Every person deserves the chance to live, learn, and be part of their community. For many people with disabilities, Medicaid home and community-based services (HCBS) make that possible. These services help people stay healthy and connected to their communities, with the support they need. Without HCBS, many families would face fear, isolation, and impossible choices.

Melanie from West Virginia knows this better than most. Her daughter, Kaycee, is 22 years old and full of hope for her future. But getting to this point was not easy. Melanie remembers the years before HCBS, when every day felt like a crisis. As she explains, “Before Kaycee had access to Medicaid and the IDD Waiver, our family was in constant crisis. She needed step-by-step support for daily life… We were doing everything we could, but it was not enough.”

Everything changed when Kaycee finally got the support she needed. With HCBS, she gained access to therapies, medical care, and community services that helped her grow. She found her voice. She learned new skills. She began to take part in her community in ways that once felt impossible.

But Melanie knows how fragile that progress is. “If home and community-based services are cut, my daughter will not just lose support, she will lose her ability to safely live the life she has worked so hard to build.”

Kaycee still needs daily help to stay safe, communicate, and manage her medical needs. Without HCBS, she could lose the independence she fought so hard for. She could face medical emergencies, isolation, or even institutionalization.

In Ohio, Keith also depends on HCBS to live the life he chooses. He is proud of the ways he gives back to his community. He is an Eagle Scout, a volunteer football coach, a church sound tech, and a member of his local fire department’s auxiliary team. He also has complex medical needs that require daily support.

Keith shares, “I depend on HCBS services to manage my complex needs that are not always visible to others. I was born with complex heart and pulmonary complications. These services have allowed me to remain active in my community and church.”

He worries deeply about what cuts would mean for his future. “I am deeply concerned that any end to these programs would jeopardize my ability to contribute to society and live independently,” he says. “I urge you to protect these essential services for myself and others with disabilities.”

These stories show what HCBS makes possible. But right now, these services are at risk. Congress has already made major cuts to Medicaid, and more cuts may come. That means longer waiting lists, fewer supports, and more families in crisis.

People with disabilities and their families deserve better.

Now is the time to act. Contact your members of Congress and tell them to protect Medicaid home and community-based services. Lives, futures, and communities depend on it.