Media Release

For Immediate Release:

Contact: Chris Hilderbrant
July 26, 2010

ADA Public Forum Turns To Public Outcry Over Brooks’ Actions

Rochester, NY – The Center for Disability Rights (CDR) has long planned a Public Forum to commemorate today’s 20th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), but that event is now expected to turn to a public outcry over Monroe County’s actions late last week, ending CDR’s contract to provide consumer directed attendant services to nearly 300 seniors and people with disabilities who reside in the County. CDR sent the attached letter to County Executive Brooks today, detailing evidence debunking the county’s allegations of “widespread neglect” as erroneous and false.

The County’s action also affects over seven hundred area workers, who are employed and supervised by the individuals they care for, but receive their paychecks through CDR. “Many of the people who employ attendants through our program have called us, some of them crying, because they stand to lose the attendant they have worked with for years,” said April Oakes who directs the program at CDR. “The whole idea behind consumer directed service is that the person decides who will come into their home and help them with intimate tasks like bathing. The county’s action threatens long standing relationships as well as the jobs of many workers who have never worked in a traditional agency.”

Although the County only provided ten days notice and no opportunity to be heard to the affected individuals, workers or CDR, local media were provided a letter stating Monroe County’s primary allegations, which involve County authorized service hours not always filled by a worker. “Sometimes I choose to spend time with my family and friends rather than paid staff,” said Carmen Hernandez, who was investigated by Monroe County. “What they don’t seem to understand is that this is my choice.”

This forum will be open to the public and was planned to solicit input regarding the barriers which remain in the lives of people with disabilities, 20 years after the signing of the ADA by President George H.W. Bush. “The ADA covers Medicaid long term care,” said Diane Coleman, CDR’s Director of Advocacy. “The disability community fought for years across the country to establish consumer directed programs like CDR’s, which are now considered a best practice by federal Medicaid officials. It’s shocking that the County is attempting to rip these services out of the hands of a nonprofit organization run by people with disabilities and hand them over to traditional for profit agencies.”

Staff from the offices of Senators Schumer and Gillibrand, as well as staff from the offices of Representatives Maffei and Slaughter, have committed to attend the forum, which will be held from 6:00 – 8:00 PM at the Central Library, Kate Gleason Auditorium. The event is free and open to the public. Sign language interpreters and CART transcription will also be provided.

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