American Disabled for Attendant Programs Today

of Connecticut

 

About Us

Housing

Legislative Activity

Links

Contact Us


Welcome to ADAPT of Connecticut


Photograph by Tom Olin

ADAPT of Connecticut is part of a national disability rights organization, ADAPT.  ADAPT was originally formed in 1983 to give people with disabilities access to public transit.  At that time, the acronym stood for American Disabled for Accessible Public Transit.  ADAPT also played a major role in gaining passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).   

ADAPT is like no other organization of which you may be a member.  From the national to the local level, ADAPT has an informal structure.  There are no money dues, no membership cards.  To become involved with ADAPT you must have an active interest in changing the current system of long term care in Connecticut, getting people attendant services in the community and getting folks out of nursing homes and other institutions.  The key word is active.  ADAPT is an activist organization.  This means, if you become a member, that you are willing to give your time and energy to bring about changes in long-term care systems and to free our people.  


 

Good morning, I am Claude Holcomb, from ADAPT of Connecticut. 

We are here today on the anniversary of the Olmstead, decision, it has been ten years. Are our brother, sister, mothers, father’s and friends in the community, if they want to live in the community?  Out of institutions?  No they are not!  That is why we walking to the Capital, to bring out the injustice of keeping people with disabilities out of the society,  so the institutions could get rich off peoples’ need for care!?!   On June 22, 1999, the United States Supreme Court decided in the case Olmstead v. L.C. that the unnecessary segregation of individuals with disabilities in institutions may constitute discrimination based on disability. 

This state is doing so little to move people with disabilities into the community.  We see some people in the community, but we need to tell our governor and our Legislature today after we get to the capital that people with disabilities have a legal right to choose where they want to live. In the Olmstead decision the Supreme Court told all states that people who have disabilities have a choice to live in the community. 

We know we are in a bad time all around the country.  But people are dying in institutions.  I am going to play a song, about living in institutions, which is what Olmstead is all about.  Can we please line up, in a straight line to walk to the Capital slowly? Please try to go behind someone on the Street to keep it in a single file for safety’s sake. 

 

Adapt in the News

 
RE: Meeting to Enable Youth with Developmental Disabilities to
 Participate in Activists Activities Locally, Statewide and Nationally
Claude Holcomb, ADAPT of Connecticut 
 Council on Developmental Disabilities
 CT Family Support Council, Other Parent Groups, CLRC, etc.
 Centers for Independent Living (all 5)
 People First, WeCAHR, too
 Office of Protection & Advocacy
 KASA-Kids As Self Advocates
 Disability Adv Collaborative, Stan Kosloski
 YLF- Youth Leadership Forum
 Disability Resource Network, John Esteves
 List serves, websites and blog
 
 
 Thursday, September 20, 2007,1pm
 Room TBA
 Institute Of Business and Technology Development
 Central CT State University
 185 Main Street
 New Britain, CT
 (860)-827-4479
 
 At its June 19, 2007 meeting, the Connecticut Council on
 Developmental Disabilities set aside $10,000 to enable youth leaders
 with developmental disabilities to participate in activists
 activities locally, statewide and nationally during 2008. The
 purpose for this meeting is to explore reaching consensus on an
 entity to receive and manage the Council's funds. This meeting is a
 gathering of entities thought to be interested in serving this
 purpose. Please share this invitation with others who may be
 interested.
 
 The intent of this initiative is to reach people with developmental
 disabilities under the age of 21 who are emerging leaders. Activists
 activities include attending and participating in demonstrations and
 rallies concerning issues of importance to people with developmental
 disabilities and their families. Funds are not intended to be used
 simply to enable participation in conferences and meetings. Funds
 are not intended to be used for events specific to a disability
 label. Funds may be used for transportation, travel, personal
 assistants, interpreters, meals, lodging, travel and other expenses
 that enable participation. Council funds will be allocated to an
 entity through a memorandum of agreement. The entity allocated funds
 will be the recipient of requests for support from youth with
 developmental disabilities or their advocates. The entity will
 decide on the appropriateness of requests. The entity will also
 arrange and pay for transportation, travel, accommodations, etc. as
 agreed upon between the entity and applicants or the applicant's
 advocate. No more than $1,000 of these funds may be used by the
 entity for administrative costs.
 
 Please contact Angela Spino for further information:

 Phone (860)-418-8709 Email: angela.spino@po.state.ct.us

 

Channel 8 News Story - September 20, 2006

NPR Morning Edition - September 15, 2006

The Hartford Advocate - August 28, 2008

 

Hit Counter

© 2006 · All Rights Reserved · Design by Trinfo.Cafe