family-advocacy
Adulthood is a challenging time for most young adults and their families. For adults with disabilities and their parents, it’s extra challenging. As an adult with Cerebral Palsy, adulthood has been more challenging than I’d imagined. Luckily, my parents have been supportive. I am lucky to have a
101-series
(Editor's note: edited and republished on 5/13/2025) Rob Stone is an active member of Little Lobbyists. Rob’s goals upon leaving high school were to become a health care and disability rights advocate, and an artist with his own art website. Rob has a rare disease,
family-advocacy
Little Lobbyists honors the passing of an advocate who changed our children’s lives: Julie Beckett, the mother of Katie Beckett, for whom a crucial Medicaid waiver is named. Julie and Katie Beckett became advocates for people with disabilities because they wanted justice and a good life for Katie and
state-advocates
We find ourselves celebrating our third consecutive World Down Syndrome Day (WDSD) against the backdrop of a global pandemic; though, undeniably, something has recently shifted. While much of the world, and certainly much of the United States, has decided that it is time to turn the page, close the book,
pandemic
As the mother of a medically complex child, I was stunned by a recent Facebook post by a scientist friend who is cautiously advocating for dropping mask requirements in schools. He’s posted the recently released “Urgency to Normal” toolkit. My friend reminds us that he “was all-in at the
reflections
Disability Day of Mourning is an annual commemoration held on March 1st to remember the lives of people with disabilities murdered by their caregivers, particularly those killed by parents and other family members, and to demand justice for their deaths. Our executive director, Elena Hung, spoke at today’s vigil
state-advocates
Self-directed or consumer-directed services are an increasingly popular option among state Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) waivers. The Self-Directed Advocacy Network of Maryland, Inc., (SDAN) calls self-direction, “Living the life you want.” Jeneva interviewed Alicia Wopat, President of SDAN, to learn more about the group’s advocacy. Tell me about
101-series
What happens to disabled young adults after high school? Many families don’t know what to expect when school ends. The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) makes education an entitlement for students with disabilities, ensuring them a place in their communities. However, families quickly learn as high school draws
journey-with-jeneva
Share the Journey with Jeneva: Sherry Pickett Gets to the “Heart” of Advocacy Sherry Pickett has a Master’s Degree in Education, specializing in mental health. She’s worked in the mental health field for the last 18 years, providing Case Management Services and Therapy/Parenting Classes. Now her career
hcbs
(Editor's note: edited and republished on 5/13/2025) In 1981, President Ronald Reagan learned about a 3-year-old girl with complex medical needs and disabilities named Katie, who was forced to live in an institution because federal rules governing Medicaid prevented her from getting the care she needed
pandemic
September 24th felt like an eternity away. September 24th was my daughter Myka’s 12th birthday. We began counting down to her big day the minute the CDC, last May, approved Covid-19 vaccines for kids 12 and up. Myka, the youngest of my three kids, is the only unvaccinated person
reflections
I’ve been thinking about trauma lately. Our children and our families have been through so much over the last year and a half--not only the pandemic itself, but the insurrection at the U.S. Capitol; the natural disasters caused by climate change; the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan; the