Disability-rights Advocates Protest Obama’s Proposed Medicaid Cuts
By Debbie Siegelbaum
400 Hundreds of disability-rights advocates congregated on the West Lawn of the Capitol on Wednesday [September, 21st] to protest billions of dollars in proposed cuts to Medicaid.
“States are cutting Medicaid, and federal cuts on top of state cuts would be ... catastrophic,” said protester Jessica Sadowsky of Maryland.
President Obama proposed a major debt-reduction plan earlier this week designed to cut more than $3 trillion over the next decade. An estimated $580 billion would be saved through cuts to entitlement programs.
Medicaid, a healthcare program for the poor that is administered by states, was singled out for a $73 billion decrease. Medicare could be hit even harder, with a proposed $248 billion cut.
Protesters of the plan, many themselves with disabilities, demanded that Congress maintain funding for those in need.
“I’d just like to see absolutely no cuts. You’re taking from the poor, the disabled and seniors — how much more can they take?” asked Carol Jones, from Georgia. “I think that they have to look in another direction; maybe cut some of their unnecessary spending.”
“All Medicare matters. … These people can’t afford that,” she added, motioning to her fellow protesters. “They’re living minimally now; any more cuts would really be astronomical for them.”
More than 90 national advocacy groups — including AARP and the American Association of People with Disabilities — sponsored the rally, one of several to be conducted across the country. Many protesters and advocacy groups planned to visit lawmakers’ offices after the event to further communicate their message.
For Arlington, Va., resident Caroline Levy, whose five-year-old son Adam suffers from cognitive and physical disabilities, Medicaid is a necessary government expenditure.
“My motto about Medicaid is that fair isn’t when everybody gets the same thing,” she said. “Fair is when everybody gets what they need.”
This article was reprinted, with permission, from The Hill Newspaper and may be seen online at thehill.com.
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From the Editor
Firstly, let me apologize for the fact that this copy of the Declaration and the Calendar of Events are late. We held them so we would be able to have an article about the My Medicaid Matters Rally that took place on Capitol Hill on September 21, 2011.
It was a success and it always recharges the batteries to be part of an event with national significance and to be advocating for the same things as people from all over the country, many of whom you’ve never met.
Again, sorry for the lateness. Enjoy!
By Tony Trott, ECNV Peer Mentor & Editor
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My Virginia Medicaid Matters
As you can see from our cover story there is a tremendous concern by the elderly and people with disabilities about the future of Medicaid. We know that if there are cuts to Medicaid on the federal level there will be cuts on the state level.
The first things to receive cuts are the Medicaid Waivers. These people who depend on the Waivers, due to financial straits, have opted to have Medicaid services in the home rather than possibly have to be institutionalized or have their loved ones institutionalized.
These Waivers are: Alzheimer’s Assisted Living (AAL), Day Support, Elderly or Disabled with Consumer Direction (EDCD), HIV/AIDS, Individual and Family Developmental Disabilities Supports (IFDDS), Intellectual Disabilities/Mental Retardation (ID/MR), and Technology Assisted (Tech).
With these Waiver services, Virginians who are elderly and or disabled and lacking the funds for in home care and services, have those needed services to prevent institutionalization. Without them many of these people will be institutionalized.
Even though studies again and again demonstrate that Medicaid Waivers save the state money, the Waivers are often the first to receive cuts. To prevent these cuts we must let our General Assembly members know that we demand that assistance for the most vulnerable not be touched!
Last month about 75 people representing ECNV (2,500 people nationwide) gathered at the U.S. Capitol to voice their opposition to federal Medicaid cuts. Now on the state level we need our Virginians to be heard by our state senators and delegates. Go to www.ecnv.org or call ECNV to find your senator and delegate and email or write them a letter to preserve the Virginia Medicaid Waivers.
By David Burds, ECNV Executive Director
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From the Board President
Now is an exciting time to be a disability rights advocate in Northern Virginia, and as your local Center for Independent Living, ECNV is right in the center of it all. From playing an active role in national advocacy efforts to preserve essential home and community based services for people with disabilities, to being engaged in a number of regional activities recognizing October 2011 as “Disability Employment Awareness Month,” ECNV continues to advocate for the civil rights of people with all types of disabilities in all aspects of community life.
Consumer direction is a key component of any Center for Independent Living, and it is a core principle that ECNV uses to guide our work on a daily basis. That’s why your involvement is vital to our success. Whether it’s getting actively involved in one of our advocacy campaigns, volunteering your time to help with the administration of our offices, or contributing to our efforts financially, your help is necessary now more than ever.
Contact ECNV today to find out what you can do to help us ensure that people with disabilities in Northern Virginia have equal access to all of the rights, services and amenities that people without disabilities enjoy every day. After all, equality for people with disabilities isn’t a pleasantry, it is a civil right that we’re all entitled to. Let’s work together to make it happen!
By Matt Barkley, ECNV Board Presdient
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What’s New at LEND (ECNV Satellite Center)
Loudoun ENDependence is moving quickly into another season and there is a resurgence of things going on throughout Loudoun County.
We continue to be on the front lines to advocate for the needs of citizens with disabilities and their families. Thanks to the consumers and their families who turned out for the Medicaid Rally last month in Washington, DC. Never doubt the power of our voices; we will not keep silent and watch the very services needed to live life independently be cut away. Our advocacy efforts are vital and every year we must tell our story to have success. Thank you for standing with us! We’ll be calling on you again as the battle continues.
Have you ever wanted to assist others to live productive lives in the community? In October, LEND will offer a workshop called What’s Being a Personal Care Assistant All About? This is a 2-hour orientation for anyone who has wanted to assist others in their home, but did not know what it was all about or how to get started. As both elderly and disabled populations grow, the healthcare field is constantly searching for both skilled and unskilled attendants to assist them. We will be conducting short interviews to update and add to the Personal Assistant Services Registry we maintain. Wonderful opportunities to offer real help to others, gain knowledge, and potentially earn extra income abound, especially in Loudoun where the need is increasing daily.
The Loudoun Disability Services Board (DSB) will host a free movie night in Oct. as part of various Disability Employment Awareness Month events; October 24th, will be a showing of Blindsight; which is based on a true story about individuals with visual impairments determined to climb one of the most dangerous mountains in the country. LEND will participate in a discussion about the movie.
Lastly, have an idea about a Spring Event? Share it with us! We’ll be hosting a Spring Thing in 2012 so be sure to let us know if you’d like to volunteer to help.
As the leaves change color and the days get shorter and thankfully, no more 90 degree temps, we remain here to assist you, offer services, information, resources and support to meet all of your needs! Just give us a call at 571-291-9550 (V/Relay).
By Tracee Garner, LEND Outreach Coordinator
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Travel Training
Learn how to get around on your own by public transportation in the Washington Metropolitan Area.
ECNV has successfully trained 43 people who are now actively using public transportation to get around the Washington Metropolitan Area. They have learned a variety of travel skills that enable them to ride local transportation independently.
ECNV’s Travel Trainers will work with you to learn transit routes to travel anywhere you want to go. We are here to help you, please call ECNV at (703) 525-3268 and speak with or leave a message for either Rick Luckett or Selvin Garcia.
This is a free service for people with disabilities and elderly.
>> Go to ECNV's Travel Training site.
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Save the Dates
December 16, 2011
ECNV will hold our Annual Meeting at NRECA in Ballston. Plan to attend to get reports on ECNV’s activities throughout the year, help elect new Board members, and, just generally, to have a good time!
ECNV is seeking candidates for positions on the Board of Directors, so if that interests you, please contact Konoka Izumi at ECNV.
February 8, 2012
ECNV will, once again, be joining our colleagues from around Virginia to advocate for disability rights at the General Assembly in Richmond. We do not know what all of the priorities will be that we will be advocating for, but look for them in future publications and also, please consider joining us for the day of advocacy! We especially need drivers with wheelchair accessible vehicles.
If interested, contact Doris Ray at ECNV.
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Pictures from the Rally on ECNV’s Facebook
ECNV took part in the big My Medicaid Matters Rally last month on Capitol Hill and we took a lot of pictures! We encourage you to check them out on our Facebook page at http://on.fb.me/qsr9CG.
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