Letter to Legislators - Protect Healthcare
- 20 hours ago
- 2 min read
Copy the text below and click on the links to send to state legislators. See our advocacy page for more resources and contact information for more legislators.
You may adjust anything or add a personal testimony if you wish.
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Recent healthcare decisions at both the state and federal levels have been devastating to families in the autism community. Repeatedly, the autism community (individuals, families, service providers, and advocates) has been shown that our experiences and our insights are not valued by legislators.
Fundamental supports that individuals in our community need in order to maximize their independence and lead fulfilling lives are being stripped away. We feel unheard by our legislators.
I urge you to be different.
I urge you to listen to your constituents.
I urge you to support comprehensive health coverage for individuals with autism (of all ages and all levels of support need) in all the innovative ways you can.
This is a top priority and a central consideration for me each election cycle.
Autism is a lifelong neurodevelopmental condition that affects people differently, from those who live independently to those with profound needs requiring ongoing assistance. Healthcare for such a wide spectrum must be flexible, and it must trust the experts in the field (both healthcare providers and the families themselves). Current legislation has instead created arbitrary limits in defiance of input from experts. These limits harm everyone in our community - not just those in need of healthcare coverage.
Coverage that ends arbitrarily or that denies medically necessary services consigns families to crisis management. It also shifts costs to schools, emergency rooms, long-term care facilities, and the justice system. Chronic crisis management drains the community of resources and can easily become a matter of life and death for those most closely involved. By contrast, early and ongoing access to early interventions, including therapies and behavioral supports, improves outcomes and reduces costs over a lifetime.
Beyond the fiscal argument is the moral one. Every individual, regardless of disability or diagnosis, deserves the dignity of accessing the resources they need to live as independently as possible. Health coverage for autism services is not charity or a wasteful expense. It is an investment. When people are supported to achieve their full potential, they participate in the workforce, pay taxes, and contribute to their communities.
I ask you to protect the coverage that remains, find innovative ways to help your constituents weather this time, and advocate for corrective decisions as soon as possible. By doing so, you will demonstrate a commitment to both human dignity and fiscal responsibility.
Thank you for your service.
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Copy the text above and click on one (or more!) of the links to send to legislators. Enter a topic of "Family and Children Services," "Health," or "Insurance."
Senators:
House:
For districts outside of the Fort Wayne area, find contact links through https://iga.in.gov/information/find-legislators