“When I came to work for the American Diabetes Association in mid-2013, Hunter Sego was already a legend,” writes Gary Dougherty in Diabetes Forecast, published by the American Diabetes Association. Sego is a DePauw University sophomore; Dougherty is associate director of state government affairs for the ADA and also the Indiana state advocacy director.
Dougherty states, “Clearly, this Hunter dude had made an impact on the American Diabetes Association — and the Indiana legislature. I soon learned that Indiana’s Safe at School law had been dubbed ‘Hunter’s Law’ after the compelling testimony and strong advocacy of then 10-year-old Hunter, who had been diagnosed with type 1 diabetes when he was 7.”
When legislation was introduced last year to repeal Hunter’s Law and other sections of the education code, Sego returned to the state capitol in Indianapolis. “With the confidence and maturity of a seasoned advocate, Hunter explained to the Indiana Senate Education Committee how dangerous it would be to repeal a law that protects students with diabetes. Hunter’s advocacy — and that of his mother, Kathy — resulted in the introduction and adoption of an amendment to preserve the state’s Safe at School law. His testimony was so effective that even the sponsor of the bill to repeal Hunter’s Law supported the amendment to save it.”
The column concludes, “After a senior football season filled with honors, awards, and recognitions, Hunter now kicks for the DePauw University football team in Greencastle, Indiana. He also continues his diabetes advocacy and further prove that people living with diabetes are leading effective, productive, and inspiring lives.”
Source: Diabetes Today
