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MiCASSA 2000 KICK OFF EVENT - Washington D.C. and around the country!Dear MiCASSA Supporter:
On Wednesday, May 3rd at noon Eastern time in Washington, D.C., Senator Tom Harkin (D - Iowa) and Senator Arlen Specter (R - Pennsylvania) will hold a press event to kick off the introduction of MiCASSA, S.1935, the Medicaid Community Attendant Services and Supports Act.
The Senators, along with organizational and individual MiCASSA supporters, will call for bi-partisan Medicaid reform to end the institutionally biased long term service system and to give people with disabilities and older Americans a REAL Choice to live and receive services and supports in their communities.
In order that MiCASSA Supporters from throughout the country can participate in this national event, arrangements are being made for a national telephone conference-call hook up to hear the Senators' remarks as well as other kick-off proceedings.
Due to limitations on the phone lines we are asking that groups of 20 or more people come together on Wednesday May 3rd at an accessible site that has speaker phone capability to join the national event. Work with other MiCASSA supporters to select a site agreeable to your community.
You will need to call an 800 number by 11:45 am eastern, 10:45 am central, 9:45 am mountain and 8:45 am pacific time. We encourage outreach to all organizations currently supporting MiCASSA as well as those who are interested in becoming MiCASSA Supporters. If you need a list of current Supporters from your state contact Stephanie at 512/442-0252 or [email protected].
To add creativity and fun to the phone event:
1) hold a local press conference;
2) celebrate the stories of people who have escaped from institutions;
3) hold a march or rally in support of community services.
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To reserve a spot for the May 3rd Conference Call you must contact Janine at [email protected] or call 1-785-233-4572 by 5 pm eastern time Friday April 28th (NO EXCEPTIONS). REMEMBER ----- AN ACCESSIBLE SITE, SPEAKER PHONE AND 20 or MORE INDIVIDUALS!!!!
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Even if you can't participate in the conference call, there are many things you CAN do in your communities to show your support for MiCASSA on May 3rd. Some ideas are:
* hold a press event at an organization like: an Independent Living Center, The Arc, area ADAPT group, area Agency on Aging, Protection and Advocacy office, PVA, local disability consumer group;* invite the press to the bedside of someone in a nursing home or ICF-MR facility and wants out but can't get services;
* hold a rally or march for community services. At your event, you can:
* have groups bring a letter of support for S 1935 addressed to Senators Harkin and Specter,
* have individuals at the event sign onto a poster sized letter of support,
* highlight people who have gotten out of a nursing home or ICF-MR facility and are living successfully in the community,
* highlight someone or several someones who want out but can't get services,
* have individuals turn in 1 page personal stories of why they support MiCASSA.
Try and tie in local information too, like:
* here in our state the waiting list for community services is 10 months long, or
* it costs twice as much to serve someone on a nursing home as in the community.
The grassroots support for MiCASSA will decide its eventual passage.
Please get involved on May 3rd and become part of the MiCASSA - Campaign for REAL Choice in the New Millenium.
FREE OUR PEOPLE