2026 Annual Meeting

 Being Seen

Sunday, October 18, 2026

1:00 PM – 3:00PM EST on Zoom

Guest Speakers:
Therese Russo, Advocacy Manager at #MEAction
and
Lynn Smith, U.S. Regional Director of  Hidden Disabilities Sunflower

How can we make our community’s needs for accommodation more visible? MassME’s 2026 Annual Meeting will explore two programs that empower people with ME/CFS, Long COVID, and other IACCIs to own, name, and obtain the accommodations we need. 

Join us to hear from two speakers who will share different ways that Being Seen can improve our lives. 

Therese Russo, Advocacy Manager at #MEAction, will discuss #MEAction’s Frail & Furious campaign, which is organizing people across states to advocate for Medicaid access for people with ME/CFS, Long COVID, and other infection-associated chronic conditions (IACCs). She will discuss the “medical frailty” exemption to new Medicaid community engagement requirements, including why it is an important lifeline for people with disabling chronic illnesses who may be subject to these requirements. She will share about #MEAction’s work to date with state Medicaid leaders and community members, and ways you can take part in the campaign.Therese is a disability and chronic illness rights advocate, public health analyst, and community organizer with more than a decade of experience in nonprofit and government administration, including Medicaid policy research. 

Lynn Smith, U.S. Regional Director of  Hidden Disabilities Sunflower, will explain how this  program helps people with non-visible disabilities discreetly signal that they may need additional support, patience, understanding, or time—without having to disclose their diagnosis. She’ll highlight the program’s global reach, including use in more than 90 countries and over 350 airports, and explain how participating organizations train employees to recognize the Sunflower and respond appropriately. Lynn Smith has been involved with the HD Sunflower program for the last three years, creating awareness, managing products and distribution, and helping companies implement throughout their organizations. Lynn is also the CMO for The Sourcing Group, the previous North American partner for the Hidden Disabilities program. She is dedicated to making the Sunflower a national symbol for non-visible disabilities throughout the US. 

This event will be recorded for later viewing.