Alexis

Medicaid is significant to me both on a personal and professional level. Growing up, I utilized Medicaid for many years when my family could not afford private healthcare. Medicaid got me through my high school and college career and allowed me to receive necessary medical and preventative care until I was able to purchase insurance through my employer.

I have four brothers, two of which are non-verbal on the autism spectrum, and two with diagnoses of ADHD. Again, Medicaid has provided them with the care they need.

My two brothers with ASD live in group homes that are funded through Medicaid billing. The personal care and medical needs that are met by Medicaid are the reason they are alive and doing well today.

My two brothers with ADHD have needed on and off medical support for their diagnoses, and Medicaid has helped them receive that. They are now close to graduating high school, and getting jobs that will allow them to care for themselves. I again do not think this would have been possible if not for the medical and mental health needs that were covered through Medicaid.

Professionally, the occupational therapy services I provide to adults with developmental disabilities are almost entirely funded through Medicaid. I help individuals improve their strength and range of motion, to increase their independence in activities of daily living. I help individuals and staff develop strategies for pain management. I help individuals obtain necessary adaptive technology needed to complete daily tasks and enjoy their lives. I help individuals obtain wheelchairs that meet their postural and mobility needs. I help individuals meet their sensory needs to decrease challenging behaviors that disrupt their personal relationships.

My colleagues whose services are also funded through Medicaid provide a myriad of other services that greatly impact individual’s daily lives and increase their independence.

I am heartbroken at the thought of the individuals I work with every day losing these services. Healthcare is a human right that changes people’s lives and allows them to give back to our community.

 

Wendy

I am a public-school educator, a mother to a 19-year-old son with Autism, and a Board Member of The Arc Jefferson – St. Lawrence. My son is very dependent on Medicaid programs to support his development, and has been since he was eight. That support has allowed him to access self-direction programs and have a direct service provider who helps him accomplish his goals.

My son did not learn to read in school, he did not learn math skills in school, he did not learn to talk in school, he learned those things through the direct 1:1 support provided by Medicaid-funded self-direction programming. My family and I are so thankful for the gains my son has made because of Medicaid-funded programming.

Without this support, I would not have been able to work as a secondary school educator. I would be forced to quit my job to take the place of services now offered through Medicaid-funded self-direction. This would significantly diminish the quality of life for my family, including my son. I actually am not sure how I would be able to stay on top of my health, go to doctor appointments, and take care of my family without this support. My son is unable to be left alone, and there are obligations I cannot bring him with me to attend.

His Medicaid self-direction program allows me to work, take care of my health, my family’s health, and thrive being a caretaker for a child with a significant developmental disability. I cannot imagine our lives without it.

Families want to take care of their children with disabilities, including adult children with disabilities. We want them to become as independent as possible and thrive in our communities. However, we the caretakers, need support for our children to accomplish this. Medicaid funding provides support so that our children can thrive and we can fulfill our adult responsibilities while being functioning members of society.

Cuts to Medicaid for programming for individuals with disabilities would be detrimental to the lives of millions, and would have a negative domino effect on other unanticipated areas. My son can read, he can write, he can talk, he can follow social rules, he can learn, he is happy and thriving and wants to be a contributor to his community. That is in large part due to the support services he receives through Medicaid.

Tiery

Medicaid provides my son with healthcare, and a means to acclimate into society and not be institutionalized.

Glen

Medicaid, covered my medical expenses from mental illness and cancer (I was in lower Manhattan on 9-11), enabling me to still have some quality of life after losing my job and career. For example, by providing transportation, Medicaid not only reduced costs, but relieved the stress of having family members taking time off from work, for more than 30 days of travel to and from radiation and chemo treatments. Can one place a price on this?

Lauren

My daughter has a chance in life on Medicaid. She receives Medicaid waiver funding through OPWDD. Because of this she can actively pursue her interests and have a shot at becoming a supported independent adult. She was born prematurely at 25 weeks. She is now an adult with Autism and developmental delay. However, with Medicaid, she gets supports for safety in the community, so she can attend college. My daughter is gifted with an eye for color. She creates colors from mixing other colors to mimic things in the environment. One day soon she hopes to pursue a career as a colorist.