Using His Voice For Change

Theo S. '35 recently visited Congressman Steve Womack’s Bentonville office as part of Breakthrough T1D’s Together We Can advocacy campaign. During the visit, Theo met with Keri Wilkinson (Thaden Alumni Parent '25 '24) from Congressman Womack’s staff to discuss insulin affordability, access to diabetes technology, continued funding for the Special Diabetes Program, and a message central to his advocacy: Type 1 Diabetes should never keep someone from living a full and adventurous life.

For Theo, the visit was personal. Diagnosed with type 1 diabetes shortly after his first birthday, he has already spent years using his own experience to advocate for others living with the disease. This marked Theo’s third meeting with Congressman Womack’s office. In 2023, he was selected from a competitive national pool to represent Arkansas at Breakthrough T1D’s Children’s Congress in Washington, D.C. He has also served as a Breakthrough T1D Youth Ambassador and shared his story at major fundraising events and through radio and television interviews.

Through each opportunity, Theo continues to demonstrate that young people don’t have to wait to make an impact. By sharing his experience and advocating for others, he is using his voice to help create change while showing that life with Type 1 Diabetes can still be full of possibility and adventure.