Many of the families with disabled children, adults and even grandparents often require one of the adults to be a full-time caregiver. My sister was a caregiver for my mother and now her husband who had a stroke which left him 100% disabled 10 years ago. My mother-in-law lives with us and my sister-in-law gave up her full-time job as a graphic artist to be a full-time caregiver.
This is often the norm in families and the Republicans have passed absolutely zero legislation which would help any family with disabilities. In fact the OBBBA just makes it harder for everyone in a family that has a disabled individual.
But, hey, it's all ok because the Oligarchs got their huge tax break with the OBBBA. /s
Catherine - Thank you for covering this subject. I have a disabled adult daughter and all the changes happening make me anxious, and I’ll. Fortunately we live in MN and services are still good, but I know the cuts will impact us. What Metro Surge did to so many wonderful and caring caregivers was awful and has impacted so many. Grateful for the Bulwark and the community.
Since they denied it, Stephen Miller has to be behind it (never believe anything until it's officially denied). I think the endgame here is the Nazi T4 program.
If you don't know what that is, Wikipedia has an article under "Aktion T4."
Thank you- from the bottom of my heart for covering this. My son is autistic. I post about disability rights & the DOE on my Facebook page b/c it’s the only platform I have. You will reach way more folks than I will. This is so important.
There but for the grace of God go I. I was slow at learning to talk properly (and had a younger sister who was WAY ahead of me verbally), so I was evaluated for intellectual disability. I ultimately proved I wasn't and eventually graduated from a good college and worked (and still am working) at a reasonably high-paying job. But had the current regime been in charge when I was preschool age, I could have been one of those institutionalized.
I have to say this here even though I said it before. Catherine Rampell and General Hertling are two big reasons why I upgraded to Founding. I spend a lot of time on The Bulwark.
Now some people will say that we didn’t have autism back in the day. It was just characterized under the umbrella of mental retardation. Some will say that it’s better to have them all locked up in the same place. Others will say it has been over a hundred years since this ever occurred that this nation treated people who were under the moniker of “disabled” like this.
Now keep in mind that the very last resident officially moved out of the Willowbrook institution was on September 17, 1987, the day Governor Mario Cuomo declared the facility permanently closed. Even after the documentary was aired in 1972 on the conditions that were occurring in an institution that was set up to house those with a disability, an “intellectually disabled individual” who as some may consider “different” in their learning curve. It’s 2026 that’s only a span of 39 years. Let that sink in for some time….
The general rule is that home and based community services is far cheaper than the cost of nursing homes and institutions. You see the nursing homes and institutions are primarily set up as a money making business not to provide the necessary care for the individual. Then you throw in the thought of providing education to those that have that nomenclature of “intellectually disabled” who are what some may say are “slow learners” that the range goes through a spectrum of skills, to achieve those cognitive skills that are considered as a persons way in which they learn. From Perception (visual, auditory, processing speed), Attention (focused, sustained or divided), Memory (short and long-term, sensory, visual, auditory, and sequential), Logical Reasoning (deductive, inductive) the keys to those cognitive skills of learning to communication to problem solving and so many others.
If you place them all those who are “intellectually disabled” in an institution what is the result other than what occurred in Willowbrook. Children behind three locked steel doors lying in their own waste.
Now maybe you will know why we all fight so hard against institutions that there should always be the need for special education, the need for the equity of all that may be have what some may consider a “disability” but in fact it’s not a disability it’s the “ability to do something so differently than any other person, their own special gift” to have home care, to be educated to have community services provided just like having the fire department or police services provided in all communities.
And btw — remember anyone can become what is considered “disabled at any given time”…
Call and reach out to your state and federal representatives we all are being told we are “disabled”….
There are large cemeteries around most of the old institutions. People usually ended up spending their entire, inevitably short, lives there. Survivors of the NH institution say it was hell on earth, and the screaming started when the lights went out. That is the history of people with disabilities - particularly intellectual disabilities - in the US, up until the IDEA and the ADA were passed.
Back when the ADA was signed into law, the hue and cry was about how many mentally and emotionally disabled were going to end up homeless and living on the streets. As someone who worked in the medical field, specifically in the emergency room of a busy county owned level 1 trauma center, I saw the impact of this.
We took a perceived (and real) injustice, the rights of the disabled, and we left-handed it with a lot of unintended consequences. Years on, the liberal ideals and wishful thinking on one hand, and under-restrained market forces on the other, have exacerbated the homeless problem to horrifically epic proportions in many (not all) larger metropolitan areas.
I see Trump's latest efforts to solve this problem as just the (ill-advised) right-handed overcorrection of the unintended consequences of past legislation.
What we need is not more "Republicans are evil" blather. What we need is to elect thoughtful, intelligent and well qualified people, advised by experts in every field to put aside partisan political BS and actually govern our country for the good of the people.
An example of “Before Trump) and what is likely to become the “After Trump” (or perhaps, more accurately, “After Stephen Miller”): my ex-husband was an RN who worked in a home-and-community-based waiver setting. All four of the men were quadriplegic and had been institutionalized for years. All four had chosen to be DNR/DNI (Do Not Resuscitate/ Do Not Intubate). Then they moved into a HCBW setting. They had their own bedroom, were able to go out and visit family or attend movies. They eventually got computers they could operate with their eyes or a tube they blew into. And all four men took the DNR/DNI. Their lives were, finally, worth living.
A) I may "like" a post but sometimes i think the "heart" is just not the right vibe.
B) Hitler’s initial targets for mass arrests were political opponents and critics of his Nazi party. Remind you at all of the imaginary Antifa party, but with very real consequences?
There was a fire/disaster in the German hall of power called the Reichstag. In 1933 this led to even more Nazi arrests of more "undesirable" Germans. Think of what MAGA SCOTUS was saying to tRump and his cronies in their tRump v. US decision that Trump granting dear leader absolute immunity from criminal prosecution for official acts.
From that decision SCOTUS made it easier for tRump to unleash ICE on every "undesirable" non-citizen and attempt all his other unconstitutional power grabs (i'm not a SCOTUS Justice or even a lawyer so you may have to simply check whether or not i am correct).
Hitler consolidated his power by destroying Germany's institutions. tRump has done the same, aided by MAGA SCOTUS. Now if tRump is looking to take away anyone who is disabled, how long before he targets a religious group? How long before millions of people in the US lose more rights and their lives? Will the majority of SCOTUS Justices continue to allow that?
Hitler and Nazi Germany dehumanized so many different groups of people from political groups to those with disabilities to those with difference philosophies to finally Jews. It seems to me that tRump is doing - or attempting - the same, and he has willing idiots from far right to far left politicians and followers to help him.
Some may think i am exaggerating. But if you grew up among family members and neighbours who were Nazi Holocaust survivors, or people who have experienced extreme prejudice, you will not.
The lack of humanity in this administration is really unprecedented. Brutality is the ethos of this bunch. Even tough the head couldn't care less about policy but his feral being exudes a strong attitude of ruthless brutality, not as view point (i.e. a view that goverment shall do less etc) just as an animalistic personality that pervades everything and everyone around him, no mercy no compassion for the weak and feeble.
Many of the families with disabled children, adults and even grandparents often require one of the adults to be a full-time caregiver. My sister was a caregiver for my mother and now her husband who had a stroke which left him 100% disabled 10 years ago. My mother-in-law lives with us and my sister-in-law gave up her full-time job as a graphic artist to be a full-time caregiver.
This is often the norm in families and the Republicans have passed absolutely zero legislation which would help any family with disabilities. In fact the OBBBA just makes it harder for everyone in a family that has a disabled individual.
But, hey, it's all ok because the Oligarchs got their huge tax break with the OBBBA. /s
Catherine - Thank you for covering this subject. I have a disabled adult daughter and all the changes happening make me anxious, and I’ll. Fortunately we live in MN and services are still good, but I know the cuts will impact us. What Metro Surge did to so many wonderful and caring caregivers was awful and has impacted so many. Grateful for the Bulwark and the community.
Thank you very much for focusing on this. We need to know what they are doing in this regard.
Since they denied it, Stephen Miller has to be behind it (never believe anything until it's officially denied). I think the endgame here is the Nazi T4 program.
If you don't know what that is, Wikipedia has an article under "Aktion T4."
Thank you- from the bottom of my heart for covering this. My son is autistic. I post about disability rights & the DOE on my Facebook page b/c it’s the only platform I have. You will reach way more folks than I will. This is so important.
There but for the grace of God go I. I was slow at learning to talk properly (and had a younger sister who was WAY ahead of me verbally), so I was evaluated for intellectual disability. I ultimately proved I wasn't and eventually graduated from a good college and worked (and still am working) at a reasonably high-paying job. But had the current regime been in charge when I was preschool age, I could have been one of those institutionalized.
I have to say this here even though I said it before. Catherine Rampell and General Hertling are two big reasons why I upgraded to Founding. I spend a lot of time on The Bulwark.
also, Trump reportedly did not want disabled veterans to march in his parade since it looked bad.
Would ask you to watch this quick 26 minute video “The Path Forward: Remembering Willowbrook - Full Documentary” that aired in March 2023.
https://youtu.be/ev80qEtp2u4?is=MqhdUpfbDvYi6CJR
If you don’t think you have the 26 minutes of time to watch a video here’s another shorter version called “Revisiting Willowbrook | Exploring Geraldo
Rivera's Shocking Exposé” it’s only 7 minutes.
https://youtu.be/HaphBnpELrw?si=CAqE_2zD1OHlywu_
Now some people will say that we didn’t have autism back in the day. It was just characterized under the umbrella of mental retardation. Some will say that it’s better to have them all locked up in the same place. Others will say it has been over a hundred years since this ever occurred that this nation treated people who were under the moniker of “disabled” like this.
Now keep in mind that the very last resident officially moved out of the Willowbrook institution was on September 17, 1987, the day Governor Mario Cuomo declared the facility permanently closed. Even after the documentary was aired in 1972 on the conditions that were occurring in an institution that was set up to house those with a disability, an “intellectually disabled individual” who as some may consider “different” in their learning curve. It’s 2026 that’s only a span of 39 years. Let that sink in for some time….
The general rule is that home and based community services is far cheaper than the cost of nursing homes and institutions. You see the nursing homes and institutions are primarily set up as a money making business not to provide the necessary care for the individual. Then you throw in the thought of providing education to those that have that nomenclature of “intellectually disabled” who are what some may say are “slow learners” that the range goes through a spectrum of skills, to achieve those cognitive skills that are considered as a persons way in which they learn. From Perception (visual, auditory, processing speed), Attention (focused, sustained or divided), Memory (short and long-term, sensory, visual, auditory, and sequential), Logical Reasoning (deductive, inductive) the keys to those cognitive skills of learning to communication to problem solving and so many others.
If you place them all those who are “intellectually disabled” in an institution what is the result other than what occurred in Willowbrook. Children behind three locked steel doors lying in their own waste.
Now maybe you will know why we all fight so hard against institutions that there should always be the need for special education, the need for the equity of all that may be have what some may consider a “disability” but in fact it’s not a disability it’s the “ability to do something so differently than any other person, their own special gift” to have home care, to be educated to have community services provided just like having the fire department or police services provided in all communities.
And btw — remember anyone can become what is considered “disabled at any given time”…
Call and reach out to your state and federal representatives we all are being told we are “disabled”….
There are large cemeteries around most of the old institutions. People usually ended up spending their entire, inevitably short, lives there. Survivors of the NH institution say it was hell on earth, and the screaming started when the lights went out. That is the history of people with disabilities - particularly intellectual disabilities - in the US, up until the IDEA and the ADA were passed.
Back when the ADA was signed into law, the hue and cry was about how many mentally and emotionally disabled were going to end up homeless and living on the streets. As someone who worked in the medical field, specifically in the emergency room of a busy county owned level 1 trauma center, I saw the impact of this.
We took a perceived (and real) injustice, the rights of the disabled, and we left-handed it with a lot of unintended consequences. Years on, the liberal ideals and wishful thinking on one hand, and under-restrained market forces on the other, have exacerbated the homeless problem to horrifically epic proportions in many (not all) larger metropolitan areas.
I see Trump's latest efforts to solve this problem as just the (ill-advised) right-handed overcorrection of the unintended consequences of past legislation.
What we need is not more "Republicans are evil" blather. What we need is to elect thoughtful, intelligent and well qualified people, advised by experts in every field to put aside partisan political BS and actually govern our country for the good of the people.
An example of “Before Trump) and what is likely to become the “After Trump” (or perhaps, more accurately, “After Stephen Miller”): my ex-husband was an RN who worked in a home-and-community-based waiver setting. All four of the men were quadriplegic and had been institutionalized for years. All four had chosen to be DNR/DNI (Do Not Resuscitate/ Do Not Intubate). Then they moved into a HCBW setting. They had their own bedroom, were able to go out and visit family or attend movies. They eventually got computers they could operate with their eyes or a tube they blew into. And all four men took the DNR/DNI. Their lives were, finally, worth living.
A) I may "like" a post but sometimes i think the "heart" is just not the right vibe.
B) Hitler’s initial targets for mass arrests were political opponents and critics of his Nazi party. Remind you at all of the imaginary Antifa party, but with very real consequences?
There was a fire/disaster in the German hall of power called the Reichstag. In 1933 this led to even more Nazi arrests of more "undesirable" Germans. Think of what MAGA SCOTUS was saying to tRump and his cronies in their tRump v. US decision that Trump granting dear leader absolute immunity from criminal prosecution for official acts.
From that decision SCOTUS made it easier for tRump to unleash ICE on every "undesirable" non-citizen and attempt all his other unconstitutional power grabs (i'm not a SCOTUS Justice or even a lawyer so you may have to simply check whether or not i am correct).
Hitler consolidated his power by destroying Germany's institutions. tRump has done the same, aided by MAGA SCOTUS. Now if tRump is looking to take away anyone who is disabled, how long before he targets a religious group? How long before millions of people in the US lose more rights and their lives? Will the majority of SCOTUS Justices continue to allow that?
Hitler and Nazi Germany dehumanized so many different groups of people from political groups to those with disabilities to those with difference philosophies to finally Jews. It seems to me that tRump is doing - or attempting - the same, and he has willing idiots from far right to far left politicians and followers to help him.
Some may think i am exaggerating. But if you grew up among family members and neighbours who were Nazi Holocaust survivors, or people who have experienced extreme prejudice, you will not.
The lack of humanity in this administration is really unprecedented. Brutality is the ethos of this bunch. Even tough the head couldn't care less about policy but his feral being exudes a strong attitude of ruthless brutality, not as view point (i.e. a view that goverment shall do less etc) just as an animalistic personality that pervades everything and everyone around him, no mercy no compassion for the weak and feeble.
Just a note of huge appreciation for this piece and bringing it to the forefront so it doesn’t get lost in the miasma.
Same thing the Nazis did,