Because I have cerebral palsy, therapy, particularly physical therapy, has always been a part of my life. It started at home and at a local outpatient clinic, where my therapists helped me learn skills I’d need for years. They weren’t just showing me exercises; they were helping me see what I could actually do.
When I started school, therapy became part of my everyday routine. I was lucky to have the same therapists for most of those years, and that support really helped me grow. They knew me inside and out—what I was good at, what was hard for me, my habits, and how determined I was. They saw me grow up, and I really bonded with them.
After graduating from high school in 2018, things changed. For the first time, I wasn’t going to therapy. Those two years without it felt odd, as if something important were missing from my life. However, it also helped me understand just how much therapy had helped me, not just physically but emotionally and mentally as well.
Six years ago, I started seeing my current physical therapist. He’s kind, patient, and thorough—the kind of therapist who really listens, adapts, and encourages me without pushing too hard. During my sessions, we particularly enjoy talking about sports. My sessions are filled with hard work and humor as we also enjoy teasing each other.
He also helps me in ways that go beyond the clinic. For example, he wrote the letter of medical necessity for my most recent walker, and now he’s writing another one to help me with my insurance appeal for personal care assistant hours. I can text him whenever I have questions or concerns regarding my care. That kind of support is something I truly appreciate.
I am very grateful for the therapy I’ve received. However, my heart aches when I think about disabled people who cannot receive therapy because clinics are closing, insurance coverage is insufficient, or the waitlists are long. This isn’t just a problem in one town or one state, either. It’s happening across the country, impacting people of all ages.
You can see this pattern nationwide. In Washington, for example, hundreds of kids are losing therapy services because the children’s rehab clinic at St. Michael Medical Center in Silverdale has closed. This leaves families desperately searching for help in an area where waitlists are already long and few places accept Medicaid.
Georgia plans to cut how much Medicaid pays for services. Providers are saying they might have to offer fewer services, see fewer patients, or even close completely.
And in Indiana, Easterseals Crossroads is closing its therapy clinic in Indianapolis, which will impact around 300 children. Parents have shared how terrible this closure will be, especially since many other clinics nearby are already full or don’t accept their insurance. For a lot of these patients and families, this clinic wasn’t just another place to go—it was the only one they had.
These stories, coming from different states and different healthcare systems, all highlight the same big problem across the country: therapy clinics are struggling because of finances, low reimbursement rates, staff shortages, and higher operating costs.
Clinics cannot keep their doors open when the money they’re supposed to get is insufficient. No one should have to wait months or even years for a spot. And disabled people, no matter their age, can’t afford to lose all the progress they’ve worked so incredibly hard for.
I know firsthand how much therapy has helped me. I know it was instrumental in fostering my independence, and my confidence. Not only that, but I also know how important it is to have therapists who are there for you, who advocate for you, and who truly care. It’s heartbreaking to know that people are losing access to therapies—not because they couldn’t achieve things, but because the system is letting them down.
When I look back on my life now, I recognize the impact of all the therapists who have supported me. Each one helped me move better, get stronger, and believe in myself. Therapy isn’t always straightforward, and improvement is not always linear. But I wouldn’t be the person I am today or where I am without them.
So, this is my way to express my gratitude to all of them. Disabled people should have access to the care that helps them grow, recover, and live full lives. Nobody should have to struggle to access such vital care.
Sources:
Jackson, Jade. “Easterseals Crossroads Closing Outpatient Therapy Clinic for Children; Parents Speak Out.” The Indianapolis Star, USA Today Co., 23 Aug. 2025,
https://www.indystar.com/story/news/health/2025/08/23/indianapolis-easterseals-crossroads-closing-outpatient-therapy-clinic-for-children-parents-speak-out/85759525007/.
Nguyen, Lynnanne. “Hundreds of Children to Lose Care as Silverdale Pediatric Rehab Clinic Closes.” KOMO News, Sinclair Broadcast Group, 21 Apr. 2026,
https://komonews.com/news/local/hundreds-of-children-to-lose-care-as-silverdale-pediatric-rehab-clinic-closes-hospital-cites-financial-pressures-protests-waitlists-medicare-medicaid-full-statement.
Tagami, Ty. “Pending Cuts to Georgia Medicaid Payments Could Affect Children Who Need Therapy.” WABE, Atlanta Educational Telecommunications Collaborative, 28 Apr. 2026,
https://www.wabe.org/pending-cuts-to-georgia-medicaid-payments-could-affect-children-who-need-therapy/.