Influencing State Policy:

How You Can Make a Difference!

Myrna R. Mandlawitz, Esq.LDA Public Policy Director

The “Why” of Advocacy

LDA’s Vision

LDA Visualizes a World in Which: All individuals with learning disabilities

are empowered to thrive and participate fully in society

The incidence of learning disabilities is reduced

And learning disabilities are universally understood and effectively addressed

Facts about SLD About 2.7 million students with SLD receive special

education services. (30th Annual Report to Congress on the Implementation of the IDEA, 2011)

44.6% of all students receiving special education services are identified as having SLD. (30th Annual Report)

64% of students with SLD graduate from HS with a regular diploma; 75.5% of students generally (2009).

22% of students with SLD dropped out of HS; 9.4% of students generally (2009).

More Facts… 2/3s of HS graduates with SLD were rated "not

qualified" to enter a 4-year college (37% of grads without disabilities).

9.7% of students with SLD attend 4-year colleges (28% of students generally).

Even MORE facts…. 55% of adults with SLD are employed (76%

without SLD).

6% of adults with SLD vs. 3% generally are unemployed.

Students with SLD are overrepresented in the juvenile justice system -- 38.6% of all students with disabilities in these settings.

Be an Advocate!Be an Advocate!

AdvocatesAdvocates = People in the = People in the community who make their community who make their voices heardvoices heard

AdvocacyAdvocacy = Mobilization of = Mobilization of a network of activists for a a network of activists for a common goalcommon goal

Constituency = power!Constituency = power!

Advocates are Change AgentsAdvocates are Change Agents

We can…..We can…..

Let current policies standLet current policies stand

ORORWork together to affect Work together to affect

changechange

““Advocacy is…AdvocacAdvocacy is…Advocacy!y!”” LocalLocal

Local governmentsLocal governments ‘‘RegulatoryRegulatory’’ agencies (School board, agencies (School board,

etc.)etc.) StateState

State legislaturesState legislatures State agenciesState agencies

FederalFederal CongressCongress Federal agenciesFederal agencies

Find your advocacy Find your advocacy

““comfort level!comfort level!””

Six Steps to Effective AdvocacySix Steps to Effective Advocacy

Determine the issue!Determine the issue! Research the issue.Research the issue.

Build a network.Build a network. Communicate with your allies.Communicate with your allies. Set clear goals and reasonable Set clear goals and reasonable

expectations.expectations. Develop a plan and take action.Develop a plan and take action.

The Details!The Details!

What do you want?What do you want? Who can give it to you?Who can give it to you? What does the What does the ‘‘policymakerpolicymaker’’ need need

to hear?to hear? Who should deliver the message?Who should deliver the message? How do you get them to hear it?How do you get them to hear it?

More Details!More Details!

What resources do you have already?What resources do you have already? What do you need to develop?What do you need to develop? How do you begin? (short term vs. How do you begin? (short term vs.

long term goals)long term goals) How do you know itHow do you know it’’s working?s working? Where do you go from here?Where do you go from here?

An Advocacy ExerciseAn Advocacy Exercise

The ISSUE: Requiring general education The ISSUE: Requiring general education teachers to demonstrate knowledge of teachers to demonstrate knowledge of SLD to receive state certification.SLD to receive state certification.

Your TASK: Develop an Your TASK: Develop an ““Action Plan.Action Plan.”” With your group members, briefly With your group members, briefly

answer the 10 questions on the two answer the 10 questions on the two previous slides.previous slides.

Then weThen we’’ll share with the whole group.ll share with the whole group.

The “Nitty Gritty”:

Influencing the State Legislative Process

State Legislatures

Unicameral vs. bicameral legislatures Nebraska: only “unicameral” state

When does the legislature meet? “Citizen” legislators Only a few year-round http://www.ncsl.org/ - National

Conference of State Legislatures

AuthorizationAuthorization: Establishing a : Establishing a program and setting funding limitsprogram and setting funding limits

AppropriationsAppropriations: Providing funds for : Providing funds for authorized programsauthorized programs

Authorizing & Appropriating

Critical Points in Advocating

When YOU have an issue to address How to get lawmakers to make it ‘their’ issue!

When a lawmaker raises an issue Committee hearings Research phase Bill drafting Floor action Governor’s action (sign/veto)

Authorizing & Appropriating!!!

Key Roles in Lawmaking Legislators Personal Staff & Committee Staff Constituents Lobbyists

professional or “volunteer”

“Experts” Researchers Folks working in the field of interest Folks with personal experience

Legislative Testimony

Know why you were asked to testify purpose of the hearing any proposed legislation

Know your audience and who else is testifying

Choose facts & research to support your analysis and recommendations

Testimony Briefly introduce yourself and give

credentials Give context of your knowledge base Express opinion Provide recommendations supported by

research Possibly write longer version for

hearing “record” with more supporting research.

Is Anyone Listening?

Communicating Your Message!

Before making contacts…

Know the memberKnow the member’’s prior record.s prior record. Know why the legislatorKnow why the legislator’’s s

constituency wants his/her support.constituency wants his/her support. Know any personal info on the Know any personal info on the

legislator that might be helpful.legislator that might be helpful. Are there other legislators whose Are there other legislators whose

support might influence his/her support might influence his/her decision?decision?

ABCs: Emails and Letters

Identify yourself as a constituent and a member of LDA!

Briefly describe the issue, with bill # if Briefly describe the issue, with bill # if possible.possible.

State what action you want: the State what action you want: the ““askask”” Share personal stories.Share personal stories. offer to be a resource.offer to be a resource. Ask for a response..and say Ask for a response..and say ““thanks!thanks!””

ABCs: Phone Calls

Same as the previous slide! In addition, be prepared to…

Answer questions about your position or offer to find the answers.

Counter arguments politely, but don’t argue back!

ABCs: ABCs: Making Visits Visits

Define the purpose of your meeting. Define the purpose of your meeting. Limit your focus.Limit your focus. Form your message concisely.Form your message concisely.

Meet beforehand to discuss your Meet beforehand to discuss your strategy.strategy.

Review talking points in advance and Review talking points in advance and consider potential questions. consider potential questions.

Visits, Visits, Part 2 2

Assign roles Assign roles OpenerOpener RecorderRecorder CommenterCommenter CloserCloser

Visits, Part 3Visits, Part 3

Be prompt. Be patient. Be flexible.Be prompt. Be patient. Be flexible. Be sure to say Be sure to say

““I am a constituent from ____________.I am a constituent from ____________.”” ““I am a member of LDA of _______.I am a member of LDA of _______.””

Talk about the issues, with personal Talk about the issues, with personal stories, if possible. stories, if possible.

Again: state your points clearly & Again: state your points clearly & firmly, but donfirmly, but don’’t argue.t argue.

Visits, Part 4

Deliver your Deliver your ““ASKASK”” and try to get a and try to get a commitment.commitment.

Leave materials, including contact info. Leave materials, including contact info. Sign the guest book and leave your Sign the guest book and leave your

business card.business card. FOLLOW UPFOLLOW UP

Thank you note (email is best).Thank you note (email is best). Call-backs or emails regularly.Call-backs or emails regularly.

RemindersReminders

DonDon’’t be bamboozled by t be bamboozled by ““jargonjargon””…and …and dondon’’t use jargon!t use jargon!

Admit you donAdmit you don’’t know the answer – t know the answer – but offer to find out.but offer to find out.

Remember that YOU are the EXPERT!Remember that YOU are the EXPERT!

Visits, Part 5Visits, Part 5

Thank the staff.Thank the staff. Give the member visibility/publicity. Give the member visibility/publicity. BE A RESOURCE!BE A RESOURCE!

Extra Credit

Develop monthly activities: Immediately: Send follow-up letter (email

or snail mail) & any promised info Call to make sure info received Next month: Letter on “talking points” September: invite member to your

school October: Letter to the editor

KEEP IT GOING!

Exercise: “Elevator” Speeches Find a partner.Find a partner. Issue: Same as the 1Issue: Same as the 1stst Exercise! Exercise! Take turns doing the following:Take turns doing the following:

Introduce yourself.Introduce yourself. Give your Give your ““creds!creds!”” Say why youSay why you’’re there – in one sentence!re there – in one sentence! Make a 2-minute case with 3-5 key Make a 2-minute case with 3-5 key

talking points.talking points. Ask for something specific!Ask for something specific!

Exercise: Team Visiting

Issue: Increasing state funding for special education.

Develop talking points and assign roles.

Myrna will be the legislator! Any volunteers?

Using the Media:

How to Take Your Case to the Public

Before Contacting the Media…

PLAN YOUR MESSAGE! Create a media list.

TV and radio Newspapers, including community

papers and “free press.” Blogs and other social media YouTube

Designate a spokesperson. Focus!

Using Traditional Media

Press Releases Letters to the Editor Op-Eds Editorial Board Meetings Local TV/Radio Interviews Media Events

Social Media

Build a “friend” list. Use social networking sites to

promote action alerts. Ask your “friends” to post your alert or

other content on their profiles. TWEET! YouTube

Supporting the National Organization:

Making “Friends” at Home

Developing Relationships

Get to know district/state staff of members of Congress.

Work with LDA to deliver timely messages.

Be a resource for district- and state-specific information on SLD.

Act on LDA Action Alerts. BUILD RELATIONSHIPS!

Thanks for your attention!

….and stay tuned for more resources at http://www.ldaamerica.org!