Your personal experiences can help drive change. Congress is considering legislation that could drastically cut Medicaid, impacting individuals who rely on its services every day. Your story can make a difference in our advocacy efforts. See the examples below, and how you can help support the cause:
Examples
“Approximately 53 million Americans rely on caregivers to lead self-directed, independent lives. It is of paramount importance that our communities have robust and dedicated home and community-based services, as they are not only key to people with disabilities living their best lives, but a means of utter survival for the disability community. We must recognize the dedication and resilience of the caregivers who support us. We couldn’t do what we do without them.”
– Kelly Barrett, Ms. Wheelchair Pennsylvania 2025 (Erie, PA)
“I’m supposed to be getting, 25 hours a week of, attendant care. My service coordinator seriously goes above and beyond. She tries to be able to get me an attendant. We’ve gone through so many different organizations just trying to find a worker that is available to come out to me. I think we’ve gone through seven different companies in the past year, just trying to find any anyone that’s willing to do the job, but nobody really wants to. They all seem to be working for any company that pays higher, like Walmart. If attendants were able to get paid competitively, then the different companies that hire them would be able to do a more, a higher quality interview process.”
– Dave (York, PA)
“For the past 24 years, I have been using waiver services. In January of 1998, my attendant started working at $8 an hour. 24 years later, my attendant was making $11.54. These caring, giving, generous individuals work with no health care and little pay. It is time that we support them, and we give them the earnings and the benefits that they deserve. It’s time to pass a bill to support them and allow us to continue living in the community independently and safely.”
– Jay Harner (Williamsport, PA)
“I am a recipient of home and community based services. I haven’t been able to receive my total amount of hours, due to a trusted attendant having to leave because the pay was inadequate. For what? She needed to continue to live and transport back and forth to work. Ever since she left, I haven’t had adequate care, which affects my family life and my job. We have suffered a great deal, and the biggest part about it– the part that annoys me the most, is that my attendant did not want to abruptly quit her job. It’s been almost a month and a half now since she left, and we have struggled since.”
– Domonique Howell (Philadelphia, PA)
Why Share Your Story?
Legislators respond to real-life experiences. By sharing how Medicaid and PAS impact you, your family, or your community, you can help us:
- Show the real consequences of funding cuts.
- Demonstrate the importance of community-based services.
- Highlight the direct care workforce crisis and its impact on quality care.
How to Share Your Story
Not sure where to start? Use these prompts:
- How has Medicaid supported you or your organization?
- What would happen to you, your family, or those you support if Medicaid funding were reduced?
- How has Medicaid enabled individuals with disabilities to live independently, secure employment, or engage in their communities?
- Have Medicaid funding challenges affected your ability to find and keep direct care workers?
Submit Your Story Today
Every story strengthens our advocacy. Please share your experience in 1-2 paragraphs and help us fight for Medicaid and PAS protections.
Call us at (814) 874-0064 or email us at sjohnson@vficil.org
