Category: Disability Awareness

The Medicaid program was established in 1965 under President Lyndon B. Johnson. In its simplest form, Medicaid is health insurance for people with limited incomes. The proposed budget passed by the House of Representatives earlier this month would cut about 880 billion. If this program receives cuts or caps, people with intellectual and developmental disabilities will die.

Matthew 22:39 NIV And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’

This is not an overreaction. States cannot make up the funds if these cuts are in the final budget. If this program is limited in any way, America will unconsciously sponsor the genocide of its citizens over the next 10 years. I, for one, cannot get out of bed unless I have a caregiver who is paid by the state to help me get out of bed. Without them, I would die of a bed sore. No matter how much I move around. If an individual uses a feeding tube and no one is there to change the tube, they will die. To receive any adult services, such as attending a day program or any kind of supported employment, we must be eligible for Medicaid. Depending on how deep the cuts go, States will no longer be accepting new individuals, meaning folks will waste away in their homes. This will not save taxpayers money, it will cost them more. It has been proven that it is cheaper in the long run to have people live in the community instead of in an institutional setting.

I can attest to this. I recently remodeled my home to make it more accessible. I redid the bathroom and added a Hoyer lift system to my bedroom. It did cost over $50,000. However, this will ensure that I can stay in my home for the next 15 or 20 years. With these necessary accommodations, I can continue to do my advocacy work and be a part of my community. As of the release of this writing, I am on the way to attend the State of the Union as a guest of New Jersey’s Senator Andy Kim. My brother is out with his caregiver getting eggs and milk. We both have the same disability and we’re still living a full life.

Give me liberty or give me death!”

Patrick Henry- american Patriot

America can only thrive if everyone does their part. Supporting individuals with disabilities build local, state, and national economies. Disability is not a burden on society. It is a part of the human experience. I may have been born disabled but everyone else is only temporarily abled. People with disabilities are your neighbors, your family, and your friends. As we grow so does America. The Medicaid program is not a safety net, it is a lifeline. My fellow Americans, if you value life, then tell your elected officials in Washington, DC, no cuts to the Medicaid program. A disabled life is an American Life.

Undeniably, reading and math comprehension scores have gone down across the country. Parents can feel lost because they cannot assist their children with their homework as new techniques of long division are being taught to our children. Since before the outbreak in 2020, a strong argument can be made that students today lack critical social and life skills before graduating high school. Americans should be concerned about the education of our kids. Changes must be made.

Is eliminating the Department of Education (DOE) the answer? This proposed initiative was suggested well before President Trump took office. His executive order, signed a few days ago, cannot eliminate the department. That can only be done by Congress. People need to contact them. The belief is this would save the taxpayers money and give more control to the states. I will be the first one to advocate for eliminating wasteful spending and helping Americans with their taxes. This is not the way to do it.

States rely on that funding to ensure adequate resources for their students. Especially those with disabilities and other educational needs. In the same way, the Electoral College ensures equal footing for the states. The DOE ensures equal opportunity for all students. Students with disabilities have value to their peers. They need the opportunity to show it. After a certain age, you learn that some lessons cannot be taught from a textbook but by interactions with those around you. Supporting individuals with disabilities. Creates jobs and innovative technologies.

If students with intellectual and developmental disabilities are excluded from learning in the least restrictive environment then non-disabled students will be missing out on a vital part of the human experience. Education should never be a partisan issue all Americans should want the best for their children. If you believe, as I do, that prayer should be allowed back in schools, then why can’t someone pray alongside someone who has a disability? This is inclusion.

Matthew 18:20 NIV For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.” 

All parents should have options for where their children go to school; however, there must be safeguards and basic standards to ensure everyone has the opportunity to thrive beyond their circumstances. After all, America is a land of opportunity! The government should have limits, and that is the essence of the Constitution: to create a contract between the people and their government. A proper education promotes all parts of the preamble.

“We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America”

Preamble to the US Constitution

There’s a difference between disagreeing with the curriculum a school board offers and completely dismantling the educational system. Don’t throw the baby out with the bathwater. Attend your school board meetings. Advocate for your kids. No student should be confined to the back of a building because a school board lacks the resources to provide them with a proper education. Eliminating the Department of Education shouldn’t be about saving money, rather Ensuring the future of America is the objective!

What makes a person who they are? Is it their gender? Is it their sexual orientation? Is it their ethnicity? Is it their faith? Is it the legacy they leave behind? Is it the way they’re perceived? Identity politics cannot define a human being As a Christian heterosexual Latino male with a developmental disability, I’m well aware of the labels society has put on me. Can you see me as Kevin?

“Labels are for soup cans, not people.” –Gary Rubin.

On the back of my business cards is a photo of myself with the quote, “Look at the person, not the disability.”

 This is how most people perceive me. My disability does not define me; however, it is a significant part of my identity that I cannot separate from myself. Likewise, I cannot hide my Puerto Rican heritage or my love for Jesus Christ. A person cannot be defined by just one trait. It is the intersectionality of all these characteristics, combined with their experiences, that shapes who a person is.

'And why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye? 'Matthew 7:3

It’s wrong to judge or to have any bias. The fact is we  all judge and have unconscious biases. I am seen as an inspiration or as a token for society. Someone who looks like me should be offered more jobs than just the greeter at Walmart. I’m aware of how blessed I am. I know I was put on this Earth to be the voice for others. We all have gifts and blessings that others desire. 

 The label of “disability” is the one I have to wear to have access to programs such as Medicaid and Medicare. It has never been about a check in the mail, it is my key to life. Without it, I don’t have caregivers to get me out of bed in the morning. In my life, I’ve employed anywhere from 20 to 30 different Direct Support Professionals (DSPs). Supporting individuals with disabilities does contribute to both local and federal economies.“Medicaid dollars”  helped me make notable accommodations to my home so I could live in a community and not be locked away. This will save taxpayers money in the long run. Any cuts or caps to these programs would be a slow death sentence. I have the same right to live as anyone else, but to do so, I have been placed in a societal box.

The elimination of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives is extremely damaging to the disability community, which has long been fighting to be seen, heard, and represented. Inclusion is more than just ensuring a certain number of people attend a specific event or hold particular positions; it’s about recognizing the person as a whole. Representation matters, but it must be approached carefully and purposefully to avoid confining ourselves to more boxes.

I know I’ve said a lot in this post, and I hope this can spark a series of conversations—that’s what I want. People from different ideologies need to start working and talking together. Democrats and Republicans are not evil; they’re human! Don’t categorize people. Don’t judge others before you truly get to know them. Learn to see the whole person, not just certain aspects of what you observe on the surface. Thanks for reading, and I’ll see you next time.

Yesterday was election day in the United States of America. I love this country and am so proud to be American. This blog is not going to focus on any other election day results but rather on my personal experience as a disabled voter. It was amazing!

I’m almost 40 years old, so I have been voting since the 2012 general election. Usually, it’s very quiet and subdued at my polling place. I acknowledge that being a coworker is not easy. If I’m honest, previously, I’ve had limited interaction with them. They don’t usually say much after you sign your name before stepping into the voting booth. There are roughly about 32,000 people in my town. Before yesterday there was little turnout in my district. I never kept track but I feel there’s never been more than 10 or so people in line to vote when I’m gone. I’m not saying people in my township don’t vote I’m saying you don’t see them. I was expecting more of the same this year.

Mark 12:31 NIV [31] The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.”

After a medical appointment and running some errands, I arrived with my family around 6:30 p.m. There were easily over 250 people in line. We went to the back of the line and began to wait. For those of you who don’t know, I have a twin brother who also uses a wheelchair. One of the poll workers saw us and asked if we needed assistance voting. We informed her that we didn’t mind waiting we knew it was part of the process. I never knew there was a different entrance for the elderly and disabled at this polling place. It was nice to be recognized and accommodated. There was still a line but this one was accessible. It was not overwhelming. Fortunately, I don’t have sensory issues, but if I did, this would have been much safer. A shorter line is not about convenience.

My identification was verified along with my address to make sure I was in the right polling place. My brother could not reach the tablet to sign his name because the court would not stretch that far. Our father had to sign on his behalf. He had to document himself as our assistant. To sum this might seem like a hassle but it was nice to know my vote was safe and secure. My brother does not have the best communication skills so it was good for him to have my father as an assistant instead of having to communicate with someone else. Our father has always assisted us during the voting process, but it was never documented before. These extra steps matter. They assure equity and equality.

As an individual, I know my voice as a US citizen was heard. Regardless of who is living at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue come January. I’m still going to live with disability I’m still going to have to fight for my rights. I know I did my part in the Democratic process and I did my civic duty. This country does not ask much of me. I was happy to cast my balance! Thank you for reading and may God bless America!

2024 is shipping up to be my best advocacy year! In October, this blog reached 3ed its anniversary. The podcast will be 3 years old in January. I was honored to be invited to the White House to speak. I’m optimistic that I can finish the first draft of my second book by December. I serve on both state and National disability advocacy boards to improve the lives of my brothers and sisters with disabilities. What does all this success add up to? As far as this world goes, less than Zero. I don’t want to be Logan Paul or Joe Rogan I just want to live. I live a backward life and I love it

I have over 160 followers on this website. On average only 30 open the blogs when it is sent to their emails. About 12 folks listen to the podcast regularly. I started a bonus newsletter, and I have four subscribers. Last week, I looked in my bank account. I have more money in there than ever, thanks to book sales, and other projects I’m involved with. It’s less than $2,000 because I must stay legally broke to maintain my Medicaid eligibility. Money matters in this life how can I live?

Matthew 16:25 NIV 25] For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it.

I did the math. I need roughly $100,000 to employ caregivers and other long-term support. This does not include rent, food, or utilities. To live as independently as possible, I estimate I would need about $150,000 a year, assuming I have no debt.

Some of my dream jobs include being a translator at the UN. The top-level translator makes approximately 54,000 a year. That’s not going to cut it. The average legislative aid salary in Washington, DC, is $ 78,000 a year. That doesn’t work either. 68,000 a year is the average salary of a paralegal in New York City. Nope, that still doesn’t work. Let’s try one more: in New Jersey, a social worker makes just under 64,000 a year at the top level.

To be clear, it is possible to work and keep your benefits at the same time, but it is purposely dangerous to navigate this system. It’s like navigating a minefield naked. For most of us, we have to call our benefits counselor twice a month feeling like the Orphan Oliver “Please sir, may I have some more?” something doesn’t add up.

It costs 20 to 25% more to raise a disabled child some people out there think that individuals like myself should not be allowed to live. I think it’s because of the financial burden. People like me just want a chance to live to show you that we can do more and be more than you ever expect because life is not about numbers it’s a journey to learn and grow every day. There is a Bill in Congress right now to raise the asset limit from $2,000 set in 1983 to $10,000. This would be a very small step toward equality but people don’t even know about it.

We have men and women fighting all over the world to protect our freedom. As Americans. Disabled Americans need to rise and have their voices heard so we can be financially free and have the same opportunities As Americans. America does employ two models of socialism. Prisons and developmental centers. The government provides all the essentials to live, but there’s one thing missing: freedom.

Where are the warriors of the Next generation to make sure that this vital population of America does not get left behind? I love my disabled life and I’m thankful for it because it’s taking me so many places and showing me the real value of life. Americans need to stop being afraid; they need to live; they need to help others live. Mr President and other elected officials help us streamline the disability system so we can do our part to take care of those who are more vulnerable than me and live a joyful American Life.