NIU College of Law Health Advocacy Blog

Sometimes there are just things that we cannot understand. I have found myself feeling that way more often than not. This may not be the most understandable position to take when dealing with the effects of poverty on individuals but it is hard for me to wrap my logic around why so many people are struggling with poverty. I know that there are so many reasons why poverty happens, from society to personal. I try to think of ways to solve the problem, that is when I realize that there is not just one problem. How can you solve a problem that has so many aspects? It is disheartening; maybe there is no solution. But I can at least be part of a solution; anyone can be if they choose. Awareness is the first step, but what I have come to realize is that awareness takes time. We are all aware that poverty exists, but what we need is a deeper awareness. A deeper awareness to me is a type of understanding that brings every aspect of the problem together to show you the big picture. After three m...

It turns out that when they call clinics “experiential learning,” they really mean it. Emily, Buri, and I are enjoying the unique opportunity to participate in setting up a medical-legal clinic. We are seeing things from the very beginning stages and learning about all of the thought and planning that goes into a clinic before you ever meet your first client. We drafted agreements, started a blog, communicated with healthcare professionals, researched social determinants of health, and delved into the world of poverty through research and in-depth discussion. Our experiences thus far have been both challenging and engaging; they have opened my eyes to a new world and new ways of thinking. I expected that, but I did not expect to learn so much about myself. This was supposed to be the safe semester. We are not even taking clients. I believe that I subconsciously hoped my work this semester would be just a half a step away from the classroom context I have become so comfortable with. Thi...

For one of our classes, our professor had us read an article about Dana Suskind.  Dr. Suskind is the co-founder of the pediatric cochlear implant program at the University of Chicago Children’s Hospital, bringing sound into the lives of children born deaf. I am particularly vulnerable to stories about children, in any form.  While the rest of the world runs around making grand gestures, children get hurt and very few of us do anything about it.  Those who are in the trenches are driven by love, not for any glamor or glory that may come with it.  I cannot think of anything that could be more rewarding than bringing a child’s potential into bloom.  And Dana Suskind does that with her implants. But Dr. Suskind does a whole lot more – she works in the world of holistic health care, where the connection between health and social determinants, the world that we explore in our clinic, is very real.  Dr. Suskind’s research led her to the “30 million-word gap” – something that I was unaware of ...