Government

12 Simple Ways to Make a Political Difference

1.     Send a thank you letter after you meet or talk with your legislator and be sure to restate your priority messages.

2.     Sign up for your Members’ mailing lists (either electronically or regular mail) to get their newsletters and notices of town hall meetings and other activities.

3.     Attend town hall meetings and other events sponsored by your Members of Congress to voice your support for disability issues.

4.     Check your organization’s action center frequently for updates and new alerts.  Where possible, join the advocacy list to automatically receive e-mail updates.

5.     Always respond to action alerts when posted.

6.     Use your newsletters, conferences, support group meetings, coalition meetings, board meeting, and other events to publicize your organization’s action center.

7.     Recruit new advocates by forwarding action alerts to friends, family, and colleagues.

8.     Write about your experience attending the Disability Policy Seminar and the importance of disability issues for your newsletter or your local paper.

9.     Invite Members of Congress to events you host or to visit your programs.

10. Meet with your Members of Congress during the District Work Periods. (To view House and Senate calendars online visit: www.house.gov and www.senate.gov).

11. Correspond with your Members’ staff in Washington.  Let them know on an ongoing basis how the issues you discussed with them are affecting you and/or your family.  This will make you their “trusted expert” before you know it.

12.Get to know the local Congressional staff, too, those who work for your Member in the home district.  Keep them informed, too, about your issues and the impact on you and/or your family.