Little Lobbyists Is 5! Our Story Is All About Social Justice

Co-founder Elena Hung poses outside the U.S. Capitol [image description: A woman with black hair and a grey tweed coat holds three signs with the Little Lobbyists’ red, white & blue logo on them]

In 2017, Elena Hung and Michelle Morrison, parents of children with complex medical needs and disabilities (Xiomara and Timmy), were worried about the future of health care, given the frightening rumblings out of Washington DC. The two sat down at a kitchen table and put their heads together: How could they get their elected officials to understand how important programs and protections like the Affordable Care Act (ACA), Medicaid, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) are for families who rely on specialized health care, inclusive education, and accessible public spaces?

A simple plan was formed: collect photos and stories of kids with complex medical needs and disabilities from around the country and take them directly to their legislators. Deliver them in person with their own kids (and their ventilators, oxygen, wheelchairs, walkers, leg braces, feeding tubes, and more in tow) so lawmakers could see first-hand who needs the protection of the very laws and programs under threat. 

Elena and Michelle gathered over 150 stories from other families across the nation to hand out to legislators. Their first visit to Capitol Hill was in June 2017. Five families from the DC metro area gathered for that first Hill visit. The group led by example: Here are our children, and they belong in their communities, they need quality health care and education, and they deserve to be heard by their legislators. 

Co-founders Michelle Morrison & Elena Hung pose with their families outside the Hart Senate Office Building [image description: Four adults and three children pose on the sidewalk in front of an office building sign. The building is made of white marble with large windows.]

The press quickly dubbed the family group, “the little lobbyists,” and the name stuck. Since 2017, Little Lobbyists has become a presence on Capitol Hill, providing an essential perspective on the ACA, Medicaid, Home and Community-Based Services, and many other issues. We have survived and thrived.

Little Lobbyists is now nearly 10K strong on Facebook, and followed by over 16K individuals and organizations on Twitter. Our work is reaching and empowering thousands of families every day. Through our state chapter groups and other outreach, we are also empowering and encouraging advocates at the state and local levels. 

The democratic process works. Little Lobbyists’ success is a testament to it. Through peaceful protests and rallies, through scheduled and impromptu meetings with our federal and state legislators, through Congressional testimony and press conferences, Little Lobbyists has, against the odds, helped secure the Affordable Care Act and Medicaid for children with complex medical needs and disabilities throughout the United States. We have a voice. Democracy works when we use our voices constructively and peacefully to create change.

In these troubled days of 2022, we stand with our allies to protect the bodily autonomy, self-determination, and well-being of everyone, and, particularly, women, people of color, LGBTQ+ individuals, and people with complex medical needs and disabilities.

The June 2022 U.S. Supreme Court decision to overturn Roe v. Wade dramatically limits the Fourteenth Amendment’s civil right to make personal decisions without government interference and upends previous rulings on personal rights including marriage, intimacy, sterilization, medical care, housing, speech, and more. People with disabilities have historically been denied the right to make these fundamental decisions about their own lives, and many are still contested.

Our goal is for the United States to become a place where our government champions policies and laws that protect the civil rights and the future of our children. We are working together to map a path to better health care, education, and community inclusion for every person with complex medical needs and disabilities.

Join us! Our voice is your voice, and your voice is ours.

Some of the Little Lobbyists in 2017 [image description: A group of 8 children, some standing and some in medical strollers pose on a large plaza with the U.S. Capitol building in the distance.]

[Gallery description: Photos of Little Lobbyists families as they spoke at rallies & press conferences, met with congresspersons, and participated in state-level events. Photos were taken inside & outside the U.S. Capitol, inside & outside congressional office buildings, at the U.S. Supreme Court, at special events, and at other locations. Individual photo descriptions appear using the cursor hover feature.]

A young boy holds up a Little Lobbyist sign at a rally on Capitol Hill.

A Little Lobbyists family poses in front of the U.S. Capitol, accompanied by a dog and a drum set.

Two toddler girls pretend to talk on toy phones. A graphic reminds Little Lobbyist supporters to call their members of Congress to protect health care.

A U.S. Senator hugs a young girl wearing a Kamala Harris t-shirt.

The Speaker of the House stands at a podium while a Little Lobbyists founder looks on.

A group of Little Lobbyists families pose in front of the U.S. Capitol after meetings with representatives.

The Senate Minority Leader hands out candy during a Little Lobbyists’ trick or treat day on Capitol Hill.

Little Lobbyists families sit around a table in a congressional office while telling their health care stories to a congressman.

Little Lobbyists members pose with a U.S. Senator after a press conference, with U.S. flags in the background.

An LL mom and her son speak to a U.S. Senator.

A montage of photos of Little Lobbyists families meeting with U.S. representatives is positioned next to LL graphics about supporting health care.

Little Lobbyists families pose on a playground after meeting with their representative.

A Little Lobbyists mom poses with a U.S. Senator.

Little Lobbyists children engage with their congressional representative at a local playground.

A Little Lobbyists mom and her daughter pose with the Speaker of the House of Representatives.

A young boy poses with a U.S. Senator in a meeting room in the Senate.

Two young men who are wheelchair users pose in a hallway of the U.S. Capitol after representing Little Lobbyists at a Senate press conference.

A young boy poses on a tree-lined street near the U.S. Capitol, with the Capitol dome in the background.

A montage of photos of members of Congress reading to Little Lobbyists families during a story-time meeting.

A mom holding a young boy in her arms speaks to a well-known member of the U.S. House of Representatives on a brick-covered city street in Washington, D.C.

A mom and her daughter are positioned next to an LL graphic describing the need for Medicaid.

A young man wearing a Little Lobbyists t-shirt sits in his wheelchair, posing with his dog in front of the U.S. Supreme Court.

A mom wearing a “Health Care Voter” t-shirt poses in front of the U.S. Capitol while hugging her children.

Little Lobbyists families pose in the halls of a House office building with a representative.

A Little Lobbyists family poses with their congressional representative.

Children and parents are seated around a large wooden conference table in a congressional office.

Two young girls are seated at a conference table in front of a marble fireplace. One shakes hands with her Senator.

A group of Little Lobbyists families pose with a U.S. Senator after a meeting on health care.

A montage of photos of Little Lobbyists families speaking out about health care in Congress.

With the U.S. Capitol in the background, a group of speakers stands on a platform at a podium, delivering remarks on health care.

Several Little Lobbyists families pose outside the U.S. Hart Senate Office building, next to its sign.

A founder of Little Lobbyists delivers remarks from a podium in the Capitol building. Flags are in the background.

Little Lobbyists families pose during a press conference, sitting by decorative doors to the room.

A toddler girl in a disability stroller greets a U.S. Senator.

A young girl sits in her wheelchair and makes a phone call while her brother stands next to her. They are in a hall in a congressional office building.

A group of Little Lobbyists families pose in front of the U.S. Capitol building.

A group of Little Lobbyists families, wearing brightly colored LL t-shirts are photographed at a presidential candidate’s campaign rally.

A large group of Little Lobbyists poses with a member of. Congress in front of curtains.

Little Lobbyists pose in front of the office of a U.S. Senator.

Several women pose in front of decorative curtains after making remarks about health care.

Little Lobbyists pose in front of the U.S. Capitol.

Two members of Little Lobbyists speak at a podium in the U.S. Capitol at the launch of a disability rights bill.

Little Lobbyists pose with a new member of the House of Representatives.

A family shakes the hand of a senior member of the U.S. Senate.

A mom poses with her child (who uses a disability stroller) in front of an ambulance during a health care public service campaign.

Several young children are seated at a long legislative dais, flanked by flags.

Little Lobbyists speaking at a rally.

In a black and white photograph, several Little Lobbyists moms pose in front of the U.S. Capitol, during the early days of the efforts to save the Affordable Care Act.

Little Lobbyists hold an impromptu meeting with a member of Congress in a marble-lined hallway.

Members of Little Lobbyists pose for a photo in a beautifully decorated, red-accented room in the U.S. Capitol.

A founder of Little Lobbyists holds multiple LL signs with the LL logo in front of the U.S. Capitol on a beautiful autumn day.

A founder of Little Lobbyists poses with her daughter. Both wear navy blue t-shirts with the LL logo.

A group of Little Lobbyists families in Tennessee pose in a conference room. They wear brightly colored t-shirts with the LL logo.

A mom and her son pose for a photo after a U.S. Senate press conference. The podium and U.S. flags are in the background.

A mom and her daughter pose after a press conference in the U.S. Capitol.

A new member of Congress wearing a vivid turquoise suit bends forward to grasp the hand of a Little Lobbyists child who reaches out to shake her hand.

Little Lobbyists pose in front of the name plaque of a U.S. congressional office.

A young boy is photographed in the hallway of the Capitol.

Little Lobbyists families pose with their legislators after a meeting in California.

A founder of Little Lobbyists holds up a photo of a child who has recently died, while explaining that our families need health care.

A large group of Little Lobbyists pose in Halloween costumes in a hallway of the Hart Senate Office Building during Halloween on the Hill.

A Little Lobbyists mom holds her daughter while posing with the Speaker of the House.

Little Lobbyists share their story in the Senate offices.

A child wearing a Little Lobbyists t-shirt poses with her state legislative rep.

A child receives a handshake from a new member of Congress.

Little Lobbyists family poses with their U.S. representative in a hallway in Congress.

A young girl whose wheelchair has been turned into a beautiful jellyfish Halloween costume poses with her parents and a member of Congress.

A new member of Congress signs an autograph for a Little Lobbyists teenager.

Little Lobbyists at a press conference.

Two young boys smile while riding the Senate train underneath the U.S. Capitol.

A group of Little Lobbyists in Halloween costumes speak in a hallway of a congressional office building with a legislator.

A father and son dressed as superheroes accept a Halloween treat from a member of Congress.

A young woman representing Little Lobbyists speaks at a podium marked with a “Lower Drug Prices” sign outside in front of the U.S. Capitol.

Little Lobbyists visiting a Senate office.

A young boy wearing a superhero costume speaks with a member of Congress in a hallway in one of the congressional office buildings.

A mom holds a young girl who gives a legislator a high-five.

Little Lobbyists kids pile around a large conference table during a Halloween on the Hill day.

Little Lobbyists at a night time rally in front of the Capitol.

A young boy sits on a patterned carpet with state flags after a state legislative press conference.

Senator at the table with Little Lobbyists.

Congressman kneels to meet a Little Lobbyists child.

Little Lobbyists teen speakers before a rally.

Two young boys play near a podium with a legislative seal. American flags are in the background.

Little Lobbyists on a holiday visit in a Senate office.

Several members of Little Lobbyists, wearing colorful LL t-shirts, pose in front of the U.S. Supreme Court, lit from within in the early evening.

Large group of Little Lobbyists families with the family of a congressperson.

A Congressman listens to Little Lobbyists teens.

Little Lobbyists members speak at a press conference inside the Capitol.

A Senator high fives a Little Lobbyists teen after his speech.

Little Lobbyists on the steps of the Capitol at a rally with members of the Senate.

A young boy sitting in a wheelchair and his sibling stand in front of a congressional office door.

Little Lobbyists family poses with a U.S. Senator. An American flag stands to one side.

Member of Congress at a local playground with Little Lobbyists families.

Little Lobbyists families sit and stand along a carpeted hallway in a congressional office building.

A mom holds her young son while they smile for the camera with a new member of Congress.

A Little Lobbyists family poses with the Speaker of the House in a wood-paneled meeting room.

In a marble-lined hallway of a congressional office building, a dad and his kids pose with a U.S. Senator.

Standing before decorative doors in a congressional meeting room, a mom with a stunning tattoo on her arm holds her young daughter while posing with a U.S. Senator.

The then-U.S. Senate Minority Leader distributes Halloween candy to a group of children in his office.

A young girl who is a wheelchair user poses with a U.S. Senator who is also a wheelchair user.

Two children dressed in Halloween costumes wait for a U.S. congressman to sign his autograph.

A Little Lobbyists family poses with a U.S. Senator.

Two Little Lobbyists moms pose with a new member of Congress in a white-brick lined hallway.

Little Lobbyists families and members of the House and Senate standing together on the Capitol lawn on a beautiful, sunny, summer morning.