San Francisco —The Coalition of Californians for Olmstead (COCO), support the ADAPT protest against Laguna Honda from October 21-25. Laguna Honda symbolizes much that is wrong with services that are provided for people with disabilities and seniors. COCO believes that people with disabilities and seniors have the right to receive their care at home or in their communities. Survey after survey, study after study, and project after project have consistently demonstrated that people with disabilities want to receive long-term care services at home or in their communities, and with sufficient resources this can happen.
WHAT: ?FIRST EVENT - RALLY
WHEN:?Sunday, October 21 @ 1:30pm
WHERE:?across from Laguna Honda Hospital, San Francisco
For over 30 years America has been working to downsize and close state institutions and nursing homes for children and adults with developmental and other disabilities. In recent years, both the former Clinton and current Bush Administrations have supported and are funding community based alternatives and initiatives to keep Americans from being forced into nursing homes and other institutions. In 1999 the U.S. Supreme Court mandated that states and local governments couldn't force people into institutional settings if the needed services and supports could be provided in their own homes or in the community.
"Virtually no one wants to live in an institution and there are many examples of people with very significant disabilities doing fine outside of institutions," according to Marilyn Golden of DREDF (Disability Rights, Education & Defense Fund). "But it's essential they have services, medical care and supports of all kinds in the community. The money is there, but the city of San Francisco and the state of California have done a poor job of providing these support services. This needs to change!"
The resources that will pour into the rebuild of Laguna Honda over the next ten years could be used to strengthen and expand community-based care in San Francisco. In these difficult economic times, sound fiscal policy is critical. Community-based care is more cost effective than care in an institution. Indeed, San Francisco already has examples of community-based alternatives to institutional care. "On Lok" and "Presentation Senior Community" in the Tenderloin are two good examples.
COCO is working to help people with disabilities in California move out of institutions in order to live in the community. COCO is a coalition of over 25 organizations including consumer, legal and advocacy services organizations of and for people with disabilities. Member organizations include the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP), Alameda County Network of Mental Health Clients, Autism Society of Los Angeles, California Foundation of Independent Living Centers, Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund, Inc., Protection & Advocacy, Inc., and the World Institute on Disability.