Helpful Information

Get to know the key legislators in your region. Critical legislators will be members of the House Appropriations and Senate Finance Committees, the House Health and Welfare and Senate Health and Welfare Committees, the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House.  

Meeting with legislators: Always make an appointment. It is best for two to three people to go to the meeting this gives you support as well as showing the legislator that this is more than an issue for just one family.) Be sure to show pictures of your child (or bring you child if you think that would be comfortable for him / her) and tell how expansion of Community and Family Support will help your child and your family. Expect the meeting to last only 20 minutes or less, so be prepared with what you want to say. Focus on the supports you need and how Community and Family Support can help. Ask your legislator for his / her support.

Always follow up a meeting with a short thank you letter. It will reinforce your message, and the legislator will remember you when you contact him / her during the session.

Have a few people available to act as a scribe. Some team members may be hesitant about writing a letter to their legislator (their mind may go blank), or simply may not be able to due to a family crisis, etc. People offering to be a scribe can spend a few minutes over the phone listening to the person’s story, and quickly draft a letter for the person to sign.

Remember: Form letters are not effective. Legislators have told us that they immediately disregard form letters. They prefer personal stories, legibly written (typed is okay). Include a picture if you can.

Hold a town meeting. One region has held several over the past few years and they have always received a good turn-out of their area’s legislators. Make sure you do it before the session begins. Later in this section is information on planning a town meeting and the advantages of having one.

Invite area legislators to a family’s home. This has been tried in some areas with much success. Again, do it before the session begins. Invite legislators to a family’s home to meet with a few people (five or six parents is all you would need). Mingle informally over refreshments, talk to the legislators and tell them what it is like to have a child with a disability – the financial, physical and emotional needs of families. Tell them how Community and Family Support can help. Ask for their support.

Use the media by generating human interest stories on people in your community and using news releases about area events that your team may be involved with. Contact the DD Council for more information on effective ways to use the media.

Share your successes with other teams by letting Kay know what you are up to; we’ll share it with others.

7 Steps to a Successful Legislative Visit Checklist

LaCAN Legislative Visit Report