Grace Dow
@gracedowwrites.bsky.social
📤 153
đź“Ą 119
đź“ť 797
I am a writer who has cerebral palsy. Please visit my blog at
https://gracedowwrites.com/
Today's blog post is about Minnesota’s Medicaid freeze.
gracedowwrites.com/2026/02/27/l...
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Lives on the Line: The Human Cost of a Medicaid Freeze
The freeze of nearly $260 million in Medicaid funding may be happening in Minnesota, but the fear it creates reaches far beyond one state. When federal officials discuss tackling fraud in home-base…
https://gracedowwrites.com/2026/02/27/lives-on-the-line-the-human-cost-of-a-medicaid-freeze/
about 2 hours ago
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Today’s blog post is about how institutional bias still keeps disabled people from living independently in the community.
gracedowwrites.com/2026/02/26/t...
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This Is Not Home
For decades, disabled people around the world have often had their lives shaped by institutions. Large hospitals and institutions were seen as the standard residential option for disabled people. T…
https://gracedowwrites.com/2026/02/26/this-is-not-home/
1 day ago
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Today's blog post is about age limits within disability services.
gracedowwrites.com/2026/02/25/t...
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The Harshest Birthday
California’s developmental disability system is designed to provide lifelong support, but many families find it a closed door right when it is needed the most. Case management, job coaching, indepe…
https://gracedowwrites.com/2026/02/25/the-harshest-birthday/
2 days ago
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Today's blog post is about ICE’s treatment of disabled people.
gracedowwrites.com/2026/02/24/t...
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The Disability Crisis Inside ICE
CW: ICE and Death The story of Rodney Taylor is horrifying on its own terms, but it becomes even more disturbing when placed in the broader historical context of how U.S. immigration authorities ha…
https://gracedowwrites.com/2026/02/24/the-disability-crisis-inside-ice/
3 days ago
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Today’s blog post is about fighting both illness and bureaucracy.
gracedowwrites.com/2026/02/23/w...
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When the Safety Net Becomes a Trap
The story of Ramona Rakestraw, a Dallas woman losing her Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits during cancer treatment represents a shocking and familiar bureaucratic failure. She was born in…
https://gracedowwrites.com/2026/02/23/when-the-safety-net-becomes-a-trap/
4 days ago
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Today's blog post is about the parts of cerebral palsy people don't see.
gracedowwrites.com/2026/02/21/y...
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You See My Walker, You Don’t See This
Cerebral palsy is a physical disability that affects my ability to walk. I use a walker and a power wheelchair for mobility. Cerebral palsy presents many other challenges that others might not see.…
https://gracedowwrites.com/2026/02/21/you-see-my-walker-you-dont-see-this/
6 days ago
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Today’s blog post is about why many people on Medicaid still can’t find a doctor.
gracedowwrites.com/2026/02/20/t...
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The Doctor Is Not In
Medicaid was created to ensure that people with low incomes could receive care without risking financial hardship. However, for many who depend on it, having coverage does not guarantee that they c…
https://gracedowwrites.com/2026/02/20/the-doctor-is-not-in/
7 days ago
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Today’s blog post is about the risks of dismantling home and community-based services.
gracedowwrites.com/2026/02/19/t...
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The Human Cost of “Savings”
CW: Institutionalization Across Nebraska, families caring for disabled loved ones are watching the state dismantle the system that has kept their children, parents, and partners safe for decades. T…
https://gracedowwrites.com/2026/02/19/the-human-cost-of-savings/
8 days ago
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Today’s blog post is about how ICE is affecting the care of disabled people.
gracedowwrites.com/2026/02/18/w...
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When ICE Knocks, Care Stops
CW: ICE & Death Immigration enforcement rarely makes headlines for its effects on disability services, but the consequences are unfolding quietly in homes, hospitals, and day programs across th…
https://gracedowwrites.com/2026/02/18/when-ice-knocks-care-stops/
9 days ago
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Today’s blog post is about why disability data is essential to improving healthcare accessibility.
gracedowwrites.com/2026/02/17/i...
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If You Don’t Count Us, You Don’t See Us
CW: Ableism The federal government finally acknowledges what disabled people have been saying for years: you can’t improve healthcare accessibility without knowing who’s being left out. A recent Go…
https://gracedowwrites.com/2026/02/17/if-you-dont-count-us-you-dont-see-us/
10 days ago
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Today's blog post is about insurance companies denying cancer treatment.
gracedowwrites.com/2026/02/16/a...
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A Firefighter’s Fight That Should Never Have Happened
CW: Death All across the United States, people who are already battling cancer are being forced to fight a second battle. This battle is not against the cancer, but against the insurance syst…
https://gracedowwrites.com/2026/02/16/a-firefighters-fight-that-should-never-have-happened/
11 days ago
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Today’s blog post is about how fraud crackdowns in home care can harm disabled people’s independence.
gracedowwrites.com/2026/02/15/t...
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Trust, Care, and Consequences: The Real Impact of Fraud on Disabled Lives
CW: Fraud People often talk about fraud in home‑based care programs in terms of budgets, audits, and criminal charges, but for the disabled people who depend on these services, the consequences are…
https://gracedowwrites.com/2026/02/15/trust-care-and-consequences-the-real-impact-of-fraud-on-disabled-lives/
12 days ago
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Today's blog post is about the bureaucracy associated with disability
gracedowwrites.com/2026/02/14/t...
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The Paperwork Architecture of Disability Services
The other day I filled out my annual EVV (electronic visit verification) exemption form. In my home state of Massachusetts, MassHealth has utilized EVV for consumers of the PCA (Personal Care Assis…
https://gracedowwrites.com/2026/02/14/the-paperwork-architecture-of-disability-services/
13 days ago
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Today's blog post is about how proposed Medicaid cuts would affect disabled people.
gracedowwrites.com/2026/02/13/w...
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When Care Depends on a Budget Vote
Families across Missouri who care for loved ones with developmental disabilities are speaking out as proposed state budget cuts threaten their essential services. What started as a simple budget re…
https://gracedowwrites.com/2026/02/13/when-care-depends-on-a-budget-vote/
14 days ago
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Today's blog post is about the costs associated with being disabled.
gracedowwrites.com/2026/02/12/t...
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The Disability Squeeze:The High Cost of Living with a Disability
CW: Poverty Living with a disability can be expensive. A study from Stony Brook University found that many disabled people spend thousands of dollars each year on their needs. In this three-year st…
https://gracedowwrites.com/2026/02/12/the-disability-squeezethe-high-cost-of-living-with-a-disability/
15 days ago
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Today’s blog post is about how disabled employees are still too often undervalued and underpaid.
gracedowwrites.com/2026/02/11/a...
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A Lifetime of Work, A Disability Used Against Him
CW: Discrimination For 35 years, Paul Rooney walked the same six blocks to Schuyler Elementary School in Kearny, New Jersey. There, he swept floors, cleaned bathrooms, picked up pizza boxes, and ke…
https://gracedowwrites.com/2026/02/11/a-lifetime-of-work-a-disability-used-against-him/
16 days ago
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Today’s blog post is about the tragic murder of Leon and Otis Clune and the systemic failures that can lead to filicide involving disabled people.
gracedowwrites.com/2026/02/10/f...
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For Leon and Otis: A Call to Do Better
CW: Fillicide & Suicide The tragic murder-suicide in Mosman Park, Perth, Australia, where two parents took the lives of their autistic sons, their pets, and then themselves, forces society to c…
https://gracedowwrites.com/2026/02/10/for-leon-and-otis-a-call-to-do-better/
17 days ago
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Today’s blog post is about a rare and meaningful win for disability rights
gracedowwrites.com/2026/02/09/t...
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This Time, We Were Heard
Every now and then, the news brings us something that feels like a sigh of relief instead of just another headline. That’s what happened during the latest budget negotiations. Congress rejected a s…
https://gracedowwrites.com/2026/02/09/this-time-we-were-heard/
18 days ago
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Today’s blog post is about the accessibility of NFL stadiums.
gracedowwrites.com/2026/02/08/t...
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The Super Bowl Roars, and So Does the Call for Accessible Stadiums
CW: Suicide & Depression With the Super Bowl kicking off tonight and millions of fans getting ready for the biggest game of the year, it’s a good time to think about what it means to belo…
https://gracedowwrites.com/2026/02/08/the-super-bowl-roars-and-so-does-the-call-for-accessible-stadiums/
19 days ago
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Today’s blog post is about how pressure and scrutiny can disrupt motor control for people with CP.
gracedowwrites.com/2026/02/07/p...
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Please Don’t Rush My Body
Too often, people assume that connection requires eye contact, immediate responses, or visible engagement. But for many people with cerebral palsy, those expectations can create the very barriers w…
https://gracedowwrites.com/2026/02/07/please-dont-rush-my-body/
20 days ago
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Today's blog post is about residential communities for people with IDD.
gracedowwrites.com/2026/02/06/w...
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What Happens When We Build for Everyone
CW: Segregation Planned residential communities for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities are often presented as a major improvement. The brochures come in bright colors. The lang…
https://gracedowwrites.com/2026/02/06/what-happens-when-we-build-for-everyone/
21 days ago
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Today’s blog post is about comments made by Rep. Steve Miller (R-Idaho).
gracedowwrites.com/2026/02/05/e...
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Every Child Deserves a Classroom
CW: Ableism Rep. Steve Miller’s recent comments about special education hit hard. During a conversation about linking school funding to “outcomes,” he went further and questioned whether some disab…
https://gracedowwrites.com/2026/02/05/every-child-deserves-a-classroom/
22 days ago
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Today’s blog post is about the fight to protect disabled people’s right to live in their communities.
gracedowwrites.com/2026/02/04/a...
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A Fight for the Right to Live Free
CW: Institutionalization The battle for disability rights is heating up as nine states plan to file a lawsuit against a 2024 change in U.S. Department of Health and Human Services regulations relat…
https://gracedowwrites.com/2026/02/04/a-fight-for-the-right-to-live-free/
23 days ago
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Today’s blog post is about assistive technology in schools.
gracedowwrites.com/2026/02/03/t...
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The Assistive Tech Crisis
Schools across the United States are finding it increasingly difficult to provide assistive technology, which refers to any device or tool that helps a student with a disability access learning. Th…
https://gracedowwrites.com/2026/02/03/the-assistive-tech-crisis/
24 days ago
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Today’s blog post is about revisions to disability mortality figures.
gracedowwrites.com/2026/02/02/d...
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Data Errors, Deadly Consequences
CW: Death England’s national system for tracking deaths among people with intellectual and developmental disabilities is facing criticism, after revised data shows more avoidable deaths than …
https://gracedowwrites.com/2026/02/02/data-errors-deadly-consequences/
25 days ago
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Today’s blog post is about how disabled people were forgotten and erased within the walls of America’s institutions.
gracedowwrites.com/2026/02/01/l...
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Lost in the System
CW: Institutionalization, Abuse, Slurs, & Death Some stories begin not with memory, but with what is missing. For David Scott, a retired garbage collector from Brockton, Massachusetts, what is …
https://gracedowwrites.com/2026/02/01/lost-in-the-system/
26 days ago
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Today’s blog post is about navigating the bureaucratic challenges associated with disability.
gracedowwrites.com/2026/01/31/w...
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Worth and Waiting
Living with Cerebral Palsy involves a lot of waiting. Every day, I have to coordinate my schedule with others. It is not easy to rely on others for help with the most basic tasks. Since the day I w…
https://gracedowwrites.com/2026/01/31/worth-and-waiting/
27 days ago
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Today’s blog post is about the justice system failing disabled victims.
gracedowwrites.com/2026/01/30/t...
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They Couldn’t Speak—And No One Listened
CW: Abuse, Rape & Neglect The investigation into Delaware’s handling of abuse cases related to disability uncovers a harsh truth about the justice system. There is a clear trend: when abu…
https://gracedowwrites.com/2026/01/30/they-couldnt-speak-and-no-one-listened/
28 days ago
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Today's blog post is about disclosing your disability in the workplace.
gracedowwrites.com/2026/01/29/t...
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To Disclose or Not
CW: Discrimination There’s an extraordinary feeling of disappointment that comes from disclosing your disability and watching someone distance themselves. It isn’t flashy. It’s subtle and almost in…
https://gracedowwrites.com/2026/01/29/to-disclose-or-not/
29 days ago
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Today's blog post is about how Medicaid cuts affect disabled people.
gracedowwrites.com/2026/01/28/m...
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Medicaid Means Survival
Advocates in the disability community are raising urgent concerns about Medicaid cuts. They warn that the services millions of people rely on could face a crisis. Medicaid has been essential for di…
https://gracedowwrites.com/2026/01/28/medicaid-means-survival/
about 1 month ago
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Today’s blog post is about how ICE’s (Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s) actions are impacting disabled people.
gracedowwrites.com/2026/01/27/w...
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When Disability Meets ICE, People Pay the Price
CW: Death & ICE The death of Wael Tarabishi has left a North Texas family heartbroken, not just because of the loss but also due to the circumstances surrounding it. Wael, a 30-year-old U.S. ci…
https://gracedowwrites.com/2026/01/27/when-disability-meets-ice-people-pay-the-price/
about 1 month ago
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Today's blog post is about how Winter weather impacts disabled people.
gracedowwrites.com/2026/01/26/w...
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Winter’s Weight on Disabled Lives
Winter Storm Fern, as it has been dubbed by The Weather Channel, has hit much of the U.S. Cold weather means snow, bitter cold temperatures, and shorter days, which disproportionately affect disabl…
https://gracedowwrites.com/2026/01/26/winters-weight-on-disabled-lives/
about 1 month ago
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Today’s post is about aging with a disability and the need for more support.
gracedowwrites.com/2026/01/25/a...
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A Lifetime of Living Needs a Lifetime of Support
Families who care for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities often face overwhelming challenges, and the experience of people like Sally Mitzel and her daughter RaeAnn makes that r…
https://gracedowwrites.com/2026/01/25/a-lifetime-of-living-needs-a-lifetime-of-support/
about 1 month ago
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Today’s blog post is about creating a future where more disabled people can live in their communities.
gracedowwrites.com/2026/01/24/o...
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One Open Door
CW: Institutionalization Nova Scotia’s new home-share program comes at a time when the province is changing the way people with disabilities live and interact within their communities. ItR…
https://gracedowwrites.com/2026/01/24/one-open-door/
about 1 month ago
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Today’s blog post is about ICE’s (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) impact on healthcare.
gracedowwrites.com/2026/01/23/s...
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Safety or Survival: A Choice No Patient Should Face
CW: Childbirth The increased presence of ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) in and around medical settings is redefining the way people interact with the healthcare system. The consequences …
https://gracedowwrites.com/2026/01/23/safety-or-survival-a-choice-no-patient-should-face/
about 1 month ago
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Today’s blog post is about proposed changes to Medicaid waivers.
gracedowwrites.com/2026/01/22/w...
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When Budget Cuts Become Life or Death
For decades, the Aged and Disabled Waiver has been a lifeline for many Nebraskans. It is the difference between stability and crisis, freedom and institutionalization, or for some people, li…
https://gracedowwrites.com/2026/01/22/when-budget-cuts-become-life-or-death/
about 1 month ago
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Today’s blog post is about how disability service systems fail people when assessment tools oversimplify the reality of people’s needs.
gracedowwrites.com/2026/01/21/t...
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The Fragility Behind Disability Systems
As Australia prepares to overhaul the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) with the Instrument for the Classification and Assessment of Support Needs (I-CAN) tool, warnings from psychologist…
https://gracedowwrites.com/2026/01/21/the-fragility-behind-disability-systems/
about 1 month ago
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Today's blog post is about disabled people who are abused.
gracedowwrites.com/2026/01/20/w...
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Who Protects the Most Vulnerable?
CW: Abuse A recent case from Suffolk County, New York, has gained significant attention after a home health nurse was arrested for allegedly assaulting a five-year-old child with disabilities. Acco…
https://gracedowwrites.com/2026/01/20/who-protects-the-most-vulnerable/
about 1 month ago
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Today’s blog post is about how policy changes are putting healthcare at risk, particularly for elderly and disabled Americans.
gracedowwrites.com/2026/01/19/e...
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Efficiency for Whom?
Recent federal policy changes are quietly reshaping health care in the United States. Their effects will impact not only older adults but also millions of disabled people who depend on these system…
https://gracedowwrites.com/2026/01/19/efficiency-for-whom/
about 1 month ago
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Today's blog post is about the cost of college when you are disabled.
gracedowwrites.com/2026/01/18/w...
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What College Really Costs When You’re Disabled
People often think that disabled students’ biggest challenges in college are receiving accommodations or managing their health along with coursework. However, the real struggles begin long before s…
https://gracedowwrites.com/2026/01/18/what-college-really-costs-when-youre-disabled/
about 1 month ago
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Today's blog post is about the transition to adulthood for disabled adults and the need for more support.
gracedowwrites.com/2026/01/17/t...
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The Disability Cliff
The transition from childhood to adulthood is a milestone most people anticipate with a mix of excitement and uncertainty. But for disabled young adults that transition can be even more difficult.&…
https://gracedowwrites.com/2026/01/17/the-disability-cliff/
about 1 month ago
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Today's blog post is about caring for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities as they age.
gracedowwrites.com/2026/01/16/c...
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Care That Honors a Lifetime of Living
CW: Death Some stories reveal not just a person’s life, but the cracks in the systems meant to support them. Mickey Wesley’s is one of those. He was 11 when he moved into the boys’…
https://gracedowwrites.com/2026/01/16/care-that-honors-a-lifetime-of-living/
about 1 month ago
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Today’s blog post is about a young baseball player and the brutal gaps in our healthcare system that now shape his fight to recover from a devastating accident.
gracedowwrites.com/2026/01/15/t...
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The Cost of an Injury No One Planned For
CW: Injury, Impaired Driving, & Mental Illness Baseball loves its underdog stories. The late‑round pick who finds his way into the spotlight The kid from a small town who refuses to quit. The p…
https://gracedowwrites.com/2026/01/15/the-cost-of-an-injury-no-one-planned-for/
about 1 month ago
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Today's blog post is about fatigue related to cerebral palsy.
gracedowwrites.com/2026/01/14/t...
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The Hidden Exhaustion of Cerebral Palsy
Imagine waking up each day knowing that every movement, every step, reach, or turn, will take two to three times more effort than it does for others. This is the reality for many people with Cerebr…
https://gracedowwrites.com/2026/01/14/the-hidden-exhaustion-of-cerebral-palsy/
about 1 month ago
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Today's blog post is about health insurance denials.
gracedowwrites.com/2026/01/13/s...
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State of Denial: How Insurance Companies Shape Access to Health Care
CW: Death The CBS News video “State of Denial: How insurance companies affect health care today” explores how and why patients who have health insurance may not be able to access needed care. The v…
https://gracedowwrites.com/2026/01/13/state-of-denial-how-insurance-companies-shape-access-to-health-care/
about 2 months ago
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Today’s blog post is about how someone’s geographical location impacts disability services in America.
gracedowwrites.com/2026/01/12/l...
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Lines on a Map, Lives in the Balance
Throughout the United States, the availability of disability services varies significantly, leading to a drastic change in people’s quality of life when moving from one state to another. This reali…
https://gracedowwrites.com/2026/01/12/lines-on-a-map-lives-in-the-balance/
about 2 months ago
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Today's blog post is about work requirements associated with Medicaid.
gracedowwrites.com/2026/01/11/m...
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Medicaid Cuts Break People, Not Budgets
The federal government is moving forward with new Medicaid eligibility rules, and the disability community is bracing for impact. On the surface, the changes sound straightforward: Congress voted l…
https://gracedowwrites.com/2026/01/11/medicaid-cuts-break-people-not-budgets/
about 2 months ago
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Today’s blog post is about the emotional toll of navigating the world of disability services.
gracedowwrites.com/2026/01/10/p...
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Past the Pages
As someone with cerebral palsy, I often feel dehumanized. For as long as I can remember, I’ve had to justify my existence and the support I need to navigate the world. During my childhood, ev…
https://gracedowwrites.com/2026/01/10/past-the-pages/
about 2 months ago
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Today's blog post is about how public education is failing disabled students.
gracedowwrites.com/2026/01/09/w...
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When “Inclusive Education” Leaves Disabled Children Behind
Across North America, families of disabled children are watching the same pattern unfold: schools promise inclusion, but the supports that make inclusion a reality are disappearing. The result is a…
https://gracedowwrites.com/2026/01/09/when-inclusive-education-leaves-disabled-children-behind/
about 2 months ago
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Today's blog post is about the nationwide shortage of home healthcare workers.
gracedowwrites.com/2026/01/08/w...
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When Care Isn’t There
An essay by Heidi Knudsen in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette puts a human face on a problem too often discussed only in policy terms: the severe shortage of home healthcare workers for disabled people.…
https://gracedowwrites.com/2026/01/08/when-care-isnt-there/
about 2 months ago
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