5/11/26 - Long Term Care, facility weirdness, and what's actually inspirational

Good afternoon!

So, we start a new week. And for me, Spring is truly here and Summer is finally in sight. A few weeks ago, I still had to worry a bit about snow and ice before going out. Now I can go out without even putting on a light jacket. These things make a real difference for disabled people!

This is also a good time to remind you all a little more strongly that this newsletter depends on financial support from readers. There are two ways you can contribute. One is to subscribe or upgrade to paid, at $5 per month or $50 for a full year. Or, you can make a one-time donation for any amount. The buttons for both options are below. A few more members or contributions this month would be really helpful.

Now, on to today's three disability-related links!

What To Do About Medicaid’s Long-Term Care Benefit?

Howard Gleckman, Forbes.com - May 5, 2026
Source: Alison Barkoff's Facebook page

"But in the end, policymakers will have to decide among four basic LTSS models: Medicaid; Medicare; public insurance; or leaving older adults, people with disabilities, and their families to fend for themselves."

Long Term Services and Support, (LTSS), is basically individual assistance services provided to people in their own homes and communities and not in care facilities. Apparently, these programs in the US need reform. I'm not 100% sure that's true, or as true as some in government think. But okay. Let's say it does need reform. Ideally, I would like to see LTSS included in a universal health care program. At one point in the 2016 campaign, there were efforts from the disability activist community to get Bernie Sanders to clearly and fully include LTSS in his "Medicare for All" proposal. I think he finally did, but it was harder than one might think to get his campaign to even focus on the idea. I still think it's the best way to go. But, since we don't live in a world where ideals like this are within reach, I think I would lean towards the "public insurance" program idea. Which direction do you think is best? Or, do you have another idea? Send your comments to: apulrang@icloud.com.

A Story About Disabled Dignity

Kelly Mack, Rolling with It - May 7, 2026

"As much as I geared up for the challenges of the surgery, I also had to brace myself for being confined for weeks to the rules, regulations, and habits of the rehab ward. It was going to be difficult to put my own life and preferences on pause, but I was willing to do it for the long-term goal of healing and recovery."

When I broke my arm last Fall, I also "geared up" for a stay in inpatient rehabilitation after hospital discharge. But that never happened. None of the rehab facilities in my area could accommodate me with my ventilator, which I use at night. This was something of a scandal and certainly a financial waste, since Medicaid and Medicare had to pay for a nearly month-long stay in the hospital, until I was fit enough to go home. On the other hand, this was nearly ideal for me. I know what I am doing in the hospital. For the most part, I'm actually comfortable adjusting to the hospital lifestyle, at least in my local hospital. But I have never been in a rehab facility. And I was very worried about how I would be treated in a place that also served as a nursing home. All of this is simply to say that Kelly's account of her rehab stay resonated with me. And it reinforces my rather vague but fairly strong instinct that long term care facilities of all sorts have real, chronic problems in how they deal with residents as disabled people and as patients, which is not the same thing.

Fine. I'll Say It. I'm Inspiring.

Steve Way, Steve Way's Substack - May 5, 2026

"So when someone tells me I’m inspiring, I don’t bristle anymore. I just want to make sure they’re inspired by the right thing."

This is pretty much exactly what I think about disabled people being "inspirational." Call disabled people "inspirational" if the spirit moves you. But be specific.

Disability Thinking Weekday is a Monday-Friday newsletter with links and commentary on disability-related articles and other content. You can help promote Disability Thinking Weekday by forwarding it by email or posting on your social media. You can also comment by sending me an email at: apulrang@icloud.com. Collected comments are shared on the first of each month. A free subscription sends a newsletter to your email each weekday. Benefits of paid subscription include:

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