Friday, October 19, 2012

DISABILITY ACTIVISTS STAGE NATIONAL MEDICAID RALLY AT PENNSYLVANIA STATE CAPITOL

DISABILITY ACTIVISTS STAGE NATIONAL MEDICAID RALLY AT PENNSYLVANIA STATE CAPITOL


CONTACT:
Cassie James Holdsworth, 215 219 0694 Philadelphia PA
Pam Auer, 717 798 2807 Harrisburg PA
Kathleen Kleinmann, 412 916 3135 Washington PA
Bruce Darling, 585 370 6690 Rochester NY



WHO: ADAPT, a national disability rights group is hosting the rally with several partner organizations at the national, state 
and local levels. Partner organizations currently include: statewide groups such as the Disability Rights Network of 
Pennsylvania, the Pennsylvania Independent Living Council, the Pennsylvania Mental Health Consumers Association, Visions for 
Equality, as well as national groups like TASH.

WHAT: A National Rally on Medicaid home and community based services for people with disabilities and seniors. A simultaneous 
rally is also being held in Olympia, Washington.


WHEN: 1 pm EST


WHERE:  Pennsylvania State Capitol, Harrisburg, PA. The rally will be on the fountain side of the Capitol on Commonwealth 
Avenue.


WHY:  Governor Corbett's rollback policies on Medicaid home and community based living are damaging years of careful program 
building for people with disabilities, as well as children and seniors.  Pennsylvania is just one of many states experiencing a 
severe crisis in Medicaid home and community based services funding.  Advocates from across the nation are joining together 
today in Harrisburg to send a message to all state governments, Congress and the White House that Medicaid is critical to 
independence.  Medicaid is a hot button issue during this election season; over 50 million Americans use Medicaid services.  
ADAPT's lead campaign is called My Medicaid Matters, to

About ADAPT:  ADAPT is a national grassroots disability rights group dedicated to fighting for the right of people with 
disabilities to live in their own homes, not nursing homes or institutions.  ADAPT's hosting of this rally builds on three days 
of direct action in Harrisburg focusing on Governor Tom Corbett and Department of Public Welfare Secretary Gary Alexander.  For 
more information, see www.adapt.org.

Rally Emcees:

Linda Anthony, Rally Coordinator- NATIONAL AND PA ADAPT Member (Harrisburg)
Cassie James-Holdsworth-NATIONAL AND PA ADAPT Member (Philadelphia)

Opening remarks: Linda and Cassie

Speakers Confirmed at this Point:

Kathy Brill
Parent to Parent

Colleen Tomko
Kids Together Inc.

Jean Searle
President of TASH

State Representative Gene DiGeralamo

State Representative Vanessa Lowery-Brown

Judy Banks
Disability Rights Network of PA

Lynn Keltz
PA Mental Health Consumer Association

Mike Eakin
Erie, PA Consumer---uses Medicaid funded home services

Dee Coccia
Visions for Equality

Pam Auer
Not Dead Yet

Daniel Curcio
Direct Care Worker, Consumer Workforce Council

German Parodi
Chairperson Consumer Workforce Council

Cathy Cranston
Direct Care Worker, Advocate

Neal Bisno
President of SEIU Healthcare PA

Josue Rodriguez
National ADAPT Youth Committee Chairperson

Cassie James-Holdsworth
ADAPT Pre-Closing Summary on Needed Action for Medicaid in Pennsylvania

Bruce Darling of Rochester, New York
National ADAPT, will introduce the My Medicaid Matters Campaign

Bob Kafka of Austin, Texas
National ADAPT, My Medicaid Matters Campaign and the Future

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

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