Millions of disabled people and their families struggle every day to access the support they need. Once they have the right support, disabled people can often thrive. Unfortunately, that support is sometimes taken away.
That’s what George Mulcahy’s family is facing. George, 22, is autistic. He spent three years at St. Piers College, where his parents say he blossomed. He learned how to make his bed, do laundry, and load a dishwasher.
Now George’s family is fighting to protect the progress he’s made. They’re fighting to keep the independence he’s started to build. They’re fighting for the life that was finally starting to take shape.
Sadly, the funding for his placement has been withdrawn, and an alternative setting has been identified that cannot meet his needs. George attended St. Piers College during the week and returned home on weekends and holidays. His mother says the routine, structure, and specialized support were important parts of his success. The family has appealed the decision, but the process will take time. In the meantime, they are left waiting while worrying that progress could slip away.
Although George’s story is unfolding in England, the fears behind it feel familiar to families in the United States and beyond. The fears are echoed in Australia, where group homes for disabled people are now at risk of closing. Many residents have lived together for decades, supported by staff who understand their needs. With a temporary funding arrangement ending, providers warn that federal disability funding is not enough to keep the houses open. Parents fear their children could be uprooted from the only homes they have ever known and placed in settings that cannot meet their needs.
The same sense of uncertainty is felt in the United States as well, where the country is confronting a workforce crisis within disability services that continues to worsen. Providers across all fifty states report severe staffing shortages, program closures, and growing fears that services may disappear entirely in areas with no alternative providers.
The common thread is not simply access to services. It is the fear of losing progress. George’s parents are not just worried about where he will spend his days. They are worried about the skills he has developed, the independence he has gained, and the future they have worked so hard to help him build. Families everywhere understand that progress can take years to achieve. When support is threatened, they are not just worried about what they might lose today. They are worried about what losing them could mean for years to come.
Sources:
Harrison, Phil. “Family’s Fears as SEND Son Loses College Place.” BBC News, 1 Oct. 2026, https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cmpwl4l4209wo.
Luechtefeld, Sean. “Decades Into America’s Disability Services Workforce Crisis, Providers See Little Progress as States Face New Medicaid Funding Pressures.” ANCOR, 30 Sept. 2026, https://www.ancor.org/article/decades-into-americas-disability-services-workforce-crisis-providers-see-little-progress-as-states-face-new-medicaid-funding-pressures/.
Longbottom, Jessica. “Future Uncertain for Hundreds of Vulnerable People amid Group Home Closure Fears.” ABC News, 7 Dec. 2025, https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-12-08/group-homes-face-closure/106108130.