A Trip to Washington D.C. That Meant More Than Politics

Last week our family had the opportunity to travel to Washington, D.C. for Advocacy Day with the National Fragile X Foundation. It was an experience that reminded me why we started the Solomon’s Strength Foundation in the first place.

Advocacy can sound like a big, complicated word. But when you’re the parent of a child with Fragile X syndrome, advocacy becomes something much more personal. It means making sure lawmakers understand that behind every policy decision is a real child, a real family, and a future that depends on the choices they make.

For us, that child is Solomon.

Solomon lives with Fragile X Syndrome, the most common inherited cause of intellectual disability and a leading genetic cause of autism. Like many children with Fragile X, he works incredibly hard for milestones that many people take for granted — communication, motor skills, emotional regulation, and independence.

That’s why traveling to Washington mattered.

Walking through the halls of Congress, meeting with staff members, and sharing Solomon’s story was both empowering and emotional. We talked about the need for continued research, support for families, and policies that ensure individuals with Fragile X and other rare diseases have access to the services and resources they need.

But advocacy isn’t just about statistics or legislation.

It’s about telling the story of your child.

It’s about explaining what therapies look like, what daily life really involves, and what hope looks like when your child learns something new after months of work.

We shared stories about Solomon — his determination, his personality, and the joy he brings to our lives. Moments like these help lawmakers understand that Fragile X isn’t just a medical term in a report. It’s a reality for thousands of families across the country.

One of the most meaningful parts of the trip was meeting other families who are walking this same journey. Parents, advocates, and individuals with Fragile X came together with the same purpose: to raise awareness and push for progress.

There is something powerful about standing in a room full of people who understand your child’s challenges and celebrate their victories just as deeply as you do.

Trips like this also remind us why we created Solomon’s Strength Foundation. Our mission is simple but deeply personal: to raise awareness, support families, and create opportunities for children with Fragile X and other developmental disabilities to thrive.

Advocacy in Washington is one step in that journey.

But the real work continues back home — in our communities, in our schools, and in the daily lives of families navigating Fragile X.

Our hope is that by sharing Solomon’s story, we can help create a world where children like him have every opportunity to reach their full potential.

Because when we advocate, we’re not just asking for change.

We’re building a future.

For Solomon. For families like ours. And for every child living with Fragile X.