Susan Senator

Okay, now it is time for a little bit of politics. With the Supercommittee about to act — or not — either way they are taking action — it is time to weigh in with our senators and reps.  Here is how you email your own senators and reps. And here, below, is a template that you all may use. You may not believe it, but I know for a fact that senators and reps take these emails, letters, and phone calls to sessions and show the others what their constituents have told them!  Your letter will help. Just cut and paste mine and substitute your own stories.

Dear Senator Brown,
I am the mother of a 22 year old lovely but challenged young man with fairly severe autism. I have published several books helping parents who live with autism. But now that Nat is 22 and in the adult system, I see once again that we need so much help just to keep our families together. Autism is so complex.

One of our country’s blessings is our human services. Let’s take Medicaid as an example, because I have firsthand experience with that program.  As you know, here in Massachusetts, Medicaid funds DayHabs for many, including folks like my son. Though far from perfect, these DayHabs give support and therapies during the day for so many adults with developmental disabilities.  Without the DayHabs, which run usually 9-3 M-F, there would be nothing for these people. Nothing. With so many having been educated with our public school system (also far from perfect, but lightyears beyond what the disabled used to have — Nothing) isn’t it a profound waste of human potential to let these people just languish for the rest of their lives, doing nothing and living in their aging parents’ homes — and that’s only the lucky ones who have parents up to the task.  Autism sometimes comes with difficult behaviors (my own son, whom I love with all my heart, just this morning bit his own arm out of frustration with the world…)

I want to invite you to come with me to my son’s DayHab in Wellesley, Autism Services Association. There you will find one of the top-notch DayHabs, and yet you will also observe the shoestring budget they run on. There is no fat to trim. Not with level funding for all these years.

Senator Brown, Medicaid is not the place to experiment with deficit reduction. As unpleasant as it is, we all know that revenue to pay to run this country comes from taxes. Please look to the wealthiest in this country first, before looking at the poorest and most vulnerable. Medicaid helps the most vulnerable. Come with me and see for yourself. I will make time in my very full schedule if you will in yours. Please come; lunch is on me! –Susan Senator, [my address and phone number]