from the desk of Pamela Bisceglia
When Donald Trump was elected in 2017 my daughter said she was scared because “he doesn’t like people with disabilities”. I hugged her and said I would do what I could to keep her safe. Flash forward 8 years 7 months. July 3rd my daughter walked into the kitchen, clearly upset and said that they passed “Orange’s Big Ugly”. No disrespect for the president, she calls them as she sees him “Orange”; she understands that the bill forwards deep cuts to one of her lifelines, disability benefits. I hugged her and said I would do what I can to keep her safe.
Readers Digest version, of the “Big Beautiful Bill”:
- Nearly $1 trillion in Medicaid cuts. (Approximately 17 million children and adults will lose coverage).
- Nearly $200 billion in cuts to SNAP food assistance.
- Defines a new private school voucher program that redirects public education funding to private schools. Private schools will not be required to provide protections to children with disabilities or to adhere to Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act and/or the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. Note: a state can opt out/choose not to participate in the program.
This morning, I put on my big girl panties in preparation for ongoing fight for disability rights. In anticipation of this bill, Colorado advocates started meeting months ago with public agencies to begin to define priorities for Colorado’s disability community. Although we will not immediately feel the impact of the decisions of this bill we know in the months to come, city, state and national budgets will need to be modified, worked, and reworked. We know that everyone will be touched by these cuts. ADVOCACYDENVER just celebrated our 71st anniversary, then and now a priority is to keep our children and adults in their home and community; then and now we spend our days and evenings advocating for the civil rights of individuals with disabilities. Today our work is to mitigate harm and to protect the human rights of individuals with disabilities.
For more information please read: The Arc US Budget Reconciliation Provisions Related to Medicaid, SNAP and Education