Ep. 189 - From Crisis to Victory: The Fight to Save Disability Support Services with Brandi Coon and Amy Haley

2025-11-05

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What if a 13-year-old could bring lawmakers from both parties to the same table… and win? Parents, caregivers, and disability advocates flooded the Arizona Capitol this year to stop a funding crisis that threatened essential services for people with developmental disabilities. Two of the leaders in that fight — Brandi Coon, president of Raising Voices Coalition, and Amy Haley, advocate and mom to 13-year-old twins — share how an entire community organized, refused to be ignored, and forced change.

What if a 13-year-old could bring lawmakers from both parties to the same table… and win?

Parents, caregivers, and disability advocates flooded the Arizona Capitol this year to stop a funding crisis that threatened essential services for people with developmental disabilities. Two of the leaders in that fight — Brandi Coon, president of Raising Voices Coalition, and Amy Haley, advocate and mom to 13-year-old twins — share how an entire community organized, refused to be ignored, and forced change.

From budget battles and cross-party negotiations to policy wins that protect services families rely on every single day, Brandi and Amy break down how advocacy really works, and why storytelling, relentless persistence, and showing up (in whatever way you can) matter more than titles or money.

Whether you're a caregiver, a public policy nerd, or just someone who wants to believe change is still possible, this conversation is a blueprint for everyday people demanding dignity, stability, and respect — and getting it.

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