Signed, Sealed, Delivered.
I sued the U.S. government and have entered a settlement. While justice was delayed it was not deferred. This is a bigger victory for disability justice community as a whole. As many of you might remember, last year while fighting to keep access to my health insurance, I was denied access to a federal building based on my noise-cancelling headphones. I wear these headphones to manage my Tourette’s symptoms, which can
be very severe. As a result of this incident, I was forced to go to the hospital with seizure-like convulsions. These types of attacks require weeks of recovery time for me, which you can learn more about in this piece I wrote for the CT Mirror.
It was a hard time for me, and the first time in a long time that I felt vulnerable and humiliated. I felt alone in my struggle, but like all setbacks, it showed me who was really there for Fam. Shout out to all the folks who helped me hold it down in this time of need! To name a few folks in particular, I would like to thank my loving partner Leanne Gale for all of her support and care, Cathy Flaherty, Marlene, my good friend Representative-Elect Sweet, Paul/ Greta Boudreau, Daniel Dunn, New Haven Legal Assistance Association, Lieutenant Governor Bysiewicz, Senator Winfield, and of course my lawyers for the second time Mike Wishnie and Alex Taubes (who I had previously worked with on a case challenging prison gerrymandering in Connecticut).
Over 27 million Americans went without health insurance as of March and many more go underinsured, in our state, that’s 179,000 plus people, families, and stories; Despite the amazing efforts of HUSKY 4 Immigrants (A coalition of nonprofits) fighting for undocumented folk who still don’t have access to health insurance. We need leaders now more than ever willing to fight for #MedcareForAll and not just crumbs or complain about what's possible because of the incoming administration. As Senator Sanders pointed out “The reason we have not joined virtually every other major country on Earth in guaranteeing healthcare to all people as a human right is the political power and financial power of the insurance industry and drug companies,”.
In this time when Trump has won a second term, we must hold politicians and policymakers accountable on the issues that matter most. We must keep police responsible to the highest standards for everyone to feel safe. That requires us to talk about the links of mass incarceration to health, mental health, and poverty.
