When discussing inclusion, we often focus on services, timelines, and transitions, but it’s a community that sustains families. On May 6, 2025, I represented Inclusive Sol at the Early Start to Early Childhood Transition Resource Fair hosted by Frank D. Lanterman Regional Center. The event paired with celebration, with playful glasses, warm hugs, and meaningful conversations. It served as a reminder that while we can keep the tone light, the work lives within a larger, shifting system.

A day after the event, conversations resumed in Washington around the federal Medicaid budget, including proposals to cut funding. While decisions were postponed until the week of May 12, the implications were clear: what happens in policy directly impacts the supports, providers, and families represented at this fair.

That’s why these local gatherings matter. They make policy personal. They remind us that behind every funding line item is a child, a caregiver, and a community striving to thrive.

As we continue advocating for systems change through Inclusive Sol, let’s keep working toward a world where budgets reflect the value of every life and every voice. These moments remind me that policy isn’t abstract—it’s personal. And when the community shows up, change feels possible.