American Disabled for Attendant Programs Today
of Connecticut

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