My Soapbox
This past Thursday January 7, 2010, I (along w/ three other staff) had the opportunity to take a group of clients out to JMU. No, we weren't visiting my wonderful ala mata, we were attending hearing that consisted of several of VA state legislators to oppose Gov Kaine's proposed Medicaid cuts. Grafton-Stovel Theater was packed from people all over the place. So many people spoke that my clients didn't even get their turn since we had to leave earlier than usual to get back to the center in time.
My clients are neat.....they are cool....they are funny.....they are sweet; most of all they are smart. Yes, they have a disability, mainly DD, but they knew why they were there---to fight for themselves and for others like them; I was there to support them and to also fight.
As we were all preparing to go to JMU, I (along w/ other staff) helped these clients organize their thoughts about the whole idea that Kaine has to cut Medicaid, to not allow Medicaid to pay for certain things, to RE-BUILD an institutions, etc. My thoughts throughout this whole thing was "this is so wrong, people need to be treated well and using medicaid dollars to rebuild an institution is going backwards and not forwards....". I also thought how cruel it would be to deny payment for those who really do need certain medical supplies, PT, OT, Speech therapy, etc. I am appalled by this whole medicaid cut and how the money wants to be used.
But then...........
I heard my clients and their frustrations......... and I was stunned. THEY made POINTS I never would have thought about. I was thinking about the present; not the future.
One client pointed out to me that she hated this whole idea of cuts because it will affect "my grandmother and she can't pay for stuff she needs". I pointed out (and probably pushing) her to write something that will support a cause for HER; no, she wanted to support her grandmother....now that my friends is unselfishness.
Another client (as we were figuring out a way to word his letter to the governor), asked me an intriguing question. His question was "why do you think the governor think that cutting my money will help with the economy?" I answered him " I don't know...I guess he thinks he can take money out of anywhere and use it and abuse it". This client then told me, "No, Becky, I know why.....he wants a quick fix and a quick answer; and there ain't no such thing" (grammer wrong I know but I'm using his words). I stared into space----I told him "i never thought about that. He then told me "I think he's treatin' me like a nobody; I ain't gonna let him take my money to build a stupid institution, and then throw me back in there". Wow...how profound.
It is so true. Right now people in high authority (not such VA governor but the President, etc) seems to come up with ideas that will give America a quick solution. The only problem is that in the end; it won't work. Kaine's efforts to reduce Medicaid expenditures sounds like a good idea, but is he really thinking how it could affect others in the long run? People on Medicaid doesn't get enough money in the first place and to deny them of even more money is just wrong; they won't get the help they need (as my client said, "my grandma won't go to the dr if it will cost too much". And.....have the higher authorities thought about how it could affect them if (God forbid) something would happen to them or a family member that would be n need of Medicaid? At least he's not completely cutting them off. And oh, how does he think institutions will help people with developmental disabilities? They have no earthly knowledge of how in the past it has affected people. Twenty to thirty years ago, people with mental retardation or other disabilities were placed in institutions and basically medicated to "calm them down" or even sterilized. I think that's basically treating someone like a vegetable.....not a way of life and something I DO NOT want to see happen.
People with disabilities are very dear to my heart. I love working with them; from the severe/profound to the moderate/mild. I have the heart to help them live as close to normalcy as they can; but with these medicaid cut ideas that is proposed, it's not going to happen.
People, please hurry and write your legislator and ask them NOT TO SUPPORT Kaine's efforts to decease Medicaid and use it for institutions.... I don't agree with it and I've made my voice clear by writing letters and attending the rally at JMU; it was powerful and worthwhile.
My clients are neat.....they are cool....they are funny.....they are sweet; most of all they are smart. Yes, they have a disability, mainly DD, but they knew why they were there---to fight for themselves and for others like them; I was there to support them and to also fight.
As we were all preparing to go to JMU, I (along w/ other staff) helped these clients organize their thoughts about the whole idea that Kaine has to cut Medicaid, to not allow Medicaid to pay for certain things, to RE-BUILD an institutions, etc. My thoughts throughout this whole thing was "this is so wrong, people need to be treated well and using medicaid dollars to rebuild an institution is going backwards and not forwards....". I also thought how cruel it would be to deny payment for those who really do need certain medical supplies, PT, OT, Speech therapy, etc. I am appalled by this whole medicaid cut and how the money wants to be used.
But then...........
I heard my clients and their frustrations......... and I was stunned. THEY made POINTS I never would have thought about. I was thinking about the present; not the future.
One client pointed out to me that she hated this whole idea of cuts because it will affect "my grandmother and she can't pay for stuff she needs". I pointed out (and probably pushing) her to write something that will support a cause for HER; no, she wanted to support her grandmother....now that my friends is unselfishness.
Another client (as we were figuring out a way to word his letter to the governor), asked me an intriguing question. His question was "why do you think the governor think that cutting my money will help with the economy?" I answered him " I don't know...I guess he thinks he can take money out of anywhere and use it and abuse it". This client then told me, "No, Becky, I know why.....he wants a quick fix and a quick answer; and there ain't no such thing" (grammer wrong I know but I'm using his words). I stared into space----I told him "i never thought about that. He then told me "I think he's treatin' me like a nobody; I ain't gonna let him take my money to build a stupid institution, and then throw me back in there". Wow...how profound.
It is so true. Right now people in high authority (not such VA governor but the President, etc) seems to come up with ideas that will give America a quick solution. The only problem is that in the end; it won't work. Kaine's efforts to reduce Medicaid expenditures sounds like a good idea, but is he really thinking how it could affect others in the long run? People on Medicaid doesn't get enough money in the first place and to deny them of even more money is just wrong; they won't get the help they need (as my client said, "my grandma won't go to the dr if it will cost too much". And.....have the higher authorities thought about how it could affect them if (God forbid) something would happen to them or a family member that would be n need of Medicaid? At least he's not completely cutting them off. And oh, how does he think institutions will help people with developmental disabilities? They have no earthly knowledge of how in the past it has affected people. Twenty to thirty years ago, people with mental retardation or other disabilities were placed in institutions and basically medicated to "calm them down" or even sterilized. I think that's basically treating someone like a vegetable.....not a way of life and something I DO NOT want to see happen.
People with disabilities are very dear to my heart. I love working with them; from the severe/profound to the moderate/mild. I have the heart to help them live as close to normalcy as they can; but with these medicaid cut ideas that is proposed, it's not going to happen.
People, please hurry and write your legislator and ask them NOT TO SUPPORT Kaine's efforts to decease Medicaid and use it for institutions.... I don't agree with it and I've made my voice clear by writing letters and attending the rally at JMU; it was powerful and worthwhile.
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