|
Washington Protection & Advocacy System Pursuing justice on behalf of people with disabilities on matters related to their human, legal, and civil rights. Promoting Dignity, Equality and Self-Determination.
Home ׀
About WPAS ׀
News ׀
Self-Advocacy
׀ Public Policy
׀ Publications
׀ Contact
WPAS
|
|
"Free Our People!"ADAPT sponsored march brings a civil rights message to Washington, D.C.by Phil Jordan October 4, 2003 For 14 days and 144 miles they marched. Through downpours, scorching sun and energy-sapping humidity, they kept on marching. When it was all over, hundreds of civil rights activists had brought their message to policy makers in Washington, D.C. "Free our People." "No more stolen lives." "The journey is not over until Congress passes MiCASSA." Stolen LivesPeople with disabilities living in nursing homes and in institutions have had their lives stolen by federal rules that just don't make any sense. Medicaid, a program jointly run by the federal government and the states, has always made it easy to confine people with disabilities in places where they don't have control over the decisions that shape their own lives - in nursing homes and institutions. Medicaid is supposed to provide healthcare for people with extremely low incomes, but the program's rules make it extremely difficult for people to get that healthcare in their own homes and in their own communities. Instead, Medicaid rules steer people with disabilities into nursing homes and institutions where they are told what to do, when to do it, when to eat and sleep, and how to behave. In short, their lives are stolen. MiCASSAMiCASSA seeks to change all of that. MiCASSA is short for the Medicaid Community-based Attendant Services and Supports Act and is a proposed law that would change the Medicaid rules to allow people with disabilities to receive the services and supports they need in their own homes. MiCASSA has another meaning, beyond what the letters stand for. "Mi casa" is Spanish for "my house, " so the bill sends a strong message about the value of living in one's own home, independently and with dignity. MiCASSA has been proposed in both the House and the Senate. In the Senate, the bill number is S. 971, while in the House, the bill number is HR 2032. You can look up these bills on the internet by going to "Thomas" at www.thomas.loc.gov and then typing in either of the bill numbers in the search box. Prior to the march and rally in the nation's capitol, none of the Senators or Representatives from Washington state were listed as co-sponsors of MiCASSA. Joelle Brouner, one of the activists from Washington state who attended the event, reported that following the rally, she met with staff from Representative McDermott's office, who pledged to become a co-sponsor. Brouner also met with staff from Senator Cantwell's office, who promised to consider supporting the bill. More Information on MiCASSAADAPT is an organization that has been fighting for the rights of people with disabilities for years, and was the sponsor for the Free Our People march and rally (ADAPT's web site is www.adapt.org). They fought long and hard to make MiCASSA the law of the land. They have written a simple clear introduction to what MiCASSA is all about, and you can read it at www.freeourpeople.org/MiCASSA/default.htm#sum. In fact, ADAPT has created a whole web site that talks about the Free Our People march and rally. It is full of great information about the event, photos from the march, MiCASSA, what you can do to help, and much more. You can visit the site at www.freeourpeople.org. |
|
Home ׀
About WPAS ׀
News ׀
Self-Advocacy
׀ Public Policy
׀ Publications
׀ Contact
WPAS
Washington Protection &
Advocacy System
|
Back
to Top of Page