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By Paul T. Conway, AAKP Board of Director, Chair, Policy & Global Affairs It has been nearly two years since AAKP began experimenting with voter registration efforts among our patient base and a wide community of patient families, friends and allied medical professionals, including social workers, medical professionals and researchers.

By Diana Clynes, Executive Director Washington, D.C. – The American Association of Kidney Patients (AAKP) celebrated its 50 Year Anniversary as the oldest and largest fully independent kidney patient organization in the USA with their highest attended National Patient Meeting and awards program in over ten years. The meeting, entitled Driving Innovation & Changing the Status Quo, was held in Washington D.C., September 6-8, 2019.

Have you been diagnosed with kidney disease? If so, you might be eligible for Social Security disability benefits. The Social Security Administration (SSA) offers monthly financial aid for people who are unable to work. Kidney disease does not automatically qualify for benefits, but thousands of people who are out of work for a year or more due to kidney disease may be eligible for assistance. Medically Qualifying with Kidney Disease The SSA maintains its own guide of qualification criteria, known colloquially as the Blue Book.

By Deborah Pelaez, AAKP Marketing and Communications Manager Gabriella Nelson is a healthy 3-year-old, happy and full of life. If you met her, you would never know by looking at her all that she has been through. You would never guess this beautiful young girl has a kidney transplant! Gabriella was diagnosed with Focal Segmental Glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) at 17 months old. On December 1, 2017, when Gabriella was 16 months old, her mother, Angela Clayton, took Gabriella to the doctor because she was concerned that she may have allergies.

By Edward V. Hickey III, AAKP Board of Director, Secretary and Chair of Veterans Health Initiative, and Paul T. Conway, AAKP Board of Director, Chair, Policy & Global Affairs It is not every day that you, as a patient advocate, are asked to make and engage in a 10 year commitment – but today is the day!

By Kent Bressler, AAKP Board of Director AAKP Policy Focus: Top Legislative Issues Impacting Your Life By Kent Bressler, AAKP Board of Director On July 10, President Trump signed an executive order (https://www. whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/ executive-order-advancing-americankidney-health/) that is seen as the first meaningful progress in elevating the national profile of kidney disease and shining a spotlight on the millions of Americans affected by this chronic condition.  The Executive Order has four goals: 1) Prevention and early detection of kidney disease, 2)