Matawan Boy, 13, Speaks At U.S. Capitol About Need For Type 1 Diabetes Funding

MATAWAN, NJ — Daniel McCue, a 13-year-old Matawan-Aberdeen Middle School student, recently returned from Washington, D.C., where he asked Congress to dedicate more funding to Type 1 diabetes research.

McCue spoke at the Breakthrough T1D’s Children’s Congress, hosted by Breakthrough T1D, a global organization that funds Type 1 diabetes research. McCue was one of the six New Jersey teens selected from more than 700 children who applied to attend the conference; he joined 170 children from across America, who all have Type 1 diabetes. The hearing underscored how funding has led to advancements, such as automated insulin pumps.

McCue was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes at age 4.

“When I found out I was selected, I jumped to the ceiling,” he said. “It’s a big deal to be part of something like this.”

It was a three-day event in Washington, and McCue and other New Jersey teens got to meet in person U.S. Senator Andy Kim (D-NJ), plus representatives from the offices of Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Central Jersey Congressman Frank Pallone (D-NJ6).

McCue also got to meet former American Ninja Warrior Katie Bone and Thom Solo, the creative director of Thom Solo Shoes, both of whom have Type 1 diabetes.

“He was really cool — I told him I’m wearing Crocs and not as cool as his shoes,” Daniel said. "Be patient — a cure may take awhile, but don’t let diabetes get in your way. You can still do anything."

Daniel also enjoyed trading contact cards with fellow delegates from across the country and visiting the American Museum of Natural History.

McCue also has autism and ADHD, making diabetes management particularly complex.

His mother, Jennifer McCue, emphasized the power of self-advocacy in her son's journey — a skill he strengthened with support from the teachers, staff and administration of Matawan-Aberdeen Regional School District (MARSD). McCue speaks very highly of his one-to-one aid, Mr. G, who he describes as “wonderful.”

“He has had incredible support at school,” said his mother, who is also president of Parents of Special People, an advocacy group in MARSD. “It truly has been a group effort to get him to where he is today. If you knew Daniel when he started at Cambridge Park, it would be difficult to believe this is the same child today. Many years of speech therapy and support at school, encouragement and lessons in self-advocacy have brought him here.”

Dominique Jimenez, a social worker at Matawan-Aberdeen Middle School, spoke about McCue's growth.

“In the time that I have known Daniel, he has consistently shown the courage to come to me and advocate for himself, and his confidence in doing so has grown tremendously over time,” Jimenez said. “His creative spark is evident in all that he does, and it is inspiring to see him now using his voice to make a difference on a national level. It’s so exciting to see him receive this kind of recognition — he earned it. We’re all proud of him.”

At Matawan-Aberdeen Middle School Art Club, McCue participates in the Art Club and contributes frequently to the Literary Arts Magazine.

To follow Daniel’s journey, visit his public Instagram page @Dan_Advocates.