Texas Strikes a Low Blow Against Children With Disabilities

Mahatma Gandhi said: "A nation's greatness is measured by how it treats its weakest members." Well, Texas isn't a nation, but just proved it doesn't deserve to be treated like one.

State lawmakers are cutting as much as $350 Million in funding for kids with disabilities according to The Texas Tribune. It's something they tried to do before, but were held up by a lawsuit from in-home therapy providers. Now it looks like these cuts will start in the middle of July:

The Texas Health and Human Services Commission intends to begin cutting payments to speech, physical and occupational therapy providers on July 15, targeting providers who see children covered by Medicaid, the federal-state insurer for the poor and disabled.

This is disgusting and it makes me ill. Is this what Texas is supposed to be? Is this what Texans want to be? Not only are these cuts heartless, they will push additional strain on the school systems. It's simple: If a kid isn't getting help at home, he's going to require more help in school.

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These cuts represent a 20 to 26 percent cut in payments to therapy providers, many saying they can't continue to do business at that rate. Some groups are still working to delay the cuts.

Let me ask you something. If helping kids with disabilities isn't on your priority list of good things to do with taxes, then what is? These lawmakers need to realize that at least for some of these kids receiving proper therapy could get them to a point where they may not need as much care later. This is saving a dime now to look good, then costing someone else a dollar later.

Texas is continuing a downward spiral. It's time we decide who we want to be. We need to start looking into some new representation right now. I just can't believe my fellow Texans wouldn't make kids with disabilities a priority.

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