This is not intended to be a long post. In fact, it’s going to be very short. Not only is my friend at The Spectral Zone another autism dad, but he’s also a lawyer, and he is very familiar with legislative texts. He has read through the draft American Health Care Act (AHCA), also known as Trumpcare or Paul Ryan’s proposal for the repeal-and-replace of Obamacare. Spectral Dad has found some pretty disturbing language in this bill, language that would restrict or eliminate altogether the Medicaid benefits that many people with disabilities (especially those with autism) are currently receiving. 

I urge you to read his brief analysis of the bill, which is in his blog post here. I also urge you to contact your senators and congressperson to register your concerns about this imminent threat to the autism community—and the disability community at large. Spectral Dad has also included in his post a template for a letter you can write. Feel free to copy his as much as you can, or use it as a starting point for your own words.

The Medicaid provisions in this bill have a good chance of passage unless enough of us stand up and make some noise about it. So get out your pen; dust off your keyboard; pick up your phone. Whatever you do, do it now! From what I understand, the House is planning on voting on the AHCA this Thursday. Time is precious.