Easy Advocacy

By Michelle Putnam, Associate Director of Research and Advocacy

When was the last time you educated someone about bleeding disorders? Some of you may have educated a family member on what it means to have hemophilia. Some of you may have spoken to a school nurse about von Willebrand Disease. Or, maybe you've shared a post on Facebook with friends, explaining some of the myths surrounding bleeding disorders. As members of the bleeding disorder community, education and advocacy come along with everything else: it's something that you do so often, you almost forget you are doing it!

One of the most important places you can continue your advocacy is at the Georgia State Capitol. 
Talking to legislators about your bleeding disorder is easy – because you're the expert! You can share with them the health consequences of having a bleed, and how infusing regularly helps reduce these consequences. You can also share with them the financial impact of having hemophilia. Many legislators have no idea how much factor costs or that many people infuse at home. You can share with them the importance of having access to a hemophilia treatment center and a pharmacy that specializes in bleeding disorders.
 
Advocacy is about putting things in perspective, and we can all do our part by sharing our own stories and educating those around us. Contact me at 770-518-8272 or mputnam@hog.org to set up a time to tour the Capitol and meet your legislators. This year we will host families until March 20th when the 2014 legislative session ends.