This time two years ago, disability advocacy would have never crossed my mind. I’ve always been the type to go out of my way to be polite and courteous to others; holding doors open, making sure the lady in the wheelchair can get through, walking delicately around the blind guy with the cane, etc. More than that? Not a whole lot of awareness on a day to day basis.
Until you know better, how can you do better? One day, I woke up and sometime during the night had switched ships – from the normal, usual day to day life ship most of us know and enjoy, to a different, more difficult to navigate ship. I use this analogy a lot, because it really feels like that sometimes.
Nowadays, I realize how few handicap spots there are in each garage. If I need to use my placard, I try to find the smaller spots not meant for vans and ramps. If I don’t need it, I won’t use it, as much as I’d like to sometimes. I know what it feels like to need one of those spaces, and none be available.
Until you, or someone you love, personally need something, you don’t really recognize the need for it. A couple weeks ago, Trump and DeVos came under fire for a new budget proposal.
Everyone was all up in arms because it cut funding for the Special Olympics. It was disgusting, but come on, guys – we’re talking about the “Trump presidency”. We’ve suffered bigger consequences from him than this, so I wasn’t exactly shocked.
Trump did quickly publicly disagree with her decision, saying he “overrode” that decision and the Special Olympics would be fully funded. Good for him. But, I digress.
Nor was I shocked when I read this piece in The New York Times. I’m pissed, but I’m not shocked. As usual, while we were all enthralled by the latest headline, a bunch of stuff passed right by under our nose.
Cuts and structural changes to Medicaid would cause devastation across the board. Limiting the resources available to states would force them to cut corners even more so than now with public assistance.
They also want to cut funding to multiple other programs. Arts progams for children from low income families, and those with disabilities, would take a $27 million cut. 55% of the funds for Federal Work-Study programs, which help schools offer employment opportunities for students, would be gone. During the school year, work study is the only reason I have a job I can safely work while attending school.
Cuts to programs for those with disabilities and federally funded caretaker salaries would make it almost impossible for those who need care most to get it. People would have to figure out how to work outside of the home, while a loved one needing help suffers alone. Funding used to research potential therapies and educate the public on autism and CDC research on birth defects and diseased are also on the chopping block in this proposal.
Because all of that seems completely unnecessary, right?
A lot of the things that were cut in the proposal are very disability specific. Even if you don’t have a disability right now, there’s a very good chance you will at some point in your life. Even if you don’t…does that really matter?
Thankfully, this was just a budget proposal, and those who created it do not have the final say. The fact that these types of cuts were proposed boggles my mind, though. If these programs are underfunded, those who are most vulnerable are left at risk. If you know me personally, you know my views on Trump. That’s not what this post is about. This isn’t a republican or democrat issue – this is a human issue.
A human life is worth the same across the board. Race, age, gender, religion, disability, developmental delay…all life is precious, and deserves to be protected and nurtured. This budget proposal is a blatant example of the empathy lacking where it is needed most. Those in a place to do good for people should feel honor bound to do so. Protecting the vulnerable should be a priority for those with power. To disregard that basic human duty is to invite the dirtiest stain on your karma in my opinion. Enjoy those vibes, Ms. DeVos.
