While far too many Americans are struggling to make ends meet, today the House GOP passed Speaker McCarthy’s plan to rob millions of disabled Americans and older adults over 50 of their Medicaid health care coverage if they don’t meet an 80-hour per month work requirement.
AAPD strongly opposes this despicable action. An estimated 1.5 million adults will lose federal funding for their Medicaid coverage under this bill. Medicaid is already difficult to access, and people with disabilities already face severe health inequities.
The wealthiest nation in the world should make health care easier to access, not harder. Please sign this petition to tell Congress to #SaveMedicaid. Our leaders must protect Medicaid for the 88 million people in the U.S. who rely on it to access care.
Today’s Portrait of Empowerment features Michael Besler. Michael shares how he sees himself as a leader now, after completing the AAPD Summer Internship Program:
“I always saw myself as a leader, but now I have even more confidence because I have fully accepted myself and who I am. I am disabled and I’m proud of it. Now I can be a voice, a leader to a new generation of all people who struggle with their disabilities...
...I’ve learned that there are so many people to help for that’s what being a leader in our community means hearing the voiceless and fighting the good fight.”
Judy was at the forefront of major disability rights demonstrations, helped spearhead the passage of disability rights legislation, founded national and international disability advocacy organizations, and held senior federal government positions.
In the 1970s, Judy attended Camp Jened, a summer camp for people with disabilities attended by several leaders of the disability rights movement. This defining experience was the focus of the Oscar-nominated documentary @CripCampFilm.
From the Pledge of Allegiance being signed & spoken simultaneously to the presence of the powerful Amanda Gorman to the President himself, both people with speech disabilities, disability was represented as a part of American culture & politics during #InaugurationDay Thread 1/7
Andrea Hall was the 1st Black woman hired and assigned to a station at the City of Albany Fire Department, & then the 1st Black woman to serve as fire captain at Fulton County Fire Rescue. She presented the Pledge of Allegiance in ASL & spoken English npr.org/sections/inaug… 2/7
Jennifer Lopez, who sung an amazing mashup of “This Land is Your Land,” “Let’s Get Loud,” and “America the Beautiful” has a history of anxiety and depression. us.hola.com/celebrities/20…#Inauguration2021 3/7