This week was filled with learning opportunities for me. I was given a new assignment, to review comments from various organizations around the nation regaurding Medicaid reform. This gave me the opportunity to learn about new proposed regulations from Medicaid that are intended to improved independant living options for people with disabilities in their homes and communities. Reviewing a handful of comments from organizations in the independant living industry helped me to broaden my horizon regaurding potential outcomes of the proposed regulations.
On thursday, I was also fortunate enough to participate in the march and rally at the capital, put on by the National Council on Independant Living. I joined a large crowd of people with disabilities outside of the Grand Hyatt Hotel where we began the march to Capital Hill to demand opportunities to live independantly in our own homes. After arriving on the Hill, I heard from a number of speakers, including relevant members of Congress, express their support for Medicaid and other programs to allow people with disabilities to live in the community. While there is hope that upcoming legislations will support the independant living philosophy, we have much work to do to prepare our disability community for potential outcomes. This is more important now than ever, that we step forward, one by one to tell our representatives what we want to see for our country and community. Stand firm and make your voices heard!
Posted by Zach Holler
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