LEGISLATION AND AT: WHY THIS IS EVERYONE’S BUSINESS

PHIL MILSK, J.D.

SUSY WOODS, PUBLIC POLICY AND EDUCATION LIASION ILLINOIS ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY PROGRAM

WHERE DO YOU RATE YOURSELF?AS AN ADVOCATE ARE YOU:

10-9: PROFICIENT IN EVERYTHING

LET’S GET A GRIP: NO ONE IS!!!

8. FEEL FAIRLY CONFIDENT ABOUT WHAT YOU KNOW AND HOW TO PORTRAY THAT TO OTHERS.

6. YOU KNOW SOMETHING BUT ARE NEVER QUITE SURE OF YOURSELF.

4. I WANT TO GET MY POINT ACROSS BUT I AM NEVER SURE HOW.

2. I CAN DO MANY THINGS BUT THIS IS DEFINITELY NOT ONE OF THEM!!!!

WE ALL HAVE UNTAPPED SKILLS!!SOME PEOPLE TALK

SOME PEOPLE WRITE

SOME PEOPLE HELP OTHERS FIND THEIR VOICE

WE ALL HAVE UNTAPPED SKILLS WE DON’T KNOW WE HAVE.

AND OFTENTIMES WE HAVE A LIFE’S EVENT THAT CATAPAULTS US INTO FINDING THAT VOICE.

WHAT’S YOURS?

START WHERE YOU ARE WITH WHAT YOU HAVE1. TALK ABOUT WHAT YOU KNOW ABOUT

AND WHAT YOU ARE COMFORTABLE SHARING.

2. A WRITTEN CORRESPONDENCE CAN BE AS SIMPLE AS ‘PLEASE SUPPORT SB 3084 BECAUSE I KNOW 3 PEOPLE WHO WOULD BENEFIT.’

3. YOU MAY NOT FEEL READY TO SPEAK OR WRITE BUT YOU MAY BE ABLE TO TAKE SOMEONE TO A MEETING OR HELP THEM WRITE A LETTER.

4. LISTEN TO WHAT OTHERS ARE SHARING AND FIND THAT NICHE WHERE YOU FEEL YOU CAN CONTRIBUE.

AS WE GET INVOLVED, LETS START AT THE VERY BEGINNING:2 FEDERAL SENATORS (SEN. DICK DURBIN AND SEN. TAMMY DUCKWORTH)

1 FEDERAL CONGRESSMAN

1 STATE SENATOR

1 STATE REPRESENTATIVE

OTHERS OFFICIALS MAY INCLUDE:

MAYOR

SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER

ALDERMAN

PARK BOARD MEMBER,

ETC. ETC.

DO YOU KNOW YOUR LEGISLATOR? DO YOU KNOW WHERE YOU VOTE?IF YOU DON’T KNOW THEM, FIND OUT WHO THEY ARE:

1. ILLINOIS STATE BOARD OF ELECTIONS: HTTP: WWW.ILLINOISELECTIONS.GOV

DOWNLOAD THE DESKTOP EDITION OR MOBILE EDITION. ON THE LEFT SIDE PUT IN ADDRESS AND ZIP.

SHOW OF HANDS: WHO HAS MET THEIR LEGISLATORS?WHY IS THIS IMPORTANT?

1. IT IS ALWAYS GOOD TO KNOW THEM BEFORE YOU NEED THEM. IF YOU ESTABLISH A RELATIONSHIP WITH THEM (ESPECIALLY AT THE STATE LEVEL) WHEN AN ISSUES ARISES THAT IMPACTS YOUR FAMILY THEY ARE MORE LIKELY TO UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS ISSUE.

2. WHILE LEGISLATORS CARE FOR PEOPLE IN GENERAL THEY REALLY CARE FOR THOSE PEOPLE WHO CAST VOTES IN THEIR DISTRICT.

DAVY CROCKETT SAID IT BEST:“I’LL LEAVE THIS TRUTH FOR OTHERS WHEN I’M DEAD.

JUST BE SURE YOU’RE RIGHT AND THEN GO AHEAD.”

POINT TO REMEMBER WHEN ENGAGED IN ADVOCACY.

HOW TO START THE BALL ROLLING:DO YOU HAVE AN ISSUE THAT NEEDS ADDRESSED?

IS THERE AN ISSUE OUT THERE THAT IMPACTS YOUR FAMILY?

DO YOU WANT YOUR LEGISLATURE TO BE AWARE OF A CHANGE THAT NEEDS TO BE MADE?

IS THE ISSUE FEDERAL OR STATE? OR CITY?

COMMUNICATION WITH YOUR LEGISLATOR:LETTERS, EMAIL, TEXT OR PHONE

IN PERSON

IS THERE ANY RIGHT WAY?

MEETING IN PERSON:

1. MAKE AN APPOINTMENT. THIS IS NECESSARY IN BOTH DC AND SPRINGFIELD BUT ESPECIALLY IN D.C.

2. IF YOU CAN’T GET AN APPOINTMENT WITH YOUR LEGISLATURE ASK TO TALK TO A STAFF MEMBER ABOUT YOUR ISSUE.

3. IF YOU GET THE APPOINTMENT KEEP THE TIME SHORT. 10-15 MINUTES IS A GOOD RULE OF THUMB.

MEETING IN PERSON:CONSIDER MEETING IN THE DISTRICT OFFICE RATHER THAN SPRINGFIELD. YOUR SENATOR, REP WILL HAVE MUCH MORE TIME TO GIVE YOU AND BE MORE ATTENTIVE.

ALWAYS BE POLITE EVEN WHEN YOU ARE NOT IN AGREEMENT.

ALWAYS SAY THANK YOU NOT JUST TO THE LEGISLATOR BUT TO HIS STAFF.

KNOW YOUR FACTS AND HAVE UP TO DATE MATERIAL. IF YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT SPECIFIC LEGISLATION KNOW WHERE THAT LEGISLATION IS BEFORE YOU TALK ABOUT IT.

MEETING IN PERSON:NEVER EVER EVER MAKE UP AN ANSWER. I DON’T KNOW IS MUCH BETTER THAN TELLING THEM SOMETHING THAT IS NOT TRUE. OFFER TO FIND OUT AND GET BACK TO THEM.

HAVE PATIENCE, LOTS OF PATIENCE. LEGISLATION TAKES TIME TO PASS AND GOOD LEGISLATION EVEN MORE TIME.

UNDERSTAND HOW COMPLEX THE WHOLE LEGISLATIVE SYSTEM IS.

UNDERSTAND THAT WHILE WE THINK OUR ISSUE IS THE MOST IMPORTANT SO DOES EVERYONE WHO APPROACHES THE LEGISLATOR.

MEETING IN PERSON:DO NOT UNDERESTIMATE THE POWER OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF CAN GET YOU IN TO SEE HIM, THEY KNOW HIS SCHEDULE, AND THEY CAN GET YOUR INFORMATION ABOUT CERTAIN LEGISLATION IN HIS HANDS.

IN THE FAMOUS WORDS OF RALPHIE FROM A CHRISTMAS STORY:

‘A LITTLE BRIBERY NEVER HURTS.’

MEETING IN PERSON:WHEN FIRST MEETING THANK THEM FOR THE JOB THEY DO (WHETHER YOU AGREE WITH THEM OR NOT)

VISIT THOSE WHOM YOU VOTE FOR. OTHER LEGISLATORS ARE NOT INTERESTED BECAUSE YOU CANT VOTE FOR THEM.

IF YOU AGREE WITH THEM ON A CERTAIN ISSUE TELL THEM WHY. IF YOU DON’T AGREE ALSO TELL THEM WHY AND HOW THIS WILL IMPACT YOU AND YOUR FAMILY AND COMMUNITY.

IF YOU ARE ASKING FOR SUPPORT ON A CERTAIN BILL VISIT THEM BEFORE THEY VOTE.

MAKE SURE THEY HAVE YOUR CONTACT INFORMATION: NAME, PHONE, EMAIL

SCHMOOZING CAN WORK WONDERS!!

MEETING IN PERSON:DON’T MAKE THIS VISIT A ONE TIME THING.

STAY IN CONTACT WITH YOUR LEGISLATOR.

OFFER TO DO THINGS TO HELP HIM: WALK IN PARADES, SIGNS IN YOUR YARD, LETTERS TO THE EDITOR (ESPECIALLY IF THIS WAS A DIFFICULT ISSUE FOR HIM TO CHAMPION)

LETTERS, EMAILS, PHONE CALLSWHEN YOU ARE MAKING PHONE CALLS BE AWARE THAT EVERY LEGISLATOR KEEPS TRACK OF EVERY PHONE CALL THAT COMES IN AND THE ISSUE ADDRESSED.

BEFORE YOU CALL WRITE DOWN NOTES ABOUT THE POINTS YOU WANT TO MAKE SO YOU CAN KEEP THIS SHORT AND DON’T FORGET ANYTHING.

IF YOU ARE CALLING TO TALK TO SOMEONE ASK FOR THE STAFF PERSON WHO HANDLES THAT ISSUE(EDUCATION, HUMAN SERVICES, ETC.) AND KNOW LEGISLATORS ARE TOO BUSY TO TAKE OR RETURN CALLS.

LETTERS, EMAILS, PHONE CALLSIT IS CRUCIAL TO THINK ABOUT YOUR WORDS WHEN LEAVING A PHONE MESSAGE. EVEN IF YOU ARE ANGRY WITH THE LEGISLATOR DO NOT REFLECT THAT IN YOUR MESSAGE. DO NOT BE THREATENING IN WHAT YOU SAY.

COMMUNICATION=ADVOCACY

WHAT DOES THE WORD ADVOCATE MEAN?

WE HEAR THE WORD AND IT CAN BE SCARY.

WE ARE ALL ADVOCATES EVERY DAY OF OUR LIFE:

‘I ORDERED THE FISH AND YOU BROUGHT ME CHICKEN.’

THE WORD ADVOCATE IS FROM LATIN AND SIMPLY MEANS

VOICE

AT AND THE LEGISLATIVE SYSTEMMANY TIMES DISABILITY ISSUES HAVE BEEN BROUGHT TO THE FRONT BECAUSE OF GRASS ROOTS EFFORTS.

WHILE AT HAS BEEN IN LAW BOTH AT THE FEDERAL AND STATE LEVEL FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS, WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO KEEP IT THERE AND CONTINUE TO EDUCATE LEGISLATORS ABOUT ITS IMPORTANCE.

AT AND THE LEGISLATIVE SYSTEMMANY TIMES DISABILITY ISSUES HAVE BEEN BROUGHT TO THE FRONT BECAUSE OF GRASS ROOTS EFFORTS.

WHILE AT HAS BEEN IN LAW BOTH AT THE FEDERAL AND STATE LEVEL FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS, WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO KEEP IT THERE AND CONTINUE TO EDUCATE LEGISLATORS ABOUT ITS IMPORTANCE.

LAWS FOR SCHOOLASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY HAS MORPHED THROUGH THE YEARS BOTH IN IDEA AND IN STATE STATUTES.

AT IS MUCH MORE ACCEPTED IN SCHOOLS THANKS TO CHANGES IN IDEA AND IN STATES WHERE SPECIFIC LAWS HAVE BEEN PASSED.

FOR INSTANCE IN CONNECTICUT UNDER SLD TWO WORDS HAVE BEEN ADDED: INCLUDED DYSLEXIA

IN OKLAHOMA AND ILLINOIS AND OTHER STATES DYSLEXIA HANDBOOKS HAVE BEEN COMPILED BY THOSE STATES’ BOARDS OF EDUCATION.

LAWS FOR SCHOOLSIN ILLINOIS AT IEPS SCHOOLS MUST GIVE PARENTS INFORMATION ON THE STATE ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY PROGRAM INCLUDING PHONE NUMBER, ADDRESS, AND WEBSITE.

LAWS AND EMPLOYMENTTHE ADA COVERS EMPLOYMENT IN MANY AREAS INCLUDING ACCESSABILITY.

THE REHABILITATION ACT OF 1973, SECTION 504 COVERS EMPLOYMENT

THE ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY ACT FIRST PASSED IN 1988 AND REAUTHORIZED IN 1998 AND 2004 BOTH STRONGLY SUPPORT AT IN THE WORKPLACE WHEN NEEDED.

ILLINOIS’ TECH PROGRAM HAS A REUSE PROGRAM AND LAST YEAR A BILL WAS PASSED SO THAT OUR PROGRAM WOULD WORK WITH HFS IN ORDER TO GET EQUIPMENT IN THE HANDS OF CONSUMERS THAT NEED IT AND HAVE MEDICAIDE FASTER AND IN A MORE TIMELY MANNER.

POLITICAL ADVOCACY

TODAY WE ARE TALKING ABOUT POLITICAL ADVOCACY AND HOW YOU CAN BE INVOLVED.

THIS IS ADVOCACY BY A PERSON OR A GROUP TO DRAW ATTENTION TO A BILL, AN ISSUE, A SYSTEMIC CHANGE.

POLITICAL ADVOCACY’S PURPOSE IS TO CHANGE OR INFLUENCE SYSTEMS/INSTITUTIONS SUCH AS POLITICAL BODIES, SCHOOLS, SOCIAL INSTITUTIONS ETC. BY WORKING WITH THE SYSTEM IN PLACE TO BRING ABOUT THESE CHANGES.

HOW DO YOU GET INVOLVED?NO ONE CAN DO EVERYTHING.

EVERYONE CAN DO SOMETHING.

DECIDE WHAT YOU CAN DO AND WHEN YOU CAN DO IT.

YOU MAY ONLY BE ABLE TO SLIP IN SUPPORT OR OPPOSITION OF A BILL OR MAKE PHONE CALLS TO YOUR LEGISLATOR AND THAT IS OKAY.

FIVE KEY THINGS TO KNOW AS AN ADVOCATE:KEY ONE:

ACTIVE PROMOTION OF AN ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED.

KEY TWO:

DEFINE ACTIONS THAT LEAD YOU TO THE GOAL YOU ARE TRYING TO ACHIEVE. HAVE A ROAD MAP READY AND FOLLOW THAT MAP.

FIVE KEY THINGS TO KNOW AS AN ADVOCATE:KEY THREE:

ADVOCACY DOES NOT NECESSARILY MEAN CONFLICT OR CONFRONTATION IS NECESSARY.

STANDING YOUR GROUND AND EXPLAINING YOUR POINT DOES NOT MEAN YOU HAVE TO CONFRONT THE OTHER SIDE.

INSTEAD IT IS IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND THE OTHER SIDE AND WHY THEY ARE OPPOSED TO YOUR ISSUE. KEEP YOUR FRIENDS CLOSE AND YOUR ENEMIES CLOSER.

FIVE KEY THINGS TO KNOW AS AN ADVOCATE:INGREDIENTS TO BEING EFFECTIVE:

1. THE RIGHTNESS OF YOUR ISSUE AND WHY YOU BELIEVE THINGS NEED TO CHANGE.

2. POWER OF ADVOCACY. WHEN ONE PERSON BELIEVES IN SOMETHING IT IS ONE PERSON BUT WHEN MORE THAN ONE BELIEVES CHANGES HAPPEN. MARGARET MEADE SAID, ‘NEVER DOUBT THAT A SMALL GROUP OF COMMITTED CITIZENS CAN CHANGE THE WORLD. INDEED IT IS THE ONLY THING THAT EVERY HAS.’

3. THE THOROUGHNESS OF THE RESEARCH YOU HAVE DONE INCLUDING WHERE THE OTHER SIDE STANDS

4. SKILL IN USING THE TOOLS AT YOUR DISPOSAL INCLUDING THE MEDIA.

5. EFFECTIVE TACTICS YOU CAN USE TO CHANGE MINDS.

FIVE KEY THINGS TO KNOW AS AN ADVOCATE:KEY FIVE:

UNDERSTANDING ISSUES FROM TOP TO BOTTOM AND RESPECTING EVEN THOSE WHO ARE ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE. THOSE WHO ARE AGAINST YOUR ISSUE TODAY MAY BE YOUR ALLY ON ANOTHER ISSUE NEXT WEEK.

DON’T EVER BURN YOUR BRIDGES!

AND NOW YOU KNOW:YOU HAVE BRAINS IN YOUR HEAD

YOUR HAVE FEET IN YOUR SHOES

YOU CAN STEER YOURSELF

IN ANY DIRECTION YOU CHOOSE

YOU’RE ON YOUR OWN

AND YOU KNOW WHAT YOU KNOW

AND YOU ARE THE GUY (OR GIRL)

WHO’LL DECIDE WHERE TO GO.

CONTACT INFORMATION:

• PHIL MILSK, CONSULTANT PHIL MILSK ASSOCIATES

PHILMILSK@AOL.COM

SUSY WOODS, POLICY AND EDUCATION LIASION, ILLINOIS ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY PROGRAM

SWOODS@ILTECH.ORG OR 217-638-8411