It was the worst of times, it was the even worser of times. But seriously, can this timeline get any worse.
Everywhere you look, it seems someone is pulling the rug out from under the disability community. First it was an attack on DEI, then the shutdown of the Department of Education, and now a full-on shutdown of the government — which includes a shutdown of SNAP, the program that feeds 42 million people in this country.
Want more stats on that? Of those 42 million, 25% of all SNAP recipients are adults with disabilities, and 10% are non-elderly individuals with disabilities. That is a substantial number of disabled people who depend on this program.
While all of this is going on, we have an administration spending $300 million on a ballroom that no one asked for, demolishing the East Wing to do it, throwing Great Gatsby–themed parties for the president’s wealthy friends, and the richest man in the world just got a potential payday bigger than the GDP of most countries. Tone-deaf is too nice a word for what I think of all this.
What Can We Do About the Madness?
This government shutdown is affecting everyone, not just disabled people. Many depend on SNAP benefits, Medicaid, Medicare, SSI, SSDI, and other safety nets that keep us from falling into abject poverty. If you are disabled and struggle to find work, the idea that this could happen to you is very real and frightening.
I know this feeling all too well — the anxieties, the financial vulnerability, the feeling that there’s no one to turn to, nowhere to run, nowhere to hide. You start feeling like it’s your own fault. But you have to snap out of that thinking. Know that you are not alone in this.
Emotionally draining? Yes, it is. Take a deep breath and exhale. Now it’s time to put together a game plan.
Get all of your paperwork in order. Put all of your records from Social Security, SNAP, Medicaid or Medicare, and any other medical records that are important to you in a safe place. You might need to make some phone calls, so you want to have this info handy.
Keep track of any missed payments so that you know what you are owed if it’s delayed.
Flood the phone lines and voicemails of your representatives — tell them to get back to work. Your life depends on these social services, like SNAP. Let them know.
Say it loud: “I’m mad as hell, and I’m not going to take it anymore!”
If you are worried about having enough food to eat, look up all your local pantries. Most people don’t even know where the nearest one is. If you can’t get there, find someone — a friend or family member — who can go for you and pick up some food items. Canned foods are best since they last longer.
This would be a good time to get connected with disability rights groups so you are in touch with a like-minded community. I’m guilty of trying to do everything on my own, only to find myself lacking the resources or not knowing where to turn when things hit the fan.
If you are dealing with a lot of anxiety because of this madness, reach out to organizations that offer emotional support. Whether it’s a mental health hotline or a peer-support group, there’s no need to struggle in silence.
This move toward the right that this country has taken has also made workplaces less supportive of their disabled workers. And that is a shame. Our workplaces are becoming less inclusive and even downright hostile toward disabled folks.
So what can we do about that? The ADA is STILL the law of the land. Know your rights. Get in touch with legal organizations and disability rights groups if you feel you are being harassed or discriminated against because of your disability.
Keep a written record of ALL incidents that you think are violations of ADA law. Just because there is a government shutdown or a different political party is in charge doesn’t mean that the ADA has disappeared. Know your rights.
While we don’t know when the chaos will end, we do know that it won’t suddenly turn around overnight.
So now would be a great time to start brushing up on your skills. Find online courses that you can learn from. Create side hustles in case you need to make some extra money on the side.
There are tons of things you can do online to make a little side money so that you are not wholly dependent on either the government or your current job.
Closing Thoughts
Tuesday gave us a glimmer of hope — that a sizable swath of the American public does not like the direction this country is going. Democrats swept all of the major races on Election Day. It was an off-year election, yet people came out in droves to vote Democrat.
More than two million people voted in the New York City mayoral race, an amount we haven’t seen since 1969. That was pre-Rich Alcantara. Before I was born!
Californians came out heavy, and there wasn’t even anyone on the ballot. Just Prop 50 — a response to Texas’ (and Trump’s) attempt to rig next year’s midterm elections in favor of the Republican Party by gerrymandering the state to grab five more seats in the House. So California Governor Gavin Newsom countered it by introducing Prop 50 to grab five seats for Democrats in California.
The disability community has been through a lot over the decades, and this particular era is one that we will not forget. Know that we will get through this. But it will only happen if we are vocal. Use your voice — whether it’s bombarding your representatives’ phone lines, getting out there to protest if you can, or connecting with others in the fight.
We can all be a part of this movement to stop this madness.
What is your take on our current situation? Comment, and I will reply.
Cool Ass Dude’s Bio
Hi, I’m Rich Alcantara, a 20-year veteran of the online and email marketing space, and proud Dominican American. Hopelessly addicted to personal development, mindset, growth, sports, side hustling, music, politics, and more. Writing my thoughts on the world as I see it from “almost” 4 feet high. Leave me your questions and comments. I’ll reply back!
Link: https://www.linkedin.com/in/richalcantara/
Sources:
Center for Economic Policy and Research:
https://cepr.net/publications/snap-cuts-disproportionately-hurt-people-with-disabilities/
“Adults with disabilities make up about 25 percent of SNAP recipients.”
USDA – U.S.Department Of Agriculture
https://www.fns.usda.gov/research/snap/characteristics-fy23
“About 39% of SNAP participants were children, 20% were elderly, and 10% were non-elderly individuals with a disability.”
https://www.ers.usda.gov/data-products/chart-gallery/chart-detail?chartId=55416
“In fiscal year 2024, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) served an average of 41.7 million people per month, or 12.3 percent of U.S. residents.”
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