Tuesday, April 29, 2008

ADAPT is in the House! 25th Anniversary of Activism Starts with

For Immediate Release
April 27, 2008

For information contact:
Bob Kafka 512-431-4085
Marsha Katz 406-544-9504
http://www.adapt25.org


ADAPT is in the House! 25th Anniversary of Activism Starts with
Fundraising Run; Press Conference on Tuesday


Washington, D.C.--- 500 bright orange vests lit the drizzly, grey
Washington, DC, day as ADAPT members from nearly every state in the Union
did fundraising laps around Upper Senate Park warming up for a week of
activism and the celebration of ADAPT's 25th anniversary. The funds raised
will support activists living on fixed disability and retirement incomes
to participate at ADAPT actions confronting the people in power who make
policy and law about their lives.


The national honorary runner for the fundraiser was Marca Bristo, award
winning President and CEO of Access Living in Chicago, IL; a founder and
former President of the National Council on Independent Living; and a
former Chairperson of the National Council on Disability, appointed by
President Bill Clinton. Donors interested in sponsoring Bristo's laps can
still do so at http://www.adaptfunrun.org .


ADAPT is in D.C. to advance the Community Choice Act (CCA), legislation
that would allow older and disabled people to stay in their own homes with
the supports and services they need instead of being forced into nursing
homes and other institutions. The CCA (S. 799, H.R. 1621) is bipartisan
legislation introduced simultaneously in the United States Senate and
House of Representatives. ADAPT activities this week will target people
and organizations that continue to create barriers preventing people with
disabilities from living full, rich lives in their own homes and
communities, near their families and friends.


On Tuesday, April 29, ADAPT will also hold a press conference announcing
the country's "Ten Worst" and "Ten Best" states for community-based
services. There will be an additional five "honorable" mentions for the
best states and five "dishonorable" mentions for the worst states. ADAPT's
"Ten Worst" and "Ten Best" are announced every few years and represent a
"snapshot" of how the states compare with one another in that year. All
selections are made using easily available data from trusted public
sources of information and one national survey.


ADAPT will conclude a week of activism with a 25th anniversary celebration on
Thursday, May 1. Several rooms of historical displays will be open to the
public at the Holiday Inn Capitol, 550 C Street, starting at 10 a.m.

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FOR MORE INFORMATION on ADAPT visit our website at http://www.adapt.org/

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