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Fight for disability services

Over many decades, Congress has created and funded effective federal programs that are critical to ensuring that people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) can live and participate fully in their community: Medicaid, the Affordable Care Act (ACA), Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Social Security, Medicare and civil rights protections that help make community living possible.

As the parent of a 14-year-old with I/DD and special health care needs, I urge Congress to fight for these effective programs. Any cuts to eligibility, benefits or services or any further erosion in federal appropriations would put people with I/DD at risk of returning to the dark days of our past when people with disabilities were institutionalized and routinely neglected or abused. We must and can do better.

Darci Ladwig

Spokane Valley

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