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
Little Lobbyists stand in solidarity with our brothers and sisters in the Black Lives Matter movement for racial justice, and fully support the right of all Americans to live safely in our communities and to take action against any institution that causes us harm. Since we began, Little Lobbyists have
advocacy
Jeneva is delighted to interview Ken Capone, Director of People On the Go of Maryland, a statewide self-advocacy organization for people with disabilities. The Maryland State Assembly often turns to Ken to elucidate disability issues in its legislative deliberations. Tell me about yourself. I was the second youngest of six
preemie
Samantha McGovern lives in Springfield, Virginia, with her daughter Josephine and her husband. Samatha is a member of Little Lobbyists. Tell me about your family’s medical needs. We’re a pretty unique family of three: each of us has medical needs. Two years ago, Josephine’s dad was treated
pandemic
All of us with medically complex children have good reason to fear the spread of the new coronavirus, COVID-19. Experts are right: Handwashing is the first line of defense against all viruses and bacteria. However, there’s “handwashing”, and then there’s real handwashing. Little Lobbyists “medical moms” like Lori
mitochondrial-disease
Liz Randolph attends Monroe Community College where she is completing her associate’s degree in Health Studies. Her goal is to become a nurse practitioner. She is a member of the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society and the Co-President of the Holocaust, Genocide, and Human Rights Project at Monroe Community