Thank you unionized workers of Wisconsin!

I'm betting most readers do not know I am a Political Science major from the University of Wisconsin - Madison, where we are experiencing crazy times.

Fortunately, it is happening in WI where Governor Walker has awoken a sleeping giant. Imagine if this had happened in a state with no tradition in grass roots movements! I guess that is just my Optimystic Ride going out, again!!!

In this sense, I truly believe that this is the beginning of a movement to change our vision from a "traditional" corporate one to a more unified, compassionate, global ideal with a greater sense of oneness.

Here is a letter that landed in my Inbox. I like Ms. Greenhaw's perspective so much, I asked for permission to repost:

Today, I write a letter of thanks.

Wisconsin union workers have stood up to resist Governor Walker's legislation that would eliminate bargaining rights for unionized state workers in Wisconsin.

However, a lesser known provision of the bill would put Medicaid in jeopardy. This bill would allow the governor to make changes to Medicaid with no public input.

My daughter has autism. Four years ago, through the Wisconsin Autism Waiver, my daughter began intensive in-home therapy. At the time my daughter began her program, she had lost 90% of her language, and was reduced to about 10 words that she could routinely access.

My husband and I were devastated. We had no idea what the future would hold for us, and we were unsure of whether my daughter would ever be able to answer simple "yes" or "no" questions, go to school with kids her age, or even be potty trained.

Today, my daughter is nine. She is an articulate, smart, funny girl. Thanks to Wisconsin's federal autism waiver funding, my daughter was able to access services that allowed us to get early intervention services that has made all the difference in our lives. Children that receive these services are less likely to need intensive services throughout their life, and today, the hope is that my daughter will be able to go on to lead a happy, independent life. Without Wisconsin's autism waiver, these options would have never been available to us, and undoubtedly, my daughter would have required intensive services throughout her entire life.

Wisconsin has been experiencing tremendous upheaval this week as a result of union demonstrations objecting to legislation by Governor Scott Walker that would eliminate their right to collective bargaining. Another little known impact of the legislation, however, is a provision that would allow Walker to make sweeping changes to Medicaid policy that would impact children like my daughter.

Walker has made his intentions to make deep Medicaid cuts clear. Walker appointed Dennis Smith to lead the Department of Health Services. Smith made his name writing articles encouraging states to drop out of the federal Medicaid program.

What would that mean for children with disabilities? Medicaid provides states with funding to provide coverage for certain populations, such as those with disabilities. In exchange for the funding, the states agree to provide coverage to vulnerable populations within their states.

Smith's writing urges states to forgo Medicaid funding, allowing states to eliminate programs for these vulnerable populations. Smith argues that dropping coverage for people like my daughter could save states considerable amounts of money, and urges states to leave Medicaid.

What Smith's writings fail to acknowledge, however, is the immense benefit that programs for vulnerable populations ultimately provide to states. My daughter, as the result of receiving early intervention services, will ultimately be much more independent. In fact, Harvard Business School estimates that individuals with autism who receive early intervention services are likely to cost 3.2 million dollars less over their lifetime than those without them.

The disability community has fought hard in the past for benefits for our children, but in this fight, without the immense contribution of the labor community, this legislation would have undoubtedly been already enacted.

We in the disability community have a shared interest with the labor community in defeating this sweeping, unprecedented legislation. I'm not sure how things will turn out, but without the support of labor, it is unclear that the 14 Democratic legislators would have left the state. Their absence has prevented this bill from passage and has bought some time for us to work hard to defeat this bill.

I would like to thank all of the protesters who have come out to defeat Walker's budget amendment. People with disabilities and their families have enough to worry about just trying to make it through each day, without having to worry about whether they will have Medicaid coverage.

So thank you, Wisconsin state unions!

Sincerely,
Rhonda J. Greenhaw
Germantown, Wisconsin



BLESSINGS WITHOUT BORDERS©,

Gina Villa-Grimsby