Momvocate4Lyfe

 2020 is the year century that will live in infamy.  Ok, it wasn't actually one hundred years, but it sure felt like we aged quite a bit.  I, for one, am thrilled that a vaccine is here and being rolled out.  And fortunately my state has prioritized (after a bit of prodding) people who care for children who have developmental disorders for vaccine deployment!  And as a Phase III trial participant myself, I am going to have the opportunity to receive the vaccine before others in my age group.  All of this is very exciting news! In the meantime, however, approximately one in seven children in the United States live with some form of developmental disability and living a year in some form of lockdown has resulted in regression for many.  What can we, as parents and advocates, do to support our kids? The Cleveland Clinic has provided some tips for dealing with COVID-19.  I'll run down a few of the highlights. 1.  To the extent possible, try to ...

 Being a momvocate does not mean you have to be crusading against a devastating diagnosis or an obstinate insurance company.  Momvocates (and dadvocates) are parents of all stripes who advocate for the rights of parents and children.  This includes the mundane things that many of us take for granted.  For example, any lactating mamas know how difficult it can be to find a private spot to nurse, much less pump.  I have heard the horror stories of people going and pumping  in their cars  because the only facilities available were public restrooms. For those who don't know, the Maricopa County court system actually has lactation rooms in all its courthouses.  A list of those locations can be found on the court's website .  More and more private companies are also creating these spaces to ensure that lactating mothers have the privacy required to ensure their child's nutritional needs are met.   To ensure that those who need them know t...

There are a few tips and tricks that I have used in my Momvocate journey to ensure that my daughter gets the best care possible, as quickly as possible.  These strategies are really Advocacy 101, but will give anyone who is new  to navigating through complex insurance and health care systems a good foundation to build off of.  Full disclosure:  I have used all the strategies that I recommend here, and have been successful in getting better care, on a shorter timetable, than most other people. Start with the fact that you need to understand your child's healthcare needs, and the medical professionals treating your child have an obligation to provide information in a way that you can understand.  This includes everything from the diagnosis, prognosis, chosen and alternative treatments, and why different tests are being performed.  You are not being a burden when you are asking for this information, you are being an informed healthcare consumer.  Addition...