The Voice is the e-mail newsletter of The Special Needs Alliance. This installment was written by Special Needs Alliance member Lois M. Zerrer, whose practice is in Springfield, Missouri. She focuses on estate planning, Medicaid, Medicare, probate and veteran’s benefits. She has served as president of the Missouri Chapter of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys and as chair of The Missouri Bar Elder Law Committee. She is the principal attorney in the Zerrer Elder Law Office, LLC, in Springfield.
To say that parents of children with disabilities have learned to multi-task is an understatement. Providing for the many personal and care needs of your child on a daily basis requires you do this. There may be a way of caring for your child that you have not participated in up to this time. By advocating for your child and other children with similar disabilities, you are caring for your loved one as well.
This article highlights several tips and ideas for being an effective advocate with elected local, state or national representatives. I did this recently when I had the opportunity to be in Washington, D.C. It was my first try in personally contacting my senators and representative to advocate for an issue in which I passionately believe. I discovered it was invigorating to be in a place where decisions are made that affect hundreds to millions of people.
A major part of being an advocate involves talking with officials and staff of agencies and organizations, as well as government representatives, who really can make a difference in the lives of your loved ones. You want to be prepared for this task in order for your efforts to bring positive results for those persons whose cause you support.
Tips for Effective Advocates
Before preparing this article, I contacted several legislators and advocates for tips they suggest. So here, from the “horse’s mouth,” are ideas and tips that will help you be the most effective advocate when you contact an elected official.
1. Make your contact personal.
Your contact will be remembered long after your call or visit if you explain how a legislative proposal will impact your family. Your representative likely will not have first hand knowledge of what your family is going through. Whenever possible make your case more personal and less abstract. Remember that your knowledge, interest and passion will be remembered long after your visit.
2. Be prepared.
State the issue in a clear and concise manner. Know the bill number that you are advocating for or against, and where the bill is in the process. Every office suggested that you know who is supportive of your bill and who is not. Have the talking points ready for who might be opposed to your side of the issue. Do your research and be truthful.
3. Be passionate, not demanding.
There is an old saying, “You get more with honey, than vinegar.” Advocates who present an impassioned plea will be heard. But those who are strident may turn off the listener. Always be polite to office staff. That may be the difference between personal time with the legislator or not. Do not be offended if you are speaking with a staffer instead of the legislator. The staffer is likely to be more versed on your matter than the legislator and the staffer likely will be the person who prepares a synopsis of the issue and legisla= tion for your representative. Get the staffer is on your side. That is a good thing!
4. Follow up.
By sending a handwritten note or letter, your correspondence will stand out. Legislators receive hundreds of emails a day and this may be appropriate if a vote on your legislation is coming right up. But a personal letter is a wonderful way of sharing your story and educating an official. Just remember what your mother taught you – “please and thank you” go a long way! Your follow up letter, phone call, or email will show the legislator that you are truly engaged with your issue. Thank them for their time and effort in visiting with you and offer to be a resource if there are further questions that need answers. Also, if your advocacy is successful and legislation is enacted supporting your position, again thank the legislator and perhaps invite him or her to your organization or recognize their efforts in another fashion. This can help to establish a long and beneficial relationship with your elected officials.
Sometimes caring for family involves more than the daily activities of providing food and shelter. Sometimes we have to go outside of our comfort zones to do the right thing for our family and others. When you are passionate about helping your loved one and others, these tips can help you expand your reach outside your home or community. Maybe you could be the one to make a real difference statewide or nationally, for your loved one and others by your efforts at advocacy.
About this Newsletter:
We hope you find this newsletter useful and informative, but it is not the same as legal counsel. A free newsletter is ultimately worth everything it costs you; you rely on it at your own risk. Good legal advice includes a review of all of the facts of your situation, including many that may at first blush seem to you not to matter. The plan it generates is sensitive to your goals and wishes while taking into account a whole panoply of laws, rules and practices, many not published. That is what The Special Needs Alliance is all about. Contact information for a member in your state may be obtained by calling toll-free (877) 572-8472, or by visiting the Special Needs Alliance online.