Katie Beckett was an unsung hero to the disability rights movement. It was through her personal circumstnace and her family’s tenacious advocacy, Katie was instrumental in creating a Medicaid waiver program for children with severe disabilities that allowed them to live at home instead of institutions such as hospitals and nursing homes.
For a link how the Katie Beckett waiver assisted one family, please see the New York Times article “Because of Katie, Children With Severe Disabilities Can Live at Home” by Marie Myung-Ok Lee, published on June 6th.
In Connecticut, the Katie Beckett waiver is adminstered by the Department of Social Services. For more information, please see the link below:
http://www.ct.gov/longtermcare/cwp/view.asp?a=1398&q=299542#Katie