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The Wake
At least 50 people with disabilities, PCAs and supporters of the community converged on the State House May 14, 2008 to mourn the loss of funding of Community First, which would provide services to people so they could remain in their homes rather than live in nursing homes or other institutions. We also gathered to mourn the refusal of the State to give PCAs a pay increase, health insurance or any benefits, as the negotiations between the workforce council and the State drag on.
Many of us dressed in black as we walked and wheeled single-file through the halls of the State House, carrying flowers and signs including those that said R.I.P. PCA raise, and “No More Institutions”. We stopped at the office of Speaker Sal DiMasi to deliver our message both verbally and in writing, and then went to the Governor’s Office, where we filled the outer chamber and grew less silent as we were told the Governor was out of town. At first no one in authority was available to speak to us, but finally the Lieutenant Governor came out and spoke to us and promised to share the information about both issues with the Governor. Although Deval Patrick supports Community First, he has not been helpful in the PCA quagmire and we will return to his office if things continue to stagnate.
We also went to Senate President Therese Murray’s office and delivered information. Several of our group met with her community liaison, including Andy Forman who lives in her district.
We concluded our gathering in Nurses Hall where we made a circle and people shared their feelings about the day, which were mostly positive (talking to the Lieutenant Governor, for example), although we agreed that we still had a long way to go and we were in it together for the long haul.
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