Therapy for Children with Disabilities: A Necessity, Not a Luxury

When I first met Dylan Sugg at the Museum of Arts and Sciences, his eyes lit up as his new ABA therapist, Danielle Daniels, showed him a simple puzzle. That moment—just a kid, a therapist, a tiny challenge—summed up years of effort, paperwork, and, frankly, a lot of sleepless nights for his parents.

Georgia’s Medicaid program was designed to be a safety net for our most vulnerable citizens. That includes children like Dylan who rely on applied behavioral analysis, speech therapy, occupational therapy and a host of other services to navigate a world that isn’t built for them. As a parent of a child with a disability, I know the daily reality: appointments that feel endless, insurance forms that read like a foreign language, and the constant worry that tomorrow’s bill might be the one that breaks the chain.

Unfortunately, recent cuts to Medicaid reimbursement rates are turning that safety net into a frayed rope. Providers are forced to trim staff, limit hours, or, in the worst cases, close their doors altogether. When a therapist’s paycheck shrinks, the quality of care—those nuanced prompts and patient‑by‑patient adjustments—also shrinks. Families end up scrambling for private pay options, and many simply lose access to the services that keep their children moving forward.

We can’t afford to balance a state budget on the backs of children. The math is simple: lower rates today mean higher costs down the road—more hospitalizations, fewer educational gains, and a deeper reliance on emergency services. Instead, we should invest wisely now, ensuring that Medicaid reimburses providers at rates that reflect the true labor and expertise involved. That means revisiting fee schedules, eliminating arbitrary caps, and giving counties the flexibility to partner with community‑based agencies that already know the local needs.

At the end of the day, therapy isn’t a luxury; it’s a lifeline. When the system works, kids like Dylan can learn to speak, to socialize, to thrive. When it falters, we all pay—families, providers, and the state. Georgia has a chance to lead by protecting and strengthening Medicaid reimbursement for these essential services. Let’s choose the path that honors our children’s right to a full, dignified life.