Shelby Benzing is a 21-year-old UNR student who lives with cerebral palsy – a neurological condition that disrupts control of muscle movement and coordination.

Benzing uses a power wheelchair and is able to live independently with support from a host of safety net programs. She hopes to leverage the degree she’s earning in human development and family science to be an advocate for the estimated 269,000 children and adults in the Silver State who have some form of disability.

But Benzing is now worried about the pending federal health care cuts to Medicaid passed as part of the “One Big Beautiful Bill” and separate budget changes to disability services that federal lawmakers are considering.

“(Medicaid) helps cover my wheelchair, covers doctor’s appointments, medications, medical

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