FIRST BLOOD: Matthew and Grace at the blood collection center on his 16th birthday; As soon as the mandatory waiting period after being rejected as a donor is up, Matthew plans to be there, front and center, to donate.

Armed with the FDA's response, Matthew's supporters returned to his community collection center and asked for reconsideration. To their credit, the medical directors at the center met to discuss Matthew's request. They issued a policy memo indicating that people with disabilities can be assisted to get on the donation bed, if they bring their own supporters to help them. This communication is referred to as the "Matthew Memo." As soon as the mandatory waiting period after being rejected as a donor is up, Matthew plans to be there, front and center, to donate.

We applaud Matthew, his parents, and his supporters for their perseverance. And we encourage you to advocate for health equity for people with disabilities. As we celebrate National Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Disabilities Awareness Months each year, we recognize and salute the countless direct supporters who work to advocate for and enhance the lives of people with disabilities, every day. •

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Lorene Reagan, RN, MS, is Director of Public Relations at IntellectAbility. She has 35+ years of experience providing high-level clinical, administrative, and consultative support to state Medicaid programs. Ms. Reagan served as Bureau Chief for IDD services and as Senior Medicaid Health Policy Administrator with the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services, was the Manager of Care Management for a Boston-based Medicaid Managed Care Organization, and a Principal consultant with a national Medicaid consulting firm.