About a year and a half ago my husband went back to school and we found ourselves needing to purchase private insurance. It never occurred to me that my son who has autism would be denied on that basis– but, he was–by more companies that I can count. I got mad and started the fight for change.
I made phone calls, sent emails, crashed meetings where I knew my elected officials were going to be, wrote letters to the editor, and spoke out whenever I could find someone who would listen. I emailed all my friends and family members asking them to write letters asking for insurance reform… I fought for my kid!
As proposed reform laws moved to the back burner in my home State, I moved on to advocating on a Federal level. I told my story over and over again. I watched, read and researched. I followed the progress of Healthcare Reform through House and Senate continuing to make calls, send emails asking for a YES vote…
One evening in March I got a call from Organizing for America asking that my son and I stand with my Congressman as he announced his support of healthcare reform and promised a yes-vote. We were there when our efforts paid off. We were able to thank him in person for his support– for helping our son.
There are lots of things to advocate for– laws, funding; big-ticket, high-profile, high impact needs– and, ones that improve the lives of future generations as well as day to day needs our children have for normalcy– accomodations at the YMCA, IEPs, reasonable volume at the movies… The more we educate our communities and our Nation the lower the stigma and higher the accomodations.
We need to learn how to effectively advocate so that our time and our efforts have maximum effect. Here are a few tips to get you started:
1. Be polite. Your attitude will transfer to the cause you are advocating for. Remember that the person you’re talking to is usually not the person who is going to cast the vote and you want that person to give your cause a favorable slant when speaking with the vote-caster. Practice the Golden Rule.
2. Do your research! Know what you’re talking about before you dial. Back up your claims with statistics– and use them. I’ve always found it helpful to have a cheat-sheet in front of me.
3. Ask questions— How does Senator/Congressman/Mayor/Councilman so-and-so feel about (insert your cause here)? How are they planning to vote? Why or why not? Follow up their comments with your views.
4. Be honest. If you don’t know– say you don’t know and promise to find out– then get back to your public official. This is actually a good thing because it gives you an excuse to call or write back.
5. Tell your story— it shouldn’t be a play-by-play– keep to the outline version. Politicians needs examples of real people who benefit from the law being passed– or repealed. They are people like us– parents, business people, community members, vets, customers…
6. Know who you’re talking to. What is their history? Do they have kids? How have they voted on similar issues? Use the similarities between you and them as a hook. If they can relate they are more likely take up your cause.
7. Offer to help. I’ve always believed that if I’m going to ask someone to do something for me, I must be willing to help them get it done– and, support them when they put themselves on the line for us.
8. Be Persistent! Any changes, progress or set-back is a good excuse to make contact again.
9. Double Dip. Do it all– call, fax, write, email, get an appointment, cast your votes on Facebook’s Visible Vote, sign polls, contact organizations associated with your cause (Organizing for America, Autism Votes, etc.)
10. Build relationships. Get to know your official and his/her staff– and, let them get to know you. Volunteer, go to public and private events, send birthday cards– be creative.
Although it varies by person/office– generally speaking, a personal visit has the most weight followed by a snail-mail hand written letter, then phone call, then email or fax. You can– and should– ask the staff member you talk to what works best for them.
To get an appointment all you have to do is ask for one. It’s really pretty easy– call the scheduler in their office and set it up. You can meet with your elected official at their local office during a home visit– or at their government office. Typically summer time is “downtime” and therefore the best chance to chat. When you do get an appointment– Be respectful of their time— if they spent an hour with each of us they wouldn’t have time to cast votes or see their kids.
Don’t allow yourself to be intimidated. Our elected officials are people like us whose power is that which we gave them. When you think of these people like that, it’s easy to talk to them.
I sometimes take my son along when I go on visits or attend rallys and, I do believe that he needs to grow up understanding the power of the common man’s voice. He needs to understand the value of his vote. He needs to learn to ask for what he needs. However, parents must weigh privacy against impact and education. Many private citizens have had their lives torn apart by becoming involved. Personally, we haven’t had any negative experiences as a result of our very public involvement and for that I’m thankful– but, it’s important for each person/family to consider this potential downfall.
My Congressman, John Boccieri, is up for re-election. Our family is volunteering and donating to his re-election campaign. It’s important to us to keep this man who, despite personal threats, voted for our son to get insurance. It’s important to us to have representation who “gets it”. Whether we had gone to Washington to stand with him as he made his announcement of support for healthcare reform, we would be supporting our Congressman because thanks to John Boccieri, my son will have insurance on October 1, 2010.
As parents we have a powerful, passionate voice– one that knows the daily struggles, one that knows our children’s needs. Let your voice be heard!
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