Project Where’s Governor Abbott?      It’s Immoral Campaign against cuts to Human

Tinsel town  Bassett Center access

Accessible pathway to Fountains and Cielo Vista malls and Wal-mart Transmountain

Dairy Queen Whataburger  Circle K Burger King Downtown 

La Gorda Los Torreados 

Turkey of the Year Housing at City Hall

Ascarate Park Occupy El Paso

State Center action My Medicaid Matters Coalition 

ADAPT and Resist Republican Vigil

Pizza Hut Billboard Vigil Sancho Claus

Actions at provider agencies

El Paso Independent School District to allow student with a disability to attend a school trip with the band.

What Else Happened in 1984?

AIDS-virus identified as HTLV-III (acquired immune deficiency syndrome)

Bopal Disaster

Chinese Premier Zhao Ziyang and British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher sign declaration to transfer Hong Kong back to China in 1997

Supreme Court rules (5-4) that private use of home VCRs to tape TV programs for later viewing does not violate federal copyright laws

Karate Kid, Ghostbusters, 16 Candles, Footloose A Nightmare on Elm St, The Terminator, Beverly Hills Cop, Gremlins, Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, The Killing Fields, The Year of Living Dangerously (Linda Hunt)

Born: Katy Perry, LeBron James, Scarlett Johansson, Prince Henry, Mark Zuckerberg, JD Vance

Apple Computer Inc unveils its revolutionary Macintosh personal computer

“The Cosby Show” premieres, Murder She Wrote, Miami Vice, Nightcourt, Kate and Allie,

Bruce Springsteen‘s 7th studio album “Born in the USA” premiers

Prince releases “Purple Rain“

“Let’s Go Crazy” by Prince Rogers Nelson and Revolution peaks at #1

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar breaks Wilt Chamberlain’s all-time career scoring record

Michael Jackson is burned during filming for Pepsi commercial

Indira Gandhi assassinated

AT&T’s 22 owned Bell system companies divest into 8 companies

NYC transit fare rises from 75 cents to 90 cents

Wilson Goode, sworn-in as Philadelphia’s 1st black mayor

Chuck Hull invented the 3D printer

NCAA announces that basketball tournament will have 64 teams

Rock band Van Halen release their most successful album “1984”

 Prince’s “Purple Rain” album goes #1 

“Where’s the Beef?” in commercial for Wendy’s hamburger chain

Trending styles: leggings, jean jackets, parachute pants, giant shoulder pads, fluffy hair

Hulk Hogan became WWF Champ for 1^st of 6 times

LA Olympics held

California Supreme Court rejects the request of quadriplegic Elizabeth Bouvia’s to starve herself to death in a public hospital

Supreme Court rules (5-4) that private use of home VCRs to tape TV programs for later viewing does not violate federal copyright laws

Teenage Mutant Nija Turtles introduced in comic

TV shows: Dallas, Dynasty,

Regan elected to 2^nd term

US Senate rejects amendment to permit spoken prayer in public schools

Britain & China initial agreement return Hong Kong to China in 1997

NFL owners passed the infamous anti-celebrating rule

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar breaks Wilt Chamberlain’s all-time career scoring record 

IBM releases PC DOS version 3.0

Republican convention in Dallas

Tina Turner’s 1st #1 “What’s Love Got to Do With It”

Jerry Lewis‘ 19th Muscular Dystrophy telethon raises $32,074,566

First episode of daily syndicated TV game show of “Jeopardy!” with Alex Trebek as host

Papa John’s Pizza is founded

US Vice Presidential candidates’ debate – Geraldine Ferraro (D) and George H. W. Bush (R), in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Desmond Tutu, South African Anglican Archbishop, wins Nobel Peace Prize

SETI Institute (Search for ExtraTerrestrial Intelligence) is founded.

McDonald’s makes its 50 billionth hamburger

“Do They Know It’s Christmas” sung for Band Aid

Bernhard Goetz shoots 4 black muggers on NYC subway train

Madonna‘s “Like a Virgin” single goes #1

Over 200 disabled Texans and allies celebrated with REv Up Texas in Austin as well as 10 other sites from the Valley to El Paso and Lubbock to Dallas to Beaumont. Houston had the largest group but the enthusiasm for voting was high across the state. The League of Women Voters addressed the crowds, Disability Rights Texas spoke about our rights and how to enforce them, REV UP leaders talked about the importance of the disability vote and addressing our issues. People registered to vote, if they weren’t already, and committed to vote and get 5 other people to vote. If everyone there can meet these commitments that’s over 1200 votes, and judging by the enthusiasm those numbers will be even higher.

The second Thursday of every month ADAPT of Texas holds our big meeting from 3:00 to 5:00 pm at our office at 1100 South IH 35 (access road). This location is served by the #7 and #20 buses. Come on down and join us and find out what happening and how you can be involved.

For literally decades many people with disabilities have faced unacknowleged discrimination from two bizzare sources: health care and human services. But this spring new Section 504 Rules take a big bite out of that problem.

Key Provisions of 504 Rules https://acl.gov/504rule

• Discrimination in medical treatment: The rule addresses discrimination in medical care and ensures that medical treatment decisions are not based on biases or stereotypes about people with disabilities, judgments that an individual will be a burden on others, or beliefs that the life of an individual with a disability has less value than the life of a person without a disability. These include, for example, decisions about life-sustaining treatment, organ transplantation, and rationing care in emergencies. (Remember Michael Hickson, the quad who they wouldn’t treat for COVID because of his disability?)
• Community integration: The rule clarifies obligations to provide services in the most integrated setting appropriate to the needs of individuals with disabilities, consistent with the Supreme Court’s decision in Olmstead v. L.C (All these years later, there are still lots of people who want out of institutions but haven’t gotten out yet.)
• Accessibility of medical equipment: The rule adopts the U.S. Access Board’s accessibility standards for medical equipment to address barriers to care, like exam tables that are inaccessible because they are not height-adjustable, weight scales that cannot accommodate people in wheelchairs, and mammogram machines that require an individual to stand to use them. The rule requires most doctors’ offices to have an accessible exam table and weight scale within two years. (Has your doctor ever blown of the physical exam or just examened you in your chair while their exam table stood by empty?)
• Web, mobile app, and kiosk accessibility: The rule adopts the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1, Level AA accessibility standards for websites and mobile applications. It also requires web-enabled systems in self-service kiosks in medical providers’ offices to be accessible. These provisions are particularly important given the increased use of websites, apps, telehealth, video platforms, and self-service kiosks to access health care. (As computers and their kind take over more and more interaction with us, the public, this access gets more and more important)
• Value assessment methods: Value assessment methods are often used to decide whether a medical treatment will be provided and under what circumstances. The rule prohibits the use of any measure, assessment, or tool that discounts the value of a life extension on the basis of disability to deny, limit, or otherwise condition access to an aid, benefit, or service. (Remeber that creepy experiment they did on babies with Spina Bifida in Oklahoma? No, check it out. There are some sick people out there, and I don’t mean the kids with disabilities.)

These new rules are a huge step forward for people with disabilities just trying to get some help, live their lives, etc. At a recent ADAPT meeting we asked who had access problems and/or been discriminated against by their doctor. Every disabled person in the room raised their hands.

The rules will only cover places that get federal funding, but that’s a lot more places than you might imagine. And, there are efforts to bring ADA, 504, Fair Housing and the Architectural Barriers Act into alignment so requirements will not be in conflict any more.

To find out more about these rules and related information click on this link.

A big crowd gathered at ADAPT this year on July 26 to celebrate the anniversary of the ADA! Old friends and colleagues were there as well as up and coming young advocates. It was a great mix. Music, food, and an ADA jeopardy game were among the attractions. Jim Harrington remembered the ADA Campaigns Texas Civil Rights Project and ADAPT collaborated on the make hundreds of Austin venues accessible. Kaye Beneke brought her memorabilia and photos from the day of the signing. The E4 gang and their fearless leader Mr Tate joined us as well as dozens of others.

in mid July the gang at E4, UT Austin’s program for youth with disabilities to prepare for work, came to visit ADAPT of Texas. It was a great and energized group and we spoke to them about our history and issues and they showed us that our giant wheelchair had made the big time and was part of the PokemanGo game!!!

You are cordially invited to join a celebration of the 34th anniversary of the signing of the ADA!

We will be celebrating at the ADAPT office:

• 1100 South IH 35 (just south of Riverside)
• #7 and #20 buses

• Fri. July 26^th From 1:00 to 3:00 pm

This landmark civil rights bill deserves a grand celebration and we would be honored if you could join us, and bring a friend if you like.

We will have refreshments, music and entertainment:

• stories of the role many Texans played in passing the bill,
• a jeopardy game of ADA trivia (who was called “the General”, Who were the people in the famous signing of the ADA picture?, What date was the ADA signed? And many more.)
• Share your favorite thing about the ADA, and/or what else needs to be covered?

Come enjoy this special day!

A PROMISE UNFULFILLED The North Carolina Housing Crisis Casts a dark shadow over the 25th anniversary of the Olmstead Decision                                                                                                                        June 25, 2024 Contact:   Nicky Boyte                                   Email: bellbusters@gmail.com The Olmstead Decision established the constitutional right of all people to live in the least restrictive setting of their choosing and recognized that forcing people to live in nursing homes, institutions, and congregate living is a form of discriminatory segregation. Currently, there are 427 Nursing Facilities in North Carolina, with 36,148 residents waiting to transition into the community. This is unacceptable and unconstitutional. NATIONAL ADAPT demands immediate action to reconcile and resolve this ongoing violation of constitutional rights for people living in institutional settings. Individuals not living in institutions regularly encounter monumental barriers to obtaining and maintaining affordable and accessible housing. In North Carolina, there are over 7,000 people on the waiting list to receive home and community-based services, and the wait list for rental assistance and Section 8 housing is 4-7 years. This is unacceptable. National ADAPT demands: 1. Immediate investment in more permanent, affordable, accessible integrated housing! 2. Expansion of the availability of housing Vouchers for Disabled people transitioning from institutions to realize the promise of Olmstead and more accessible and visible information on how to access programs for housing vouchers and community-based services in all public human health service programs and materials. 3. Immediate investment from the State to allocate more money to fund housing and increased assistance for Disabled people applying for federal programs. ADAPT is a national grass-roots 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.                                                                              *** National ADAPT Calls on North Carolina HHS Secretary Kody Kinsley to Uphold the Olmstead Decision.   June 24, 2024                                                CONTACT:      ADAPT                                                                         Nicky Boyte bellbusters@gmail.com                                                                         PRESS RELEASE National ADAPT demands a meeting with Kody Kinsley, HHS Secretary of the NC Department of Health and Human Services, to discuss issues with Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS), in order to improve and provide HCBS to all NC citizens with disabilities to live independently in the community. This demand falls just after the 25th anniversary of the Olmstead Decision, a landmark ruling in which individuals with disabilities are guaranteed the right to live in the most integrated setting possible. WHAT:  On Monday, June 24th, National ADAPT will be protesting to demand a meeting with Kody Kinsley, HHS Secretary of the NC Department of Health and Human Services, to discuss issues with Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS), in order to improve and provide HCBS to all NC citizens with disabilities to live independently in the community. The demand to meet will address a multitude of issues and ensure ongoing accountability of North Carolina’s HHS office by implementing an equitable HCBS system for individuals with disabilities. People with disabilities cannot rely on churches, family, or other unpaid networks alone any longer. Additional state funding must be appropriated for people with disabilities to live integrated lives in the community. This includes a strong, well-paid community attendant workforce. In addition, the policy for evaluating community attendant hours must be amended, to be based on an individual’s functional need, rather than their diagnosis. North Carolinians with disabilities have many barriers which prevent them from living independently in the community. They include, but are not limited to, a lack of durable medical equipment, a lack of home modifications, and HCBS funding being inequitably distributed between disability groups. Media are encouraged to attend the protest and hear from constituents about the HCBS crisis in North Carolina. WHERE: NC Department of Health and Human Services,  101 Blair Dr, Raleigh, NC 27603 WHEN:     Wednesday, June 24th, 2024 Learn more about National ADAPT by visiting www.nationaladapt.org and by following us on social media at https://linktr.ee/adaptnational National ADAPT rallies in North Carolina to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the Olmsted Decision For Immediate Release                        June 23, 2024 Contact: Nicky Boyte & Jay Staggs –     northcarolinaadapt@gmail.com Raleigh NC – Today June 23, 2024, ADAPT is rallying at the Halifax Mall located at Halifax Mall, 300 N Salisbury St, Raleigh, NC 27603,  from 2pm-4 pm. National ADAPT is rallying to honor the 25th anniversary of the Supreme Court’s Olmstead Decision.  The Olmstead decision has given many people with disabilities access to independence and community life. National ADAPT is a grassroots disability rights organization working to make sure disabled people of all ages can live outside of nursing homes and other restrictive facilities and in the community. Volunteer activists have traveled from across the country to North Carolina because too many disabled people  are living in institutions, which is a blatant violation of the ADA as was decided by the Supreme Court’s Olmstead Decision in 1999 .  This rally will kick off a week- long ADAPT style advocacy demonstration as North Carolina ADAPT advocates to improve services and supports for people with disabilities in our state.  Advocates look to improve services for people with disabilities that include affordable, accessible integrated housing, more equity in services across the board for all people with disabilities regardless of labels, and using Money Follows the Person to free our people from institutions and into the community. This Rally will bring together activists, organizational leaders, disability community members, along with lawmakers to recognize and honor our movement. Join us today, to celebrate with others committed to ending institutional bias, by building a system for people with disabilities to live independent lives, outside of nursing homes and other restrictive and unnecessary facilities. To find out what National ADAPT will be working on throughout the week, and how you can support, follow us on social media.   https://linktr.ee/adaptnational

https://abc11.com/post/protesters-continue-pushing-more-protections-nc-residents-disabilities/15001027

https://www.northcarolinahealthnews.org/2024/06/28/rallying-call-for-disability-rights-in-n-c-draws-national-response

person in s chair holding a poster of Lois Curtis and Elaine Wilson.

Tues, June 18th at 11:30am an ADAPT/PACT delegation will gather in front of the Governor’s Mansion 1010 Colorado for a press conference to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the landmark Supreme Court decision in the Olmstead v LC and EW case.

“Gov Abbott has not led our state in FREEING OUR PEOPLE from Nursing Facilities and other institutions” said Nancy Crowther.

Lois Curtis, L.C., and Elaine Wilson, E.W., the heroines of this story, were two women with disabilities living in institutions in Georgia. Like Texas, Georgia would not let them move into community living situations despite the fact the state had deemed them eligible for community services. The funds allocated for community services were used up, so they had been waitlisted – for years and years.  Their attorney, Sue Jamison, argued the state could use the funds that were paying for them to be institutionalized (at much greater expense than their community services would cost) to pay for them to get services in their own homes. The case went to the Supreme Court which ruled that people with disabilities have the right to live in “the most integrated setting possible” and that “unnecessary institutionalization is discrimination.” 

Though specific numbers are hard to come by, conservatively, hundreds of thousands of people with disabilities of all ages have transitioned from institutions to community since the “Curtis/Wilson” Decision was handed down.

Odd as it may seem, despite its taking a position against people with disabilities in this legal battle, Texas took a lead in implementing change. Programs, like Money Follows the Person, enabled thousands of Texans to be freed from nursing homes and other institutions and receive services in the community.

But Texas has been back sliding, and ADAPT/PACT wants Governor Abbott to meet with us to discuss ways to improve the lot of those needing community supports and services because of their disabilities. So far Abbott has reneged on his promise to meet. We are hoping this silver anniversary will bring Abbott to the table to create solutions.

The decision was released on June 22, 1999. ADAPT is celebrating this anniversary a little early because our members will head to North Carolina June 22 – 27 to join a national protest to help ADAPT in that state free people with disabilities there.

“I have always been bothered by how we refer/celebrate this case as the Olmstead Decision (Olmstead v. L.C., 527 U.S. 581 (1999). We should call our celebrations of this historic case the Curtis/Wison Decision,” said ADAPT organizer Bob Kafka.  “The thousands of liberations that have come from this case have changed the lives of those freed from institutions to live in the community, fulfilling the words of community integration written in the ADA and the Supreme Court Decision.”

Link to Austin Free Press article