My experience attending the 2025 Celiac Disease Foundation Advocacy Summit and Hill Day was super fun! During my time in Washington DC, I was able to advocate to my House and Senate representatives about gluten free/celiac struggles and goals for change. The group I participated with had a great time exploring the city and even getting to see many parts of our Capitol, including time in the House gallery! My favorite part of this experience was discovering that the struggles I face are the same as many of my peers. The time we had to share our experiences and create solutions for those of us living with celiac disease was very meaningful to me.
During my experience at Hill Day, I gained a deeper understanding of myself and others living with celiac disease. It was really meaningful to feel part of a community that understands my story and knows how challenging it can be to navigate life with celiac disease, with every bite we take. Being able to meet with my Congress members in person and share my request for education, research, and clear labeling shows they care about me, and it is encouraging to believe there will be changes that result from these important interactions.
Looking ahead to a future advocating opportunity, I would like to learn more about how celiac disease affects our bodies and what happens inside when we eat gluten. This was my first time both advocating for this important need and visiting DC. I would be honored to join this group again and take part in sharing my voice with decision makers and leaders of our country to make lives simpler and safer for all who live with celiac disease.
How You Can Get Involved with Celiac Disease Advocacy
Your voice has the power to drive change. By joining the Celiac Disease Foundation’s advocacy efforts like Sanjith, you can help us push for critical research funding, improved gluten-free labeling, and greater federal recognition of celiac disease. Whether it’s participating in Hill Day, reaching out to your representatives, or sharing your story, every action makes a difference.
Take the next step—sign up as an advocate today and help us make celiac disease a national healthcare priority.