Medicaid matters you guys.

That's my boss (the lovely Frona Erickson) singing in the background. :) But listen, I know a lot of people haven't ever thought of Medicaid for a second. I never did. But one special day in December of 2009, I was hired to work with adults who have disabilities. My life changed forever. The things I have learned in the last 14 months far surpass anything I could have imagined. We walk with angels, and many people don't even notice. I have made some of my best friends in a place I never would have expected to. They are beautiful people. I believe their beauty is accentuated and brought out as we give them the time of day and show them that we are willing to help them succeed. In Developmental therapy, individuals with disabilities have goals formulated to help them to become more independent. We work on these goals with them each day to help them learn basic skills such as counting money, telling time, filling out job applications, keeping personal space, making eye contact, etc. Medicaid is what funds these services. The state legislature is currently in the process of hashing out a new budget for Medicaid in which they are potentially going to cut funding for developmental services completely. Do you know what this means?! Probably not. It could mean a lot of things. It could mean that my best friends will no longer get to come and associate with their friends and feel important. It could mean that many individuals will no longer get to live on their own, but will be placed in group homes or institutions. It could mean that many individuals will not get the quality education and help that they need to succeed. It could mean that individuals are ignored, abused, and die. I could go on for hours, but that may not help. This is so very sad to me.
Ammon and I attended the rally at the capital on Saturday. There were some great speakers, and a lot of people came to support Medicaid.

I still think people are blind to how disgusting the effects of cutting Medicaid would be. It's like we're shouting as loud as we possibly can, and we're in a soundproof room where nobody will hear us. It is my prayer that individuals with disabilities will one day be celebrated rather than ignored.

Visit this website and sign the online petition, stating that Medicaid does matter and that as a taxpayer, a few extra cents is well worth protecting developmental therapies.
Medicaid Matters