Take the Little Lobbyists Voter Pledge! Becki & Izabella Ucello Did in Missouri!
Becki & Izzy Ucello pose on a sidewalk. Becki is wearing glasses—both have long blonde hair. Becki wears a t-shirt that says “embrace,” and Izzy wears a t-shirt that says, “Inclusion Everywhere.”
We want YOU to be a Little Lobbyists voter! Take our pledge to vote for candidates who will protect and expand the rights of children with complex medical needs and disabilities. We have to elect more candidates into office who share our belief in equity, accessibility, and inclusion to remove barriers and advance the policies our families need.
Voting is one of the most powerful ways to make your voice heard and make our country – from County seat to the U.S. Capitol – the more just and inclusive place ALL our children deserve, but we can’t do it without your vote.
Take the pledge to be a Little Lobbyists Voter.
As we lead up to the election next week, we will be sharing a few personal stories here about why folks are taking the Little Lobbyists Voter Pledge and who they are supporting with their vote.
My daughter Izabella is a beautiful, happy girl who just celebrated becoming a teenager. She is kind and compassionate. She loves to bake cupcakes, and she loves to create art. Izabella also connects with people about the importance of inclusion and accessibility. As a wheelchair user, it is important for her to find places where she can enjoy socializing with her friends, whether it is at school, at church, or anywhere else in our community.
Izzy Ucello and her dad. Izzy’s dad is holding a sign that reads, “St. Agnes Father & Daughter Dance 2022.” He wears a cream shirt under a blue & white checked suit jacket covered with red and orange flowers. Izzy wears a gold lame gown. Behind them are gold streamers and red & gold balloons.
Izabella was born with spina bifida and hydrocephalus, which means she had a hole in her spinal cord and swelling in her brain. Within just 24 hours of being born, she had her first two surgeries: one to close up her spinal cord, and another to place a shunt to correct the hydrocephalus. With continual access to excellent healthcare and a supportive community of friends and family, Izabella survived and continues to thrive!
Missouri voters have been focused on the current Senate race. I believe that Trudy Busch Valentine is the candidate who will put the interests of Missouri over political partisanship. She looks for common ground among Missourians. Most important to me, the mom of a medically complex child, is the fact that Trudy Busch Valentine is a mother and a nurse. She understands the importance of quality healthcare for our children. In the U.S. Senate, Trudy will protect health care coverage for Missourians, cut the cost of prescription drugs, and hold big insurance and pharmaceutical companies accountable for raising costs. She will also fight attempts to remove protections for insurance coverage for people with preexisting conditions. Trudy believes that good health care is more than just the care of our physical bodies; we need to invest in mental health services so Americans can flourish and lead productive, healthy lives.
I’ll also be voting for Kristen Radaker Scheafer, who is running for Missouri’s 7th Congressional District. In addition to gun safety measures, Kristen supports increasing access to mental healthcare. From personal experience, I can say that Kristen listens to her future constituents. She cares about what we have to say about healthcare and education. She is about representing ALL of us. “My purpose is to take the voice of the people of Missouri’s 7th district to Washington, not to bring a partisan voice from Washington back to Missouri,” she says.
On November 8, I will gladly vote for Trudy Valentine for U.S. Senate and for Kristen Scheafer for the U.S. House of Representatives.