reflections
I love the sound of my daughter's voice. Like any mama who adores her kiddos, the sweet, small sound of their voices are music to my ears. My twin girls, Emma and Sara, will celebrate their 7th birthday later this month. They are happy, rambunctious, curious and remarkably
federal-issues
As far back as I can remember, I have always found ways to express myself that others can understand. It is why I escaped the discrimination others still endure. I have significant motoric, and speech, disabilities due to cerebral palsy. On the wall of my office hangs a piece of
journey-with-jeneva
Jeneva is thrilled to interview Alice Wong (she/her), a disabled activist, media maker, and consultant. Alice is the Founder and Director of the Disability Visibility Project® (DVP), an online community dedicated to creating, sharing and amplifying disability media and culture created in 2014. She is also the editor of
reflections
As the mother of a young man with complex medical needs and disabilities, health care means peace of mind: knowing that Rob’s medical and adaptive needs will be met. That Rob can take advantage of technology and medical advances, such as his augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) device. Rob’
pandemic
“Back to school” has been my favorite time of year since I was a kid looking forward to new friends, activities, things to learn, and (my favorite) school supplies. As a mom, I still look forward to the promise and potential a new school year brings (and I still love
pandemic
Our families are being confronted with the terrifying decision to send our kids back to school, risking their lives, or keep them home and miss critical instruction and therapy. The ramifications of these choices are mind-blowing. From learning to therapy to social integration, school is the cornerstone of community inclusion
health-care
It has been three years since I co-founded Little Lobbyists, a family-led group advocating for children with complex medical needs and disabilities. We formed because the health care that helped kids like my daughter Xiomara survive and thrive was under urgent threat. Along with an incalculable army of organizations and
101-series
In 1998, when my son Rob became disabled at the age of one, I knew nothing about disability services or advocacy or rights. I just knew that I wanted Rob to live at home with us, where any child belongs. Rob was a busy toddler who loved going to the
pandemic
It defies logic that any human being would refuse a simple action such as wearing a mask which, however inconvenient, could prevent the completely preventable: passing a potentially deadly virus to a loved one, a friend, or a child like our Gabriel. Gabriel will be five in November, having long
family-advocacy
I am the proud father of an amazing little boy, created and designed by God, individually and perfectly, who has a diagnosis on the autism spectrum, and whose name is Israel. As a man of color raising a little boy of African ancestry who has a diagnosis on the autism
family-advocacy
Jeneva is excited to interview Jamie Davis Smith, a mother of four who lives in Washington, DC. She is an attorney, writer and disability rights advocate. Jamie is a member of Little Lobbyists, and her articles about her family's experiences with disability and advocacy are frequently featured in
reflections
We’re pleased to introduce a new series for the blog: “We’re In This Together” with our LL blog master, Jeneva (who’s also the author of our “Sharing the Journey with Jeneva” series). As parents, caregivers, and self-advocates who've struggled with unknowns, isolation, fear, stress, and