Activists are planning a series of protests in Salt Lake City from Sept. 27-30 to highlight a lack of services and programs for Utahns with disabilities. 

The protests will begin with a rally on Sept. 27, but after that, 86-year-old veteran and disabled activist Barb Toomer declines to say what ADAPT has in store for the Beehive capital, other than to note any demonstrations will be "nonviolent, like Dr. Martin Luther King."

The Sept. 27 rally will begin at the Red Lion Hotel in downtown Salt Lake City at 12.30 and proceed along 200 West and then 200 South to State Street. From there, the protesters will go up the hill to the Capitol to gather on the north side.

According to the press release, ADAPT will be focusing on urging Utah to adopt the Community First Choice Option, which means that, rather than stay in very expensive nursing homes, disabled individuals can remain in their homes with support services.

"Grandma Barb" Toomer says she broke her knee after she took a spill in her wheelchair. She stayed in a nursing home for 90 days, but since then has been at home with Medicaid-funded aides coming to assist her several times a day.

"Everybody should be able to do that, to avail themselves of that freedom," she says. "But Utah is ignoring it."

Other issues ADAPT intends to highlight in nonviolent protests include getting Utah "to strictly impose the state's moratorium on building new nursing facilities," and urging Utah to take on board Medicaid Expansion.

Close to 200 people with cross-disabilities are expected to arrive in Salt Lake City by Sept. 26 "to help their brothers and sisters gain the freedom of living in their own homes with services and supports in the community."