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KamaAina

(78,249 posts)
Mon Mar 24, 2014, 01:01 PM Mar 2014

Radical disability rights group ADAPT is doing another sit-in, with a twist

this time, the target is not Congress or some other government agency, but a union.

http://www.adapt.org/main.nysna

The ADAPT activists who have occupied the offices of the New York State Nurses Association appreciate the outpouring of support from the disability community and others across the nation. It has been over 100 hours since members of NYS ADAPT started the occupation of the NYSNA offices because the union opposes amending the Nurse Practice Act to allow attendants to do health related tasks. Throughout the occupation, we have negotiated with the nurses’ union in good faith to get their support for nurse delegation so people who need assistance with health-related tasks - including medication administration, ventilator care, assistance with catheters, suppositories and feeding tubes - can get that assistance in the community from attendants....

We are not union lobbyists or lawyers; nor are we governmental officials or legislators. We are people with disabilities who want to secure our civil right to live in freedom in the community. We are also activists, and we will hold the union, legislature and our governmental officials accountable.

We have fought for 24 years to secure the right to live in the community rather than be forced into institutions. We will not wait any longer, so NYS ADAPT is continuing our occupation of the NYSNA offices.

NYS ADAPT further demands that the New York State Assembly Democrats ensure the civil rights of people with disabilities by supporting budget language that authorizes advanced home health aides to do health related tasks, and if necessary, amends the Nurse Practice Act in order to fully implement the Community First Choice Option, end the Medicaid institutional bias, and FREE OUR PEOPLE!


We're facing a similar issue here in California, where SEIU-United Healthcare Workers is putting forth a ballot initiative that would require In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) caregivers to undergo 75 hours of mandatory training, thus further decimating the IHSS workforce and threatening the independence of those who rely on it.






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Radical disability rights group ADAPT is doing another sit-in, with a twist (Original Post) KamaAina Mar 2014 OP
It's getting more M$M coverage than replies at DU KamaAina Mar 2014 #1
Kick Feron Mar 2014 #2
K&R.. butterfly77 Mar 2014 #3
I hope that they Aerows Mar 2014 #4
 

KamaAina

(78,249 posts)
1. It's getting more M$M coverage than replies at DU
Mon Mar 24, 2014, 02:53 PM
Mar 2014


http://www.nbcnews.com/id/54754292/

Seventeen members of the group "ADAPT" are living in the Latham Office of the New York State Nurses Association. They're sponge bathing and washing their clothes in the restrooms. Laundry is drying in the lobby....

Several of the protestors used to live in a nursing home, but now live in their own home.

They say amending the law would allow even more people to leave institutions and they're accusing the union of trying to blocking that.

"They're playing with people's lives. We all have a right to be free, and do what we want to do. That is our right," said Bobbi Wallach, who lives with Multiple Sclerosis.


Did you know? One-quarter of all Americans in nursing homes are under age 65 and have significant disabilities!
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