Exactly one week after the Republican-controlled House of Representatives voted for a budget resolution that would lead to $880 billion cuts to Medicaid, slashing the life-saving program millions of Americans rely on, I was honored to accompany Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi to the Joint Session of Congress as her guest.
Hi y’all! I’m Shannon Dingle. My family lives near the heart of Raleigh, the capital city of North Carolina. I’ve spent my entire life in the southern U.S., including Florida and Texas. I’m a single widowed mom of six: Jocie, Patience, Philip, Rob, Joy, and
Medicaid is a life-saver for our disabled children and all disabled people. At Little Lobbyists, we’ve worked to ensure that all 50 states have a version of Medicaid’s “Katie Beckett” waiver. Even so, not all of our families can access care–waiting lists are long. Now Medicaid is
Congresswoman Jennifer Wexton of Virginia will retire from Congress at the end of the year due to her own health concerns. For more on Wexton’s life and legacy, read Sara Luterman’s article in The 19th. In the world of advocacy and public service, there are rare individuals who
From the very beginning, when a small group of families of children with complex medical needs and disabilities made a stir by visiting Senate offices in 2017 to protect the Affordable Care Act, Little Lobbyists understood the importance of representation. We knew legislators needed to see our kids with complex
There was a time while I was caring for Adonise as an infant in the NICU when people tried to apologize for things they did not understand about my son. The unknown and the undescribed. He spent 361 days in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), where he received a
Hi! I’m Jenny McLelland and I’m the Director of Policy for Home and Community-Based Services for Little Lobbyists. My family lives in Clovis, a small city in the agricultural Central Valley of California. My husband is a physical education teacher, and I’m a retired police officer. We
On August 26, 2024, the Care Can’t Wait bus tour kicked off its first event in Chicago, Illinois. "Care on Tour" would wend its way through nine cities in seven states. It was part of an ongoing national campaign by the Care Coalition that highlights the importance
A few weeks ago, I sat in a room in the White House, surrounded by disabled advocates, and listened to a man named Mychal Threets speak about library joy. He was a panelist at the event, the White House Disability Pride Convening I’d seen Mychal on TikTok before as
My son Adonise is a second-generation Haitian-American who has a teacher and a technology professional for parents. Adonise is curious, rambunctious, funny, and intelligent. He’s a budding drummer, and he loves the playground and to wave the Haitian flag every morning. We call him Donnie, but I call him
This spring, PBS aired Understanding Autism, a documentary by filmmaker Scott Steindorff, who was diagnosed with autism as an adult. Steindorff wants to reframe the conversation about autism by focusing on the incredible talents and personalities of autistic people. The film is a rewarding and refreshing look at neurodiversity. Little
In July, the Care Can’t Wait Coalition sponsored several events on community integration in Washington, DC, including a panel at the White House, a Congressional briefing, and a Summit at the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Library. Community integration is at the heart of disability rights, and is supported
medicaid
Did you know that the Civil Rights Act of 1964 does not ensure civil rights for people with disabilities? The Act “outlaws discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex and national origin.” The Civil Rights Act does not outlaw discrimination based on disability. So how then are people with disabilities
elections
On Sunday, July 21, President Joe Biden announced that he would not seek re-election, and endorsed his Vice President, Kamala Harris, to be the Democratic nominee. Little Lobbyists would like to express gratitude for all that the Biden Administration has done for our families–expanding Medicaid access, supporting the Affordable
101-series
Today, June 22, 2024, marks the 25th anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court’s landmark case, Olmstead vs. L.C., which affirms the right of disabled people to use their state Medicaid benefits to live in their communities, rather than in institutions. The suit was brought by Lois Curtis
101-series
The U.S. Supreme Court’s Olmstead Decision, a landmark civil rights case for people with disabilities, marks its 25th anniversary this year! In 1999, the Court upheld the right to community integration in the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990. Our disabled loved ones have the right to
federal-issues
“By removing barriers to health care and social services, this rule advances justice for people with disabilities who have for too long been subject to discrimination. No diagnosis should be missed because of an inaccessible mammogram, no patient should be left with questions about test results due to inaccessible websites,
family-advocacy
“The work you do matters. You are there for families when they need you most — providing comfort, strength, and compassion that inspire us all. Your devotion to the people and communities you serve represents the best of America’s character, and we will always stand with you, ensuring you are
federal-issues
The U.S. Department of Transportation has proposed new regulations that, if adopted, will grant a number of new rights for to disabled passengers on airlines, particularly those who use wheelchairs. These changes are long overdue. Your voice is important! The public comment period ends on April 27. Our disabled
caregivers
Kelley Coleman is the mom to two amazing boys, one of whom has multiple disabilities (including an as-yet-undiagnosed genetic syndrome, cerebral palsy, autism, CVI, epilepsy, and more). Her book Everything No One Tells You About Parenting a Disabled Child: Your Guide to the Essential Systems, Services, and Supports stems from
our-voice-is-our-power
Ady Barkan, health care activist and co-founder of Be A Hero, passed away from complications of ALS on 11/1/23. This tribute is adapted from remarks delivered at CareFest in Los Angeles on 11/2/23. Like so many who loved him, when I think of Ady, I think
101-series
This week marks the 50th anniversary of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, which opened doors to jobs, education, independent living, and much more for people with disabilities. The Act also established standards for accessible communication and information technology. The Rehab Act (as it’s often called) is the foundation for
family-stories
This time of year brings back lots of memories of family vacations. Cerebral palsy means that accessibility is a priority on vacation. Our family enjoyed trips to Cape Cod, Maine, and New Jersey when I was growing up. Planning an accessible vacation can be challenging, but it is possible. Finding
When President Biden addressed the nation regarding the legislation passed to avert the debt ceiling crisis he asked, “What do we value?” He called for unity and bipartisanship, and said that we must treat each other with dignity and respect. Dignity means seeing the value in every person. Respect mandates