All politics are local — every piece of legislation that exists has local implications and is also based on local needs. It seems obvious, but it's important to remember. It means that laws exist because people like you worked to make them happen. Most of our current laws that assist and protect people with learning disabilities came from the grassroots efforts of advocates like you. Both the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) came to be because advocates (not Senators or highly paid lobbyists) took action and educated policymakers as to why these laws needed to exist.
You, too, can make laws happen. How? By understanding how government works and how you can most effectively get involved. There are lots of different ways to get to policymakers and communicate your thoughts on an issue, but before you pick up your pen or your phone, you need to keep several things in mind in order to be most effective.
Before you approach policymakers:
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Familiarize yourself with what your elected officials have to say — both in the policies they support and in the media.
Keep track of where your local officials stand on learning disabilities, education and special education issues. It is important to start with the legislators who represent you directly (your senator, your house representative) because they are the ones over whom you will have the most influence. You are one of their constituents. You can contact their offices to ask for a position statement or to see if they have sponsored legislation important to people with LD.
If your senator or house representative doesn't sit on the appropriate committee, learn about the legislators who do. When you are ready to get in touch with policymakers, it will be useful to address both your own representatives as well as those who are in the more influential positions on LD issues. -
Become familiar with all the existing laws, as well as bills that are pending, that affect individuals with disabilities.
Know their names and numbers — it is important to be able to refer to these policies when you are communicating with your representatives. Our legislators can't be experts on every issue, so it's up to you to help them understand intricate issues such as learning disabilities and special education. This isn't as daunting as it sounds. NCLD and other organizations keep track of these laws, and even send out email alerts to notify advocates about legislative news. Get the basics on existing laws that impact people with LD. -
Clarify your focus.
What exactly are you trying to accomplish? Being as specific as possible about the issue you are presenting to a policymaker is the key to being effective. "Getting children with learning disabilities a decent education" is too broad. "Working to get IDEA reauthorized and to change the language in the law to make it possible for children with learning disabilities to be identified earlier than they currently are" is a specific goal that you can bring to legislators. -
Stay open-minded and respectful.
You will encounter policymakers who don't agree with what you are trying to accomplish; they may have agendas that completely oppose yours. Don't dismiss them. Understanding opposing points of view will help you craft a strong position that takes diverse interests into account. Also, don't be hostile towards them. Remaining respectful, calm and personable, even with those whose views might offend you, is the key to being an effective advocate. -
Be prepared to "double deck."
If you want to be sure that you are reaching policymakers and having an impact on their policy decisions, you are going to have to use many of the available methods to communicate your message. Just sending an email isn't enough. These days, in order to be heard, you will most likely have to pick up the phone, send a fax, send an email, and even stop by the office if you can. Make it impossible for the people you are trying to reach to ignore you.
Whom to approach
Constituents have the greatest chance of being heard by their legislative representatives. On the federal level, Congress consists of the Senate and the House of Representatives. Every state has two senators and at least one representative (approximately one representative for every 650,000 people). Each congressperson also has a large staff dedicated to finding out where voters stand on important issues. On the state level, there is also a Senate and a House of Representatives. Locally, county and city councils represent their citizens, and in some states there are also regional legislatures.
Everyone in the Unites States is represented by two U.S. senators, one U.S. representative; one state senator, one or more state representatives; as well as county and city council members. You elect these people, so they are all very interested in what you have to say.
When to approach policymakers
It's never too early to begin establishing relationships with your representatives. Policymakers are people like you"they don't like being approached only when you want something. If there is a bill up for consideration or a vote is about to take place, they have already been working on the issue for some time. To be an effective advocate, you should cultivate a relationship with your representatives over time, so they know to turn to you when they need guidance on the topics you know and care about. And they will turn to you. Make it your business to establish yourself as an LD expert in the eyes of your elected officials and their staff members. Keep in regular contact with them"via a letter updating them on learning disabilities issues every month or so, regular phone calls, or a visit now and then. Over time, they will come to know and trust you as a source of information they can count on. It takes persistence, but representatives have to make decisions with or without you. Your input can help them make good decisions for people with LD.
Writing Letters
Policymakers pay attention to letters. Since September 11, 2001, regular mail can take up to 30 days to reach a legislator, because of the inspection process. But if you use more than one method of delivery (regular mail, fax and email), your message will get through. If you want to be sure your letter lands in the right hands, call your representative's office, and ask how he/she prefers to get constituent feedback. Personal letters from constituents are always effective, and it doesn't take bags of them to get a legislator to take notice. Here are a few things to keep in mind when you write:
- Personalize your letter. Mass, computer-generated messaging is common these days, and policymakers will pay more attention to a letter they know comes from a real person. Typing your letter is fine, but include a small handwritten note at the bottom as a post-script. Share any personal experiences that directly illustrate the point you are trying to make (i.e., "My son, Jason, is a bright, curious child who does well in math and science, but because of his reading scores, his school, P.S. 123, wants him to repeat third grade. Retention is not the answer... "). Using professional stationery, if you have it, is also a good idea.
- Include your name, address and other contact information on the letter. Legislators need to know that you are one of their constituents. If you are sending an email, be sure to use your real name, not a username like LDmom. Anonymous mail will be ignored.
- Be brief, specific and courteous. Keep your letter to one page, if possible, and be sure to politely state your specific request in the first few sentences. Avoid jargon; the language of your letter should be as simple as possible.
- Mention any affiliation you have with the policymaker. If you know someone in the office or worked on the representative's election campaign, remind him or her. Having a personal association gives you even more influence than only being a constituent.
- Enclose any recent articles or reports that are relevant to your message. Never assume policymakers read everything you do. They might, but it is always helpful to bring good information to their attention.
- If your letter is about a specific bill, budget item or policy, be sure to mention the name or number, if you know it. Also state whether you support or oppose it, and ask for the policymaker's views. Provide facts that back up your opinion, and share any personal experiences that pertain to the issue.
About Email
Members of Congress receive millions of emails each year. Getting your message to stand out among those numbers is tricky, but it can be done. If you are going to email, be sure to refer to a specific piece of legislation in the subject line (i.e., Support Early Intervention for Children with Reading Difficulties), and include your mailing address, so the reader knows you are a constituent. Individualize your email by sharing those personal experiences that pertain to your argument. Some mass email campaigns generated by Legislative Action Centers, such as www.LDadvocate.org, allow you to edit the text you are sending, so use that option to make your email letter stand out.
Making phone calls
Picking up the phone is an easy way to reach out to policy makers, and it is immensely effective. Your representatives should have their phone numbers listed in the blue pages of the local phone book, but you can always get the contact information for federal legislators through the U.S. Capitol switchboard at (202) 224-3121, or visit the NCLD Legislative Action Center, where you can enter your zip code and get complete contact information for your elected officials.
When calling, ask to speak to the aide who is responsible for disability issues. Speaking to an aide is as effective as speaking to an actual legislator; their staffs exist to be their experts on what voters care about. Use the same guidelines for a phone call as when you write. Before you dial, be sure to:
- Prepare what you are going to say. Write down a few concise talking points, so that you don't have to remember everything in the heat of the moment.
- Mention your name and address, so they know you are in their district.
- Be prepared to leave a message. Whether it's voicemail or a receptionist, spell out your name and address and leave a short message outlining what you are calling about ("I'm calling about the pending reauthorization of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act and the need for early intervention for struggling readers.").
- Follow up any phone call with a written note, preferably sent via fax. This way the legislator has a written record of your call, and you have another opportunity to reinforce your message. The note should clearly include your name, address, phone number and when you called. If you were able to speak to someone, be sure to thank him or her.
Meeting with Policymakers
It may seem daunting, but the best way to ensure policymakers get your message is by telling them, or their staff, in person. Visiting a legislator is easy. All you have to do is make an appointment in advance. You can visit them at their district offices when they are home (typically on Monday and Friday), or go to see them on Capitol Hill (if they are federal legislators).
Before you go, think about the following:
Consider bringing a delegation
It's less intimidating for you if you are part of a group (i.e., a group of parents of children with learning disabilities, or a diverse group of educators, parents and psychologists), and your message will be even stronger because of your numbers. If you are a team, be sure there is a leader who will do most of the talking.
Why are you going?
You should rehearse what you are going to say and how you are going to say it before you go. Be able to give a 90-second version of your presentation. It should include your name, where you live, what pertinent groups you are a part of, a synopsis of the issue you are addressing, and a clear request (e.g. "Please support 'Bill X,'" or "Oppose the passing of resolution 'Y'"). Your appointment will probably be very short (10-15 minutes), so start with the summary and then expand as time permits.
Know where the policymaker stands
You'll be able to prepare your strategy during the meeting if you know exactly where the person you are meeting with stands on the issue you are addressing. Call the office or check out Project Vote Smart. You can also call the office before you go and ask what his or her position is.
Prepare something in writing
Whether it is a one-page summary of your presentation or a folder with articles and statistics supporting your request, you should always have something to hand the person you meet with. Also, be sure that whatever you hand over has your name, address, phone number and email address on it. Getting in touch with you, once you've left, should be effortless.
Follow up with a thank-you note
Once the aide can connect a face with your name, don't let him or her forget. Your note should be short and should briefly summarize what you discussed at the meeting, include any information you promised to provide and as always, include all your contact information.
If you've stated clearly and concisely why you are there, and there's some time to spare, explain whom this issue will affect and how. If the legislator with whom you are meeting (or whose aide you are meeting) has done something you are pleased about, let him or her know that. Policymakers hear lots of criticism; genuine praise is always welcome. You may spend a lot of time listening to what the policymaker's views on your issue are, or you may have to educate them on some basics--be prepared for either scenario. Also let him or her know that you will share what happens at the meeting with a wider audience back home (such as your local learning disabilities advocacy group). This is a relationship you are building, and even if you don't see eye to eye, it's important to keep the door open to continued communications.
