Episode 18: Advocating for Long Haulers

Pandemic Patients founder Andrew Wylam discusses the reasons he created the organization, and his vision for future national efforts to address issues facing individuals with disabilities with Long COVID. The organization also manages a COVID 19 Advocacy Center to connect individuals with Long COVID with policy makers in support of legislative proposals that will improve access to health services and expansion of family and medical leave policies. His organization offers a Legal Assistance Network that provides attorneys who volunteer their time to assist individuals with Long COVID with such issues as disability discrimination in the workplace and access to social security disability benefits. He explains some of the challenges he has encountered as he has advocated for policies that are shaped around Long COVID, but also discusses the importance of supporting individuals with Long COVID on a one-on-one basis to help them with their new daily challenges.