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ADAPT LEADS OLMSTEAD IMPLEMENTATION
EFFORTS
ALBANY, NY - January 12, 2001.
The Rochester and New York City ADAPT chapters
recently coordinated actions to draw attention to the implementation of the
Olmstead decision in New York State. A group of around 60 advocates
simultaneously protested outside the Governor's Office in Albany and New York
City until his press secretary agreed to meet on the subject within two weeks.
Various capitol news reporters covered the activity.
As a result, representatives from the Governor's
Office and Department of Health met with members of ADAPT on February 2, 2001.
Bruce Darling of ADAPT in Rochester recommended five substantive steps that the
State should take to demonstrate progress on the issue. They include: 1)
signing an executive order to support Olmstead implementation, 2) notifying
counties and providers that fiscal assessment has expired and is illegal, 3)
starting the process to identify people with disabilities who can transition
from a nursing home to the community, 4) developing a Medicaid waiver program
for people with physical disabilities, and 5) applying to HCFA for federal
nursing home transition and systems change grants. State health officials
indicated that they have successfully completed the second item, which
addresses fiscal assessment. The group will continue to meet on a monthly basis
to review progress on the other steps.
In a related matter, a statewide Olmstead
implementation coalition convened its first meeting in Albany on February 5,
2001. Chaired by Bonnie Schultz, the initial members are supportive of ADAPT's
recommendations. Some coalition members are addressing the issue by working
with consumers to file complaints with the federal Office of Civil Rights.
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DISABLED VOTERS TURNOUT IN RECORD
NUMBER
WASHINGTON, D.C. - December 19, 2000.
In spite of the difficulties posed by the voting
system, America's disability community rallied to the polls this year. More
than half a million Americans with disabilities registered to vote, many due to
an aggressive national campaign led by the National Organization on Disability
(N.O.D.). And people with disabilities cast their ballots in record numbers on
November 7th. Data from the Harris Poll show that 14 million Americans with
disabilities voted this year, up dramatically from 11.3 million in 1996. This
represents an increase from 30 to 41 percent of voting-aged people with
disabilities. Harris also concluded that citizens with disabilities are a
cohesive voting bloc; half say that disability issues are a major concern when
they decide for whom to vote, while for 23 percent it is the highest priority.
Thus, party affiliation is not the driving factor.
The increase in turnout this year reflects a
significant dedication to democracy by the disability community, and
recognition of the value of a vote-especially because voting is more difficult
than it should be for many in this population. Forty-one percent turnout is
still a substantially lower level than that of the entire population (roughly
50 percent), and to close this gap, those with disabilities are demanding more
accessible voting systems that will facilitate parity. Although the number is
shrinking, the Federal Election Commission reports that at least 20,000 polling
places across the country are not fully accessible to voters with disabilities.
The majority of the country continues to use antiquated voting machines that
are especially problematic for disabled and older voters. Punch card ballots,
used in a third of America's communities-including some that drew attention in
Florida-are impractical for people with reduced eye-hand coordination, limited
physical strength, and such hand problems as severe arthritis. Improperly
punched card ballots lead to the now notorious dimpled or hanging chads, which
often result in ballots not being counted. Twenty percent of the country uses
lever machines, which require physical strength and coordination for successful
operation, and many of which cannot be operated from a wheelchair. By contrast,
the most disability-friendly voting system is computerized voting. This format
is currently used in less than ten percent of the country's polling places.
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