Community Choice Act NOW!!!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OK2Hwp5by64&NR=1

video of ADAPTers in action- towards the end of the video is our own Frank Lozano of DesertADAPT- GO BROTHER!!!

ADAPT is in Atlanta, Ga. right now on one of their bi-annual actions.

The Community Choice Act is one of the issues being brought up, along with treating the individual not the medical condition and fighting for better wages and benefits for personal attendants.

The Community Choice Act includes and expands on "the money follows the person". For years many disabled and elderly have had to be institutionalized in order to receive their "benefits" that keep them alive. They have been taken from loved ones and forced to live in nursing homes and institutions just because they receive some sort of government assistance. There they are told when to eat, what to eat, where they can go, when they must go to sleep etc. And we all have heard the horror stories of the neglect and abuses many have had to endure while in this "care".

The Community Choice Act allows the receiver of the benefits to dictate where they want to live and how they receive their services. And alot of people want to live at home with family or independantly. As free Americans that should be their choice. This Act also allows the receiver to hire, fire and train their own personal attendant, no longer would they be subjected to abuse and neglect at the hands of others making their decisions. Instead of an institution having the say in how the money is spent the receiver of the benefits has a voice. Along with a caseworker, the individual plans his own care and where and how they receive the services. It is already proven to be more cost-effective, let alone the individual is happier having more control over their life.

Another issue ADAPT is fighting for is individual need vs medical condition. What that means in a nutshell is that not every person with cerebral palsy, for example, is going to have the same needs as another with the same general condition. Included with this would be maintaining and upgrading necessary equipment or aids tailored to the individual's needs and lifestyle- no more waiting another 4 months for new wheels on a wheelchair that has worn out wheels just because the individual has reached their "cap" for the year and must wait until the next fiscal year of benefits to kick in. Imagine the productivity this individual could attain if not impeded by bureaucratic red tape and unecessary rules of benefit distribution!

The other issue ADAPT is currently fighting for is for personal attendants rights to a livable wage and benefits. Right now many agencies paid by the government aid in the hiring of attendants and keep them at a low wage and usually without benefits- these same agencies also takes out a percentage of money earmarked for the individual receiver in administrative costs, and usually at an unfair amount. With community based alternatives the individual, along with their caseworker and/or representative, decides what rate of pay the attendant receives and what benefits out of the monies they receive annually for the individual's care. A plan is written annually and a budget made and any help from outside agencies is paid a nominal portion out of those monies for administrative support. It is a more cost-effective way of using the monies and results in a happier individual receiving the benefits and keeps the personal attendant happier by giving them a livable wage and chance for advancement within their field.

As a senator, Obama promised to help push through the Community Choice Act. As President, he has stalled the process.

The time for change is NOW!

Many Tea Partiers have been protesting for months now that they don't want to give up control in how their taxes are spent with regard to healthcare and this is one big issue they should all be backing. Reforming Medicare/Medicaid and voting for the Community Choice Act now not only makes better use of all our tax money but makes life more fair, dignified and livable for our disabled and elderly.