The self-satisfied liberal atmosphere at the Media Reform Conference was shaken up today by a group of protesters in wheelchairs. Holding signs and wrapped in police caution tape saying "community first adapt our homes" to symbolize their virtual imprisonment in institutions, the protesters shouted about their legal oppression.

The protesters were locals, some of whom were attending the conference anyway. They were trying to raise awareness of a legal structure that compels people with disabilities to live in nursing homes to receive their benefits. There they must be cared for in a very intrusive personal way, by a rotating crew of strangers. The protesters argue that they should be allowed to use the cost of being in a nursing home, to hire home healthcare. This would give them the right to live with dignity in their community, and to decide for themselves where and how they will live.

Lisa Macintosh, the daughter of wheelchair-using protester Mary Parker, said that her son and disabled daughter in law were told by Mississippi State University that there was no wheelchair-accessible married housing--even though it is required by law. Though the school adapted an apartment for them, they have not made more rooms accessible. As Macintosh pointed out, "if buildings were more accessible people wouldn't need to live in institutions."