Often fighting for equality includes showing anger. Wade Blank, the founder of ADAPT said that anger is the root of all advocacy efforts. 

ADAPT video Anger: https://youtu.be/AbAStbavOK4 

In this photo, ADAPT activists are at the gate of the White House to show anger and to help move the Disability Integration Act through Congress. ADAPT has worked on the DIA for a long time using the tactics of nonviolent civil disobedience. ADAPT balances the demonstrations and imagery of a united, angry and frustrated community of people with disabilities with the more sedate education and advocacy.

The photos of ADAPT often show this balance, and they are often news style photos that show the demonstration. My focus over the years has been to show the people. I highlight the faces of ADAPT and how people with disabilities make the case for equality.

What I like about this photo is the variety of activities. Everyone is gathered and facing the same direction, but I don't think you see anything unified beyond that. One woman is on her phone, most prominently one man is yelling and the woman beside him is calmly looking off in the distance.

The foreground and people in the distance lose focus to show this set of reactions. I have always noted the contradictions of ADAPT. Individuals that have a strong bond as a group. 

Back in 2003, I was on the committee planning the "Free Our People March," a 14 day march from Philadelphia to Washington DC. To walk on the highways, some states insisted we wear orange vests for visibility. I pushed back, I told the committee that it would hurt the image of ADAPT for us all to be in some kind of uniform for the march. 

But I was dead wrong. Seeing the variety of ADAPT activists still created a rainbow even with everyone in the same vest. It was nothing like I had feared, there clearly was not a "uniform" for ADAPT. 

I wrote "Water around a stone" on October 2, 2000 about this contradiction in ADAPT and our style of nonviolent civil disobedience:

Water around a stone

By Tim Wheat
The power of ADAPT was evident in the Capitol today. Even before 500 activists chained themselves to the White House fence; and even before the President's Chief of staff canceled his normal schedule to meet with ADAPT, Washington was feeling ADAPT's strength. Before the President of the United States agreed to meet with ADAPT concerning the billion dollar handout to the nursing home industry, ADAPT was showing its force.

The first demonstration of ADAPT's power came in the most gentle way, but it overwhelmed the Metro Police and left them powerless to do anything but watch ADAPT go where ADAPT planned, when they planned.

On the march to the White House, Metro Police attempted to block ADAPT's path and split up the group. With a METRO bus, a utility truck, two police cars and two police motorcycles they cut the long line in half.

Like water around a stone, ADAPT pushed on. ADAPT members quickly found the "leaks" in the police barricade and a torrent of others would flow through each breach. When a police officer would stand in front of the line of wheelchairs, those behind would simply go around, drowning the officer and leaving him or her standing in front of a single person.

The entire line was only slowed momentarily by the attempted block. As the group reformed its line and picked up the pace, a cheer went out as the last members made it through the barrier. A strong verse of "the people united, will never be defeated," echoed through all of ADAPT.

On a day that ADAPT showed its awesome power to the Chief Executive, it can be easy to forget the power that ADAPT shows by their unity, by their commitment, and by their determination. "The struggle to participate," said Ron Ford of Toledo ADAPT, "breeds commitment to the action."

It is that power that ADAPT brought to the White House. Hundreds immediately chained themselves to the fence and demands were sent to the President. Recently, the Administration had suggested giving a billion dollars to the nursing home industry.

"They acted like they never even thought about the impact on state home and community based programs," said Barbara Toomer of Salt Lake ADAPT, who suggested the state matching funds would come out of the meager existing state community programs. Steve Varriden, Lou Ann Kibbie, Frank Lazano and Ms. Toomer met with the President's Chief of Staff with the list of ADAPT demands. 

1. Medicaid funding should follow the person it is intended for, not fund institutions.

2. HHS support for $250 million to accomplish Real Choice systems change. 

3. HHS support for $600 million for Home and Community Based Services for the transition/diversion of persons with disabilities of all ages from nursing homes and other institutions, including the use of a portion of the funds to increase wages and benefits in order to ease the current crisis in securing home and community service workers. 

4. 10,000 new Section 8 housing vouchers. 

5. Support for $50 million for the HHS Office of Civil Rights to adequately enforce the Olmstead decision. 

6. Support adequate funding for Independent Living Centers.

Barbara Toomer reported back to all of ADAPT assembled on the sidewalk in front of the White House that the Administration would meet with ADAPT on these issues before the end of October.

ADAPT marched back to the Holiday Inn together, the Metro Police stopping traffic all along the route.

Below are some other demonstration I have photographed:

2018 March for our lives: https://www.flickr.com/gp/timmwheat/D566de 

2018 I Am A Man: https://www.flickr.com/gp/timmwheat/0zYZ3b 

2017 MLK Day: https://www.flickr.com/gp/timmwheat/2LGH6y 

Barbara Toomer: https://flic.kr/s/aHskAirRaS 

Barbara Toomer