Disability and Senior Groups Unite for Olmstead
Press Conference Scheduled to Address Issue
ALBANY – On Tuesday, February 5th at 11:00 AM in the LCA Room of the Legislative Office Building (LOB), disability and senior groups from across the state will join together to discuss what New York State needs to do to comply with the 1999 Olmstead U.S. Supreme Court decision.
The Court ruled that the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) require states to serve people in the most integrated setting possible. New York State still has thousands of people with disabilities and seniors in institutions that are more restrictive than necessary to meet their needs. There is no acceptable rationale for keeping people in segregated settings. Public policy should support the fullest possible independence, inclusion, and participation as possible. President George W. Bush made Olmstead implementation a cornerstone of his "New Freedom Initiative" and signed a related Executive Order last year.
So far, New York State has not addressed Olmstead implementation. Members of the statewide disability and senior communities will speak on Tuesday to announce their joint effort and to outline initial steps. This will include comments from some consumer representatives from each community; one woman recently released from a nursing home.
Assemblyman Kevin Cahill, Chair of the Assembly Task Force on People with Disabilities, held a hearing on Olmstead last year. It is anticipated that he will announce plans to sponsor legislation to enforce the ruling at the press conference.
Finally, Bob Kafka, a national ADAPT organizer, will comment on the status of Olmstead implementation across the country and where New York stands on the issue.
If you are interested in attending this event or to find out more about this important issue, please call Stephanie Pero at 458-1600 or email at stephp@nycap.rr.com. You can also contact Brad Williams at 427-1060, 424-8121, or email at nysilc@nysilc.org. Thank you!
Disability and Senior Groups Unite for Olmstead
ALBANY (Tuesday, February 5, 2002) – Disability and senior groups from across the state held a joint press conference to discuss what New York State needs to do to comply with the 1999 Olmstead U.S. Supreme Court decision.
The Court ruled that the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) require states to serve people in the most integrated setting possible. New York State still has thousands of people with disabilities and seniors in institutions that are more restrictive than necessary to meet their needs. So far, New York State has not addressed implementation of the Olmstead decision.
"Frankly, we have waited long enough for New York to implement this landmark decision," stated Bruce Darling of Rochester. "The State should not be taking people’s freedom away just because they had an accident, survived a crime, have a disability or simply get older." Darling is an organizer for New York State ADAPT and is the Chairperson for the Committee To Implement Olmstead in New York (CTIONY) Steering Committee.
Linda Ostertag, a woman recently released from a nursing home commented, "I broke through the glass ceiling in two male-dominated industries, was interviewed by Time Magazine, and lived all over the country. After I was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis, I was told I owed it to my family and the community, as a disabled person, to go into a nursing home because I was a burden to society. There, the government took away my money and I lost my freedom. Two years, five months, ten days and two hours later, I reclaimed my life and moved back into the community."
The ruling has a significant impact on seniors as well. "The implications of the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision will be far-reaching for older New Yorkers, many of whom develop disabilities later in life," noted Michael Burgess, Executive Director of the New York StateWide Senior Action Council. "We are joining with the disability community in a great coalition to make certain that every person is able to live in a setting they prefer." Burgess adds, "There are just too many roadblocks in this State to community based living for people in our Medicaid and health care system."
[Greg Olsen, Executive Director of the New York State Coalition for the Aging, echoed similar concerns for older adults…include comment?]
Assemblyman Kevin Cahill, Chair of the Assembly Task Force on People with Disabilities, talked about the hearing his task force held last year on Olmstead. Cahill received a enthusiastic ovation from the crowd when he announced his intention to sponsor legislation that will enforce Olmstead in New York. [Comment?]
Finally, Bob Kafka, a national ADAPT organizer, will comment on the status of Olmstead implementation across the country and where New York stands on the issue. [Quote] [Group broke into a chant of, "Free our brothers, free our sisters, free our people now!"] President George W. Bush made Olmstead implementation a cornerstone of his "New Freedom Initiative" and signed a related Executive Order last year.
For More Information, Contact:
Stephanie Pero, Howard Schaffer Media Marketing (518) 458-1600.
Brad Williams, New York State Independent Living Council (518) 424-8121.
Bruce Darling, Organizer, NYS ADAPT, Chairperson, CTIONY Steering Committee, 716 370-8922.
Linda Ostertag, Community Advocate, Center for Disability Rights, 716 546-7510.
Michael Burgess, Executive Director, New York StateWide Senior Action Council, 436-1006.
Greg Olsen, MSW, Executive Director, New York State Coalition for the Aging, 465-064.
Kim Hill, Staff, NYS Assembly Task Force on People with Disabilities, #.
Maria Dibble, Chair, New York State Independent Living Council, (607) 724-2111.
Nadina LaSpina, Organizer, New York City ADAPT, (917) 916-0432.