Meet Aiden, Elijah and Axel from Madison

These brothers were fostered and later adopted by their parents, who were licensed foster parents through Children’s Wisconsin. Thankfully, the boys have been kept together, were able to achieve stability, and begin to recover and heal. Aiden and Elijah were both diagnosed with autism. When Aiden first entered foster care, he didn’t speak, and Elijah had very limited communication skills, often screaming to express himself. While the boys are physically healthy, they have significant emotional and behavioral health needs. Today, the boys are thriving, thanks to support from Medicaid. They especially benefit from services from the Children’s Long Term Support (CLTS) Program, which leverages Medicaid funding to support kids with disabilities. With autism and emotional dysregulation, typical childhood group activities can be challenging for Aiden and Elijah. Medicaid provides individualized swimming lessons, recreational activities and respite care – including a special class for Elijah, who is a fantastic artist. While the boys’ parents work and have primary health insurance, their family – and many others like them – would not be able to afford these critical services without help from Medicaid. Medicaid funding helps provide the boys with typical childhood activities and the tools they need to set them up for success in school and beyond.

Please keep Medicaid strong for kids like Aiden, Elijah and Axel!