Cross Posted in Blue Commonwealth
Over the last few weeks, I have learned of many challenges in life I never imagined existed. This is unexpected learning resulting from making phone calls to Virginia voters, reminding them that there is a Democratic Primary Election on June 9th. Of course once I actually get to speak with a person, (which varies from 20% to 40% depending on the time of day, demographics of people I am calling, and just plain darn luck)I encourage them to vote for Terry McAuliffe, and if they are not already strong supporters, I explain why I support McAuliffe and why he is the best qualified candidate to be the next Governor of Virginia.
A few weeks ago, a voter complained to me about the insurance coverage available to families with Autistic children. She is fortunately affluent, but she is also very active in the community of autistic children and she sees the pain families go through because Medical Insurance Companies typically do not provide adequate, or any, support to the families of these children. When I spoke with her, she asked what McAuliffe's stand was on this situation and I was able to point her to the third chapter of McAuliffe's Business Plan:
http://www.terrymcauliffe.com/...
She could download the plan document at:
http://www.terrymcauliffe.com/...
The plan specifically addresses her concern, as quoted below:
• Propose legislation to require health plans to provide services for Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). Currently about one-third of Virginia’s insurers cover services needed by individuals with ASD and their families. We can do better by making sure all insurance companies provide the needed services.
The woman was impressed that the McAuliffe approach to helping solve Virginia problems were so thorough at such an early stage, even before he is the Governor of Virginia, or even an actual nominee as there is a primary election on June 9th, after which he could be the Democratic nominee for the next Governor of Virginia.
On Thursday April 23rd, I was making phone calls from the new McAuliffe call center office in Fairfax and spoke with a 54 years old woman in Annandale, VA. She spoke with me for over half an hour, and almost brought me to tears - not just because of her problems, but because we the fortunate ones who have so much to be grateful for, take so much for granted, and we still sink to low depths of egoistic and selfish behavior. Shame on us!
The woman told me about her son, who is 21 years old and physically a normal 21 years old young man. Sadly, his mind is still at the 18 months level, and he needs support every moment of his life. Towards the end of the call, I could hear him asking her for something and she could not make out what he wanted, she wondered aloud whether he wanted juice. The woman has a younger child, a brilliant girl headed to Virginia Tech. this fall. The woman is a single mom at this time.
She told me of the challenges in her life, and the lives of others like her. First, many marriages break with the pressure of taking care of a child thus challenged. Secondly, financially the family is crippled. Third, the parent/s have no respite and between work and care for the invalid, they are totally drained. So long as the child is going to school, the school system provides some support. But once the "child" is out of the school system, there is very little that society provides to help these families.
I believe Virginia is the 9th most affluent state in the United States- when it comes to social services including medicare, medicaid etc., we are about the 40th! Sure we have problems in our economy, and we all need to tighten our belts and make lives better for every one. BUT, we all owe it to these families to share the burden of such situations, we owe it to our friends and neighbors to bear the load and responsibility in every way we can - either by making a donation to the cause, or by volunteering time to the family.
This woman's luxury in life is two days a month, when she pays a baby sitter to take care of her son, and she can take a break to address her other responsibilities and perhaps unwind from the pressures she is under every day.
We need to have group homes, where such young adults, and older adults are taken care of in a caring environment, so they receive professional care, and they have trained professionals helping them grow to their full potential. And, the parent/s will then be able to lead a normal life, visit the invalid child as often as required, and help with the healing process, to the extent possible. They could be required to pay a part of the costs, depending on their ability to pay.
Institutional care appears to be less than ideal to many, but I have experienced amateur care of a dying parent (father in law who refused to be hospitalized, demanding that he die at home)and have seen some home care of children who really need professional assistance. Not only does this totally debilitate the care giver/s, but it also denies the "patient" best of class care.
It is a crying shame in our society that a criminal will get a life time of privileged care at tax payers cost, but an innocent child or adult physically, mentally (or both physically and mentally) challenged is allowed to languish in the care of the helpless parents who are torn between their lack of experience and knowledge, and the guilt of not having the resources to afford appropriate care for their child.
On Friday April 24th I met McAuliffe and shared my learning with him. I informed him that this was one of the sad truths that I learned while making phone calls to support his candidacy, and he was visibly touched at the sad situation and agreed that we need to do something about it. I know the challenges in our State are many, and the priorities are hard to establish. But I have every confidence that McAuliffe will help improve this situation, once he is the Governor of Virginia. I could see him sharing the pain of this Annandale woman as I described her situation to him, and I am sure he will use his official and personal resources to help improve the situation.
We need a Governor in Virginia who will be accessible to the people, and will help wipe at least one tear every day, from one of the eyes in Virginia.