I’ll always think of the summer of 2017 as the summer of ADAPT.
ADAPT is a national disability rights organization in the United States that played a crucial role in stopping the GOP healthcare bill that would have decimated Medicaid. While ADAPT is known currently and historically for their direct actions, the usage of social media was another tool that spread their message far and wide. I got a chance to interview three members of ADAPT who were involved in their communications and social media activism: Marilee Adamski-Smith, Laura Halvorson, and Dominick Evans. The responses below have been condensed for space.
Tell me a little about yourself and your involvement in ADAPT
Dominick: Earlier this year I was invited to help out with the media team and since then, I have been a regular part of National ADAPT and regional ADAPT actions! I basically help call the media and let them know about ADAPT actions as they are happening, and I also follow the people on the ground, and make sure what they are posting on social media is both posted on the national ADAPT Facebook and Twitter, but also signal boost things through my own personal accounts…I’m also constantly in contact with Marliee, and the other members of the media team, filling in where I need to, if they need to take a break or eat. We really have each other’s backs, so that we are not completely ignoring our own needs, during the action. Sometimes it is impossible not to.
I also recently brought together Ohioans, and people from nearby states, to form Ohio ADAPT. When I am running media for Ohio ADAPT, I often am listed as one of the media contacts. Sometimes I have to handle press specifically, by answering questions and making sure the action is being represented properly, and the press has the right information about what is going on or why we are protesting. I also help coordinate and plan ideas for actions, and recruit Ohio ADAPT members to go on those actions, since I cannot.
Laura: I’m one of the new kids on the block and got involved in ADAPT fairly recently. Since there was not a chapter in DC when I moved here in 2015 I helped out when other chapters came to town with things involving the Disability Integration Act. Then in 2016 myself and Kings Floyd were asked to help restart the chapter in DC. I now am one of the contact persons for DC Metro ADAPT and am in the media word group. In my time in the media work group I have helped make strides at making our content accessible to all ADAPTers and allies.