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/
