People with Disabilities to Hold Rallies Against Gutting Medicaid Outside of the U.S. Capitol Building and in Several States

WASHINGTON, Sept. 21, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- More than a thousand people with disabilities, family members and allies will gather on Capitol Hill at noon on September 21st to fight the unprecedented threat to Medicaid at the MY MEDICAID MATTERS rally. Additional events will be held in California, Illinois, Kansas, Ohio, Montana and Texas.

Medicaid serves as a lifeline to eight million Americans with disabilities. Medicaid enables them to lead independent lives, work and contribute to their communities.  

The Washington rally has a growing list of more than 90 cosponsors, including ADAPT, American Association of People with Disabilities, AARP, Families USA, National Council on Independent Living, United Spinal Association, United Cerebral Palsy, Paralyzed Veterans of America, National Federation of the Blind, SEIU, AFSCME, Voices for America’s Children and the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights.

Medicaid should not be gutted as the Super Committee and other policymakers in Washington look for cuts to the federal budget. The American Association of People with Disabilities and ADAPT point out that money can be saved from Medicaid without cutting essential services  --  by keeping more people out of institutions, where the care is more costly.

The rally is expected to be the biggest political action organized by the disability community in Washington, D.C. since the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act.  

For more information, visit www.adapt.org or www.aapd.com.

SOURCE The American Association of People with Disabilities and ADAPT