HealthEd 4 Everyone

HealthEd 4 Everyone announcement graphic introducing Brittany Zackery as a new board member, featuring her headshot.

We're excited to welcome Brittany Zackery to our Board of Directors!

Learn more about our work at HealthEd4Everyone.org

#HealthLiteracy #HealthEducation #NonprofitLife #VolunteerSpotlight #PatientEducation #HealthAdvocacy #NonprofitBoard

Parent and child smiling with medical professional. Text: "Let the medical team know what your child needs."

Before things get started, let the medical team know what works for your child.

Parent comforting young child in medical setting. Text: "Practice asking for a break."

Practice how they'll ask for a break. They could say a word, squeeze your hand, raise their hand, or whatever feels natural.

Parent sitting with worried-looking teen. Text: "Ask what questions they have."

Ask what questions they have. You don't need all the answers. Your care team and free resources like ours can help.

Parent and young child reading a book together. Text: "Go through the steps together."

If you have time, go through the steps together. You can use a book, a video, or just talk through what will happen.

Book cover for "I Can Get an Ultrasound" with download link.

A lot of the ways you can help your child through an ultrasound happen before the procedure starts.

📖 Free illustrated book and family guide: buff.ly/PEcFlCO

#UltrasoundPrep #PediatricUltrasound #ChildLife #Autism #SensoryNeeds #HospitalPrep #ParentTips #HealthLiteracy #Pediatric

Illustration of ultrasound gel being applied to a belly with a cartoon wand. Text: Applying the gel.

Illustration of a tech pressing the ultrasound wand on a child's belly. Text: Scanning.

Illustration of a child relaxing on the exam bed reading a tablet. Text: Waiting again.

Book cover of "I Can Get an Ultrasound" with text: Get the free book. HealthEd4Everyone.org.

A child lying on an exam table getting an abdominal ultrasound from a technician. Text: What happens during an ultrasound?

Illustration of a nervous child lying on an exam chair. Text: Waiting.

Illustration of a medical team member waving next to a wheelchair. Text: Going to the ultrasound room.

Illustration of a tech at the ultrasound machine next to a child on the exam bed. Text: Lying down.

What happens during an ultrasound, step by step.

These images are from "I Can Get an Ultrasound," a free illustrated book that walks kids through each step.

Two versions: one for ages 4-11, one for ages 12+.

Written by a pediatric ER physician and a doctor with autism.

buff.ly/PEcFlCO

HealthEd 4 Everyone announcement graphic introducing Maya-Rose (Rosie) Yancey as volunteer illustrator, featuring her headshot.

Our second children's book, I Can Go to the Doctor, now has an illustrator!

We'd like you to meet Maya-Rose (Rosie) Yancey, an artist based in Kansas City studying at UMKC's art program.

Learn more at buff.ly/LsDSqkY

#Autism #ChildrensBooks #HealthEducation #HealthLiteracy

Illustration of an ultrasound machine with a friendly cartoon transducer wand surrounded by stars. Text reads: 3 Things You Can Ask for During an Ultrasound. From I Can Get an Ultrasound.

Illustration of a smiling medical team member in blue scrubs handing a purple blanket to a child lying on an orange exam bed. The child looks comfortable. Text reads: Ask for a Blanket.

Illustration of a child lying on an orange exam bed, wrapped in a purple blanket covering their head and body, eyes closed and smiling. Text reads: Ask to turn off the lights. Or you can use a blanket!

Illustration of a child lying on an orange exam bed with yellow earplugs in their ears, hands near their head. Text reads: Ask for earplugs. Or you can use a blanket to cover your ears too!

An ultrasound can be hard, and not always for the reasons you'd expect. That's why I Can Get an Ultrasound covers ways to make it more comfortable.

Written by a pediatric ER physician and a doctor with autism. Two versions: ages 4-11 and 12+.

buff.ly/LsDSqkY

@pedsky.bsky.social

Illustration of ultrasound gel being applied to a belly with a cartoon wand. Text: Applying the gel.

Illustration of a tech pressing the ultrasound wand on a child's belly. Text: Scanning.

Illustration of a child relaxing on the exam bed reading a tablet. Text: Waiting again.

Book cover of "I Can Get an Ultrasound" with text: Get the free book. HealthEd4Everyone.org.

A child lying on an exam table getting an abdominal ultrasound from a technician. Text: What happens during an ultrasound?

Illustration of a nervous child lying on an exam chair. Text: Waiting.

Illustration of a medical team member waving next to a wheelchair. Text: Going to the ultrasound room.

Illustration of a tech at the ultrasound machine next to a child on the exam bed. Text: Lying down.

What happens during an ultrasound, step by step.

These images are from "I Can Get an Ultrasound," a free illustrated book that walks kids through each step.

Two versions: one for ages 4-11, one for ages 12+.

Written by a pediatric ER physician and a doctor with autism.

buff.ly/PEcFlCO

Illustration from "I Can Get an Ultrasound" showing an ultrasound tech pressing a wand on a kid's belly while the kid grimaces. Text reads: "It's okay to say, 'Can you tell me before you do that?'

Ultrasounds don't hurt, but sometimes they need to push down to get clear pictures. That can be uncomfortable or even painful. I Can Get an Ultrasound teaches kids that they can ask to be warned first.

Get the free book: buff.ly/LsDSqkY

Illustration from 'I Can Get an Ultrasound' showing how ultrasound technology works the same way as echolocation in bats and sonar on boats. Text reads: How does ultrasound work? The same way a bat finds its way. Or how a boat can see underwater.

Have you used a device to see where fish are underwater? Or do you know how bats "see" where they're going? If so, then you understand how ultrasound works.

Sound waves go out, bounce off what's inside, and come back as a picture. The sound waves can't be heard or felt.

buff.ly/LsDSqkY

Pages from the children's book I Can Get an Ultrasound showing kids and teens versions of asking for a break during an ultrasound procedure.

Did you know you can ask for a break while getting an ultrasound? For kids, this can make a huge difference.

Practice how your child will ask for a break before the appointment. Will they raise their hand? Say "I need a break"?

Get this and more in I Can Get an Ultrasound

buff.ly/LsDSqkY

Free illustrated book 'I Can Get an Ultrasound' shown on a tablet. The page teaches kids they can hold a toy, watch TV, or play a game during the ultrasound. Available in Kids and Teens+ versions at HealthEd4Everyone.org.

Getting an ultrasound can be scary when kids don't know what's going to happen. That's true for any child, especially kids with autism.

That's why we created "I Can Get an Ultrasound." It's a free illustrated book written by doctors that goes through each step.

buff.ly/LsDSqkY

@pedsky.bsky.social

Handwritten list titled "Concerns for my appointment" with starred priorities including back pain, new headache, and blood pressure medicine, each with details. Additional items without stars: trouble sleeping, swelling in ankles, taking care of mom, need a referral.

Writing down what you want to talk about helps your provider know what's going on and not miss anything.

Share your full list, but let them know which concerns matter most to you. You can put them at the top, put a star next to them, or mark them however works for you.

Read more: buff.ly/6glBjEy

Cartoon lungs with faces holding hands. Text reads "We're Inspiring" and "Even when you forget about us - Your lungs"

Ever think about how you're breathing right now? Wait, now you are. Your lungs have been working this whole time!

Your lungs bring oxygen into your body and kick out the waste gas (carbon dioxide). If you have too much carbon dioxide in your body, you feel short of breath and breathe faster.

Patient and doctor in conversation. Speech bubble with text: "Have a list of concerns for your doctor? Here's one way to share it" followed by an example of what to say.

If you bring a list of concerns to your appointment, it can help to let your provider know how you'd like them to use it.

Don't worry if you forget some of it. Even if you just hand them your list, they should help you figure out what to focus on.

Read the full post: buff.ly/6glBjEy

Illustration of a therapy session with two people sitting in chairs facing each other. The therapist has a calm spiral in their speech bubble while the client has a tangled scribble, hands covering their face. Text reads: "What happens in your first therapy session?"

Text reads: "It's mostly about getting to know each other. You will usually talk about: what brought you to therapy, your goals, what type of help might work best, what to expect."

Text reads: "You can ask questions too. You may want to ask: How do sessions usually work? What experience do you have with [what I'm dealing with]? How would you help me with what I'm facing?"

Text reads: "It's okay if you can't explain why you're there. It's okay to say something like 'I'm not sure why I'm here' or 'I don't know what's wrong.' Your therapist can help you figure it out."

A lot of first-session anxiety comes from not knowing what to expect. So here's the short version: it's mostly a conversation.

Your therapist will ask some questions, you can ask some too, and you'll start to figure out if it's a good fit.

Learn more: healthed4everyone.org/mental-healt...

Cartoon gallbladder shaped like a pear with arms and a smile. Text reads "I thought you'd like this Love, your gallbladder"

Your gallbladder stores bile, which helps break down fats. Pretty helpful, right?

But sometimes it makes you little presents: gallstones. Most people don't know they have them. But sometimes they can cause a lot of pain.

Thankfully, you can live without your gallbladder if it's too troublesome.

Patient and provider talking in an exam room. Text: "Share your concerns at the beginning of your appointment. Don't wait until the end."

When you share all of your concerns upfront, you and your provider can:
- Find connections between symptoms you didn't realize were related
- Decide what needs attention sooner
- Make a plan for anything you can't cover today

buff.ly/6glBjEy

Notepad and pen with title "Preparing for Your Appointment?" and a list of topics: New Problem, Old Problem, Medicines, Stress at home or work, Personal Concern, Form or Referral.

Not sure what to bring up at your next appointment? We made a list to help you brainstorm. If something's on your mind that's not on this list, write it down anyway.

Read our 5-minute prep guide: healthed4everyone.org/2026/01/16/d...

Illustration of a person in a green shirt with a confused expression and hands raised in a shrug. Text reads: "What do I bring to my first therapy appointment?"

Text reads: "Bring: ID, Insurance card (if you have one), Any paperwork they sent you. Fill out as much as you can. You can always ask for help. That's it. That's the list."

Text reads: "If you want to prepare, you can also bring: a list of current medications, questions you want to ask, notes on what's been bothering you. But none of this is required."

Going to your first therapy appointment? One less thing to worry about — you don't need to bring much. ID, insurance card if you have one, and any paperwork they sent you.

Learn more at buff.ly/cHobIMb

#startingtherapy #therapy #mentalhealthmatters #therapytips

Email draft interface addressed to Care Team with a sample message about sharing concerns before an appointment.

Nervous about sharing your concerns in person? Send them through your patient portal before your appointment.

Your provider should see it beforehand. Still bring a copy in case they didn't get to it.

Learn more about bringing up your concerns: buff.ly/6glBjEy

Cartoon heart with arms and legs running on a treadmill. Text reads "I thrive on heart-core workouts"

Your heart loves when you move. Yes, it loves to run. BUT it also loves when you move throughout the day! Even just getting up for 5 minutes every hour helps your heart.

Tag someone who needs a reminder that movement during the day is important

Cartoon brain relaxing under a shower with "Z" letters floating above. Text reads "I need 8 hours of braintenance"

We all know sleep is important. But did you know your brain is cleaned while you sleep? A fluid called cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) washes away any waste products that built up during the day. It's like taking out the trash.

Illustration of a person in a green shirt with hands on their head looking anxious. Text reads: "Feeling anxious before your therapy appointment? Here are a few things that can help."

Text reads: "Temperature Change. Splash cold water on your face or hold something cold. This brings your attention back to your body. If you want something warm, bring a hand warmer. This works when the temperature first changes. So, don't hold it the whole time."

Text reads: "Grounding Exercise. Notice: 5 things you can see, 4 things you can touch or feel, 3 sounds, 2 smells, 1 taste (or think about something you like to taste)."

Text reads: "Bring Something for Your Hands. A fidget toy, a stress ball, or even just a pen. You can use it in the waiting room or during the session. This helps focus some of your energy and attention."

Nervous before your therapy appointment? Here are some things that can help.

And if none of this helps? Let your therapist know. They can help you figure out what works for you.

Read our whole post on managing healthcare anxiety - healthed4everyone.org/managing-med...

Cartoon bladder sitting in a movie theater seat holding a drink. Thought bubble says "I always forget I have a small bladder"

Your bladder can stretch so you might be able to finish the movie. Might. No promises if you got the large drink.

#bodyeducation #funfacts #healthliteracy

Blue envelope with letter showing "Monthly Newsletter" and text: "This year's flu vaccine isn't a perfect match. Here's why it still helps."

This year's flu vaccine isn't a perfect match, but it still helps. Our January newsletter breaks down what that means and how to protect yourself this season.

healthed4everyone.org/2026/01/06/j...

#FluSeason #FluVaccine #HealthLiteracy #PublicHealth #HealthEducation