Protestors block doors at state offices

A group advocating for disabled people staged its third Boston-area protest this week, blocking the doors at One Ashburton Place.

State Police escorted about 50 protestors in wheechairs from the building Tuesday afternoon as about 200 protestors from ADAPT blocked the entrances from outside the building that houses the state departments of Public Safety, Health and Human Services as well as the Secretary of State’s office.

Some protestors appeared to be wheelchair-bound, reported WCVB.

A handful of members from the group met with Health and Human Services Secretary Marylou Sudders, but seemingly unsatisfied with the conversation, staged the protest Tuesday afternoon.

The group wants the commonwealth to participate in a federal program called Community First Choice Option, which it says will bring grants to Massachusetts and help expand services. The group also wants abolish a cap on the amount of hours personal attendants can work.

“This is an opportunity for Governor Baker to show leadership and support for our community and our rights,” Beatrice Bell, an organizer with ADAPT’s Massachusetts chapter, said in a statement. “The changes we are asking for are not necessarily going to be hard to implement, and they solve significant problems for disabled people in Massachusetts.”

The group protested against the use of electro-shock therapy at a controversial youth behavioral facility in Canton yesterday, FOX25 reported.

ADAPT also protested nursing home conditions during a march through the Seaport Sunday, reported the Boston Herald.