I graduated this month with my master’s degree in Education Policy and Leadership. I have published peer-reviewed research, co-created a survey instrument with a digital object identifier, served as a graduate task force co-chair, and was admitted to fully funded Ph.D. programs.

On paper, I represent the American dream's image of promise and success — driven, capable, and eager to contribute to the future of education reform in this country. But none of those credentials — not the degree, not the publication, not the leadership — have freed me from the grip of a system that punishes disabled people for trying to live.

I rely on Medicaid to cover a personal care attendant who helps me complete basic activities of daily living. There is no private insurance plan that will cover this need. Without this support, I cannot get out of bed, eat, or use the restroom safely. And yet, if I earn more than the narrow income limits set by Supplemental Security Income — which is often tied to Medicaid eligibility — I risk losing that care altogether.

In a cruel twist of policy, the moment I actually try to participate in society, the very tools I need to participate in society are stripped away.

The........

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