Can you hear it? The sound of small motors humming in the distance, coming closer? That tap, tap, tapping of canes? The small roar of voices getting louder and more outraged as the days go by? This, my community, is the sound of disability rights advocates. It’s been decades since we’ve been this angry and this organized. But, believe me, we are angry and beginning to show ourselves and demand basic medical and health rights and community supports.
I’m an old disability rights war horse. My battles were fought in the 1980s and ‘90s and centered on accessible transportation. Other peers were involved in passage of the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA), with a focus on access to housing, employment, building access or independent living. To be honest, we made huge progress. But, we got older, got tired, and for the past decade or so most of our advocacy efforts have been led by wonderful organizations that support people with disabilities (including my employer Courage Center). And, may I point out that most of my fellow war horses in the local disability rights movement are employed and many of us are home owners.
Today in Minnesota, and nationwide, people with disabilities are waking up, shaking off our doldrums and marching, wheeling, blogging and tweeting in protest. It happened in Washington, D.C. a few weeks ago, when protesters staged a sit-in in the Cannon Office Building, protesting proposed cuts to Medicaid funding. Eighty-nine of them were arrested. That sit-in was coordinated by ADAPT, a national organization, known for using peaceful direct action to get the attention of the public and lawmakers. And, it’s happening in Minnesota right now.
ADAPT Minnesota is alive and well and organizing protests of proposed cuts to the Medicaid and the Department of Health and Human Services budget. These cuts threaten newfound independence and our ability to live, work and be active in our communities. It threatens to send many of my peers back to expensive and unhealthy nursing homes and institutions. It’s already happening. One friend recently moved from an apartment to an assisted living apartment because of cuts in her personal care assistant hours. The irony? It will ultimately cost Minnesota more money to have people live in institutions than it would be to spend wisely to keep them independent and thriving.
Yesterday my employer, Courage Center, published an open letter to lawmakers. I encourage you to read the full letter and, if you agree, to contact your legislators today. If you don’t have time to click the link, at least read the final point made in this letter:
4. Providers can’t wait for payment reform
Courage Center was founded in 1928 to help the poor and disabled become fully integrated into society. That mission continues today by serving a very high number of Medicaid clients as a percent of our total client base. We lose, on average, $800 on each of those individuals. Our doors remain open only because community philanthropy comprises 30 percent of our annual budget. This business model is unsustainable. Providing the organization with more flexibility in managing our payer mix, as found in Art. 5, Sec. 44 of the House version of SF760, would help us bridge the gap until larger Medicaid reforms can be achieved.
A high percentage of our community, at some point in our lifetime, will experience disability. Whether it’s our own accident, injury or illness, our child’s or a family member’s. What we do today matters. It’s time for all of us to shake ourselves awake, raise our voices and be heard.
Sue,
I think it is fair to say that this is not only an issue for those with disabilities, but for anyone that cares about quality of life and human dignity for all members of our community. I don’t need small motors or a white cane to get around (today), but I am highly committed to living in a community that fosters autonomy and dignity for those who do, and for others who have less-visible needs for support in order to be their best.
Before writing this response to your excellent blog, I wrote letters to my elected representatives urging them to act wisely and responsibly in support of all those with disabilities. We would all be well-served by such wisdom.
Thanks for an important reminder!!