Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sibelius was one of several government officials who acknowledged the impact Katie Beckett had on the lives of more than half a million children with disabilities.
I had a couple more stories about individuals with disabilities in the workplace to share in relation to this week’s postings about role models; but we have to pause today and honor the life of one who has truly made life matter for so many who have followed.
Mary Katherine “Katie” Beckett passed away last Friday; the 34-year old Iowan is the namesake of the “Katie Beckett Waiver,” a change in the Medicaid laws enacted by President Ronald Reagan that allowed Katie’s parents, Mark and Julie, to provide care for their daughter at home. The change set a precedent that “has provided over a half million children with disabilities the chance to live at home with their families and participate in their communities instead of living in hospitals and institutions,” according to the statement from Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sibelius.
Katie was still a toddler battling the effects of viral encephalitis when all this took place. But she quickly grew into the role of advocate for individuals with disabilities. Part of her was like any adolescent that just wanted to go to school, have friends and fit in; but in her 2003 essay “What Ever Happened to Katie Beckett?” which can be found in PDF format on the National Library of Medicine website, she writes about coming into her own and understanding why she had to make the sacrifice:
It was not until I was twelve or thirteen that I realized the important work I was able to do because I was who I was and how much this work helped other kids. I realized that this was something I was born to do so I was willing to take on the extra attention given to me by other students and teachers when I returned home even if it was embarrassing at times. Being singled out even for doing something so rewarding is uncomfortable and can create tension with other students. It made it difficult sometimes to fit in and just be normal.
Both of Iowa’s senators, Tom Harkin (D) and Chuck Grassley (R) were given time on Tuesday to publicly acknowledge Katie Beckett’s contributions and honor her memory on the floor of the U.S. Senate; transcripts of both statements can be found on the Eastern Iowa Government website. But we can also see her legacy live on in the parents of children with disabilities, like Kymberly Deloatche, who advocate to have their sons and daughters included in the communities where they live; knowing that can help pave the way for better chances at education, training, and employment as they grow into adulthood. For that, we thank you, Katie Beckett.
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