Debra Curran
Parent Advocate
Santa Ana, CA
If someone had told me 5 or 6 years ago that I would become an active advocate, I would have laughed at them. Well, here it is today, and I unwittingly became a vocal advocate for disability rights when fighting to maintain my daughter's right to access to healthcare (through the ACA). I had no idea that so many people would favor dragging us back into an era where insurance companies could put lifetime caps and enforce pre-existing condition rules. My daughter is medically complex, and for her, getting access to affordable healthcare means life or death. It also keeps us from bankruptcy.
I started with random opportunities as they arose. I learned ways that I could make a difference. It eventually led to getting the attention of a Senator and a Congresswoman who are also fighting for affordable care.
As I became more outspoken, I was asked to give an advocacy presentation to a private health-related Facebook group. One of the members who saw the presentation suggested that I bring it here. So here I am, to show you that , you too can be an advocate.