Maggie Demonstrates with ADAPT!

I just got home from a trip with the ADAPT national disability advocacy group. We went to Washington, DC for what we call a "national action"  where as a group we went to different sites around the DC to advocate for the Disability Integration Act. This Act, which is pending in the Senate builds on work done by national ADAPT, will require insurance companies and states to provide funding for services (like personal care attendants, medical equipment, and other social services) in the community that would allow people with disabilities to live in the community rather than nursing homes.  The law makes sense because it costs less to have people live in the community versus living in care facilities and research shows they live more full and healthier lives while living in the community. We demonstrated in front of the White House, Department of Health and Human Services, and the Department of Justice.  We also held a Fun Run to raise awareness for the Act and we met with different legislators on Capitol Hill to urge them to support the legislation and on the House side to promote new legislation that supports the Disability Integration Act.

What we did means a lot to me because people my age with disabilities are living in nursing homes and if this legislation passes they may not have to and their quality of life can be improved. I've never been to a protest before much less participated in one. It was a really exhilarating experience because we're passionate about this issue. It's something I'm glad I was part of because I have friends who lived in nursing homes and have since moved to living into their communities and I have seen how much better their lives our now because of their integration into their communities. If you would like to help get the Disability Integration Act  passed and you live in the US, please call your Senator and ask them to support Senate bill 2427 which was introduced by Senator Schumer (D-NY) in December, 2015. You can also still donate to the Fun Run until June. If you would like to donate to the Fun Run please follow this link: http://adaptfunrun.net/runner/message/757.