We couldn’t do what we do without the amazing support of our medically fragile community! To continue supporting families in need of a voice, advocate, community, and care, The Unforgotten Families wants to highlight 10 Instagram pages that you need to follow as we close out 2022.
- Rose Will-Dowling, @rosewilldowling
Rose is a medical momma who advocates for her twin boys who both live with a rare congenital airway disorder.
- Amber Essner, @medicalmamabear
As she says in her bio, Amber is on a mission to spread awareness and joy! We love that about her! Amber has a very active account, sharing her day-to-day life with thousands of followers, advocating for her son. She has an Etsy shop and inclusive books for purchase on Amazon! Check all of this out and more through the link on her Instagram page.
- Amanda Griffith Atkins, @amanda.griffith.atkins
As a mother of three and licensed therapist, Amanda is also a blogger who advocates for children with disabilities. Amanda has over 16,000 followers and is based in Chicago. Her page is full of encouraging words for parents and is a place where individuals can pause to share a moment of their day.
- Mommies of Miracles, @mommiesofmiracles
Mommies of Miracles is a community page and safe space for mothers of children with special needs.
- Keep Going First Aid, @keepgoingfirstaid
A first aid kit made for families! This Instagram page is a must-follow for families near and far. Read reviews about their products, see what their fans have to say, and so much more on their page!
- Violet Smith, @msvioletsmith
Violet is a living kidney donor for her son, Oliver, who has Eagle-Barrett Syndrome, Cerebral Palsy and a kidney transplant. With over 3,000 followers on Instagram, Violet is an amazing inspiration for mommas out there who have medically complex children. Check out her page!
- Isabella Lombardo, @teamisabellalombardo
This Instagram page has over 68,000 followers and is a platform for advocacy, awareness, and community. Isabella is a young girl who fiercely lives life with Cerebral Palsy. She enjoys time with her brother, Joey, and dressing up in fun outfits (as seen on her Instagram page). Give her family a follow!
- Understanding the Diagnosis, @139_inspired_kids_books
This inspiring Instagram page promotes a line of inclusive books, inspired by superkids! Understanding the Diagnosis is run by an inspirational wife, mother of four, pediatric physical therapist and author! Check out this page and so much more, today!
- Shanéy Washington, @raisingpaytoncharlize
Shanéy is a mother to Payton, who lives with Holoprosencephaly. Shanéy is a proud advocate for the special needs community and very involved. On her Instagram page, she showcases what it looks like when her Payton has her speech and physical therapy appointments, what days at aquatic therapy look like and more!
- Association of People with Disabilities, @aapdofficial
This nonprofit organization has an Instagram page with over 5,000 followers! If you or someone you know is interested in learning how to become more involved in the advocacy community – this is a great place to start! You can also visit their website with helpful information at https://www.aapd.com/.
While all of the mentioned groups and individuals above have a prominent Instagram account, some might also have a Facebook page, group, or blog. We encourage you to learn more about what platforms they might be active on and to stay in the know!
To Rose, Amber, Amanda, Mommies of Miracles, Keep Going First Aid, Violet, Isabella, Understanding the Diagnosis, Shanéy, and the Association of People with Disabilities, thank YOU! To those who we may not have featured but continue to advocate, your support does not go unnoticed. Thank you all for being part of The Unforgotten Families community!