Take the Little Lobbyists Voter Pledge! Sarah & Gabbie May-Seward Did in Michigan!

Gabbie (l) holds up two fingers in a peace sign. She has dark hair and wears a red jacket. Sarah (r) holds the camera for the selfie and wears over-sized sunglasses. They are on a sidewalk in a shopping area.

We want YOU to be a Little Lobbyists voter! Take our pledge to vote for candidates who will protect and expand the rights of children with complex medical needs and disabilities. We have to elect more candidates into office who share our belief in equity, accessibility, and inclusion to remove barriers and advance the policies our families need.

Voting is one of the most powerful ways to make your voice heard and make our country – from County seat to the U.S. Capitol – the more just and inclusive place ALL our children deserve, but we can’t do it without your vote. 

Take the pledge to be a Little Lobbyists Voter.

As we lead up to the election next week, we will be sharing a few personal stories here about why folks are taking the Little Lobbyists Voter Pledge and who they are supporting with their vote. 

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Sarah May-Seward, a Little Lobbyists mom in Michigan, has taken her Voter Pledge to the next level. Instead of voting for other candidates, Sarah is running for the Michigan House of Representatives in District 51, so she is voting for herself! According to her the choice to run was an easy one:

"It's a natural thing to do. Moms see needs or problems, figure out why they exist, then work to fix them. Moms of kids with complex medical needs and disabilities know how to get creative to address issues and keep our kids safe."

Sarah is Gabbie’s mom. Gabbie is an amazing 18-year-old who has participated in school walkouts, the Women's March, and March For Our Lives. She has also become very vocal about the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Gabbie has multiple medical diagnoses, including cerebral palsy and a birth anomaly that affects her brain. These are the result of a traumatic emergency that occurred during an ER visit when she was only 4.5 months old.

Gabbie depends on Medicaid to fund the services and supports that allow her to live an independent life in her community. And community is what it’s all about as far as Sarah and Gabbie are concerned. As Sarah said:

"I’m running because this is the community that raised me. When I was a kid without enough to eat, when our home burned down, when my adoptive parents weren’t safe for me, this community stepped up. It’s my turn to step up for them. I’m running because as a bartender and as a mom to a kid with disabilities, I don’t shy away from service, and hard work, and I certainly don’t turn my back when it comes to fighting to protect the people I serve."

As a member of the Michigan House of Representatives, Sarah will help ensure that all Michiganders have access to the health care, education, and community inclusion they need to not just survive – but THRIVE.