Apollo Project

In recent days, the Justice Department “issued a legal memo that attacks the core right of disabled Americans to live independently in their communities. It claims that long-standing federal laws,” the Americans with Disabilities Act, and Section 504, “never actually guaranteed disabled people the right to receive services in the community instead of institutions,” according to ARC of the United States.

It seeks to hollow out Olmstead v. L.C. (Louis Curtis) - a “landmark Supreme Court ruling securing community living rights – just days before its 27th anniversary.”

The legal ruling by Justice “declares decades of federal disability regulations ‘unlawful,’ signaling that the government plans to roll them back. This gives states a green light to defund community services, [while] push[ing] people with severe mental illness or disabilities back into institutions.”

“This memo changes how the federal government enforces the law[,]” meaning that DOJ “will stop fighting for integration. However, the ADA itself has not changed, and federal courts are still bound by Supreme Court precedent.” We ask our nation’s leaders to stand with us.

Call the Justice Department today and ask them to overturn the Olmstead memo because “no American ought to live in isolation and institutionalization [if they are] people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. We fought for the ADA, we fought for Olmstead, and we will fight to protect them today.” DOJ can be reached at (202) 514 3435.

In recent days, the Philippines was struck by a 7.8 magnitude earthquake according to the Associated Press, killing at least 61 and injuring 1,300, collapsing buildings on Monday, many were found in the ruins. “The earthquake created a 3-foot tsunami in nearby coasts. Low-rise buildings collapsed, sustaining heavy damage in the hard-hit city of General Santos. Damage was reported in at least one southern coastal village. Smaller waves were measured in Indonesia and Palau and as far away as southern Japan. In a video shared by Mahayahay Elementary School on social media, school children were seen screaming and crying. The quake triggered a landslide in Glan, a municipality in the province of Sarangani, that killed 13 villagers, according to Rene Punzalan, a provincial disaster-mitigation official, shared with DZBB radio network. 4 other villagers died in Sarangani,” as reported by the Associated Press. Heroes are coming to the rescue. Relief International delivers safe drinking water. hygiene kits, health services, food and nutrition, and medical personal in affected areas all over the world. You can help provide healthcare to displaced families, far from home by donating below, ensuring girls and boys alike receive an education, which in turn creates paths towards employment. https://www.ri.org/countries/philippines. In addition, the Cooperative for Aid and Relief Everywhere, that helped rebuild Europe after World War II is fighting poverty and engaged in humanitarian aid projects including; emergency response, food, security, water, sanitation, economic development, agriculture aid, education and health care while fighting climate change. Make a tax-deductible contribution here. https://www.careinternational.org.uk/press-office/press-releases/care-responds-to-78-magnitude-earthquake-and-tsunami-warnings-issued-in-philippines/ Today we stand with the Philippines and ask that you give what you can to this worthy charitable cause. Thanks.

CARE responds to 7.8 magnitude earthquake and tsunami warnings issued in Philippines CARE statement responding to the 7.8 earthquake and tsunami warning in Mindanao, Philippines

Jun. 14th - Flag Day