Riv The idea that an issue that is sooooo important to me personally, can be a topic that is on the table for discussion by a presidential candidate, gives me cautious optimism. Reading those minutes/newsletter of events- made me feel as though the guy that "happened to have 8 extra tickets" sounds like an angel bearing gifts
GBAmerica for her opportunities ....REALLY! -CW -----Original Message----- From: River Wolfe [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Wednesday, September 22, 2004 3:40 PM To: quad Subject: [QUAD-L] ADAPT magic Ok folks, please read this through. Mr. Kerry clearly understands the issue of community support AND isn't afraid to let our people speak in his rallies. WOW, this brought me to tears, simply knowing that a leader will let someone speak in public and isn't afraid of their free speech rights !!!! > > > Friday September 17, 2004: ADAPT magic happened again at the Town Hall > Meeting in Aurora, Co with presidential candidate John Kerry. The > local ADAPT group had spent the week trying to get tickets to attend > the rally for Mr. Kerry on Friday and had been unsuccessful. On Friday > at 2PM a > decision was made and eight of us loaded up in a van to attempt to get > into > the meeting without tickets. The magic started immediately. The > parking lots > were full so we asked one of the police officers if we could unload > the van > before parking. "You have two minutes to unload," he said, "and don't > go > past the cones." As we pulled into the parking lot another officer > said, > "You need to pull around right in front." "But we were told not to go > past > the cones." "And I'm telling you to go past the cones and unload." > Past the > cones we went. > As we got to the doors we asked several people to find a specific > individual, as she was to have the tickets for us. Of course, she > couldn't > be located, but a group of us sitting to the side were offered tickets > by a > man and coincidentally he had exactly eight tickets. Inside we went. > We were able to pass security without too much hassle, and were > directed to > the side of the gym with a good view of the podium where Mr. Kerry > would be > speaking. The group in the wheelchairs moved up the aisle, where they > were > stopped by one of the union women sitting on the aisle who explained > they > could move no closer. As soon as she had lost interest in them and > moved her > foot Dawn Russell took them to the very front of the row. > In his speech Mr. Kerry was very up front about the problems he saw > with the > present administration and the changes he was prepared to initiate. > The main > focus of his speech was health care and his healthcare plan for the > nation, > and we were clear we had come to the right place at the right time. > After his speech Mr. Kerry took and responded to questions from the > audience. He handed the microphone to a woman sitting next to Dawn and > her > question was about what would happen to her Medicaid with all of the > budget > cuts that were going on. As Mr. Kerry stepped back to begin his answer > "quiet" Dawn Russell said, "I have an answer to the Medicaid problems, > Senator Kerry." And the Senator kneeled down and held the microphone > for > her. ADAPT magic at work. "Senator Kerry, there are over 1 million > people > in nursing homes across the United States. It would cost one-third > less to > support them in the community. Colorado is one of the best in the > country at > community supports, but across the country people are having to leave > their > home states to come to places like Colorado to live in our own homes > in the > community and receive services," said Dawn. > Senator Kerry responded, " This is Dawn Russell from ADAPT, and she is > right. No one should be forced to live in a nursing home." Mr. Kerry > went on > to remark on ADAPTs 14 year battle to pass legislation that would > assist > individuals including the elderly and the coming "Baby Boomers" to > continue > to live in their own homes. He stated that children should not have to > work > extra to take care of or pay for their parents. Services in the home > "with > attendant care" will not only save money, but increase jobs and pay a > living > wage for attendants. People should have the choice of where they live > and > should all be able to live independently and with dignity. > ADAPT magic, Senator Kerry. Thank You > -- > ---------------------------------------------------------------- > > Housing & Disability Issues (formerly NHOYO) is a moderated > informational list. It consists of disability issues concerning, but > not limited to: Individuals, Home ownership, and Affordable housing. > If you would like to be on our mailing list, send an email message to: > > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > stating your wishes. > > Since this is not a discussion list, you will not be able to send > questions directly to the list. However, if you have any information > that you feel is relevant to this list, please feel free to send this > information to: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> If we feel this information is > appropriate, we will post it to the list. > > If you wish to be removed from this list please send an email message > to: > > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > stating your wishes. > > Visit > > http://chance.unh.edu > > for information on home ownership for people with disabilities. > > ---------------------------------------------------------------- > > > > ------ End of Forwarded Message >
