On October 13th, 2026, Melissa Tumblin, Founder and Executive Director of the Ear Community Organization, had the opportunity to be a panelist at the Rare Disease Fair at Children’s Hospital Colorado on the Anschutz Medical Campus. It wan an honor to have been invited along the side of such professional panelists and speakers that included pediatricians, internists, genetic counselors, PAs, social workers, nurses, policy advisors, state Representatives and powerful parent advocates!
Thank you to Carolina Sommer and Bridget Dandaraw-Seritt, both co-founders of the NW Rare Disease Coalition, for inviting Ear Community to have a voice at this year’s Colorado Rare Disease Fair! Both, Carolina and Bridget are incredible advocates! Carolina has fought as a parent advocate, creating change and making a difference for so many. Bridget has fought for others who are just like her, through lived experience and fighting for Medicaid. Thank you both, for giving our organization the opportunity to speak about our community’s rare cause for microtia and aural atresia and to also share about Federal Policy and Allys Act, H.R. 4606 & S. 3400! Being on the Federal Policy panel, Ear Community had the opportunity to meet Chelsea Bree Ann Hardesty (an advocate right here in CO making a difference), Max Brown (Vice President of Public Affairs in Washington state) and Kendly Jones (Federal policy expert with Rare Advocates in DC)! It was wonderful hearing so many stories and of course meeting so many advocates – each fighting for what is needed and spreading awareness about their rare cause. ❤
