family-advocacy
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
capitol-hill
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
elections
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
family-advocacy
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
family-advocacy
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
family-advocacy
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
family-advocacy
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
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
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
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
family-advocacy
Tell Congress people with disabilities shouldn’t be forced to pay the U.S. debt! The current bipartisan deal sets spending caps on essential and already underfunded programs, including Medicaid and education for kids with disabilities, that impact millions of Americans – including our Little Lobbyists families. I just turned 23.