Presented by Tony AndersonThe Arc of CaliforniaResources: The Arc of the United States and the Disability Policy Collaboration of The Arc & UCP, Ray Labov, and Marty Omoto

April 2013

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Sunset the most recent 1.25% payment reduction to community providers and regional centers as scheduled

Sunset the family participation fee as scheduled

Require the regional centers to pay insurance copays, coinsurance, and deductibles, with no means testing

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Create a comprehensive process for closing the state’s developmental centers

Revert early intervention eligibility requirements to the pre-2009 standard

End the unnecessary annual accounting audits of small service providers

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However, we see three problems with creating a new office as LAO has recommended:

The new agency’s responsibilities would overlap in a major way with the existing OPS’s responsibilities, creating even more of the confusion and jurisdictional conflicts that are a major part of the problem in the developmental centers now.

Creating a new agency would leave OPS, an actual law enforcement agency, under the control of the department it is intended to police

Forcing DDS to reduce its already inadequate budget by as much as $1 million to pay for the new agency, as the LAO has recommended, would lead to further degrading of support for people with developmental disabilities.

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Community Living Fact Sheet Social SecurityEducation and Employment Achieving A Better Life Experience,

“ABLE” Act Civil Rights: Convention on the

Rights of Persons with DisabilitiesAffordable Care Act Federal Funding Facts

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Organize People Organize Money Don’t Confuse Your Private Life with Your

Personal Life People Respond Most Effectively and

Persistently When They Act in Their Self-Interest – Be Clear About Your Self-Interest.

People in Power Only Respond to an Equal or Greater Power

Don’t Be Afraid to Be a Powerful Person

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1. Make an Appointment2. Be on time3. Be positive and friendly4. State Reason for Visit5. Personalized the issues6. Reliable information7. Engage in the problem solving8. Encourage them to talk 9. Provide them with good contacts10. Leave a written summary11. Take a picture12. Write a thank you letter13. Follow-up meeting later in the year14. Have others write letters

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1.1. ConfrontationConfrontation

2.2. Too many issues Too ComplexToo many issues Too Complex

3.3. Too Many Facts and StatsToo Many Facts and Stats

4.4. Stretching the truth for effect.Stretching the truth for effect.

5.5. Answering questions you don’t knowAnswering questions you don’t know

6.6. Leaving behind reports etc.Leaving behind reports etc.

7.7. Messing around in the photoMessing around in the photo

8.8. Forget to write a thank you letterForget to write a thank you letter

9.9. Ignore the member the rest of the yearIgnore the member the rest of the year

10.10. Ignore the member the rest of the yearIgnore the member the rest of the year

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• Listen to the chair’s opening remarks for clues

• Call ahead to get the format

• Check out the agenda before the meeting

Begin testimony by (1) thanking the chair and committee members (2) state your name (3) title (mom, dad, self-advocate, district constituent, etc).

Clearly state your position Concisely state reasons Keep the goal in mind Give specific answers Ask for clarification If you don’t know the answer say so Amendments: If you don’t know the effect say so Be truthful at all times Assume integrity of the legislators

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Don’t read written statements Do not interrupt others Don’t take opposition personally Do not engage in argument Stop while you’re ahead Do not display a condescending attitude Do not get “over-technical” Don’t speak for others without

permission

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Address to the bill author, cc: committee members, the governor, and your local legislator

In the Subject or Re: line list the bill number or budget item and your position

Get to the point of the letter quickly If representing a group mention it first Be clear about what you’re asking for Provide concrete, credible info on legislation’s impact Add a short hand written message on the letter – if personal

relationship Use attention getting techniques sparingly Write promptly know the process Try to keep your letter to one page. If you know the date of the hearing for a bill mention it. Sign and provide your title

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What Works? Ask the Experts

Survey completed by 350 staff from more than 200 House and Senate Offices

http://www.cmfweb.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=63

Take Home Message:

Form letters are not effective. Staff think they are often fake.

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"Most identical form communications campaigns are sent without the constituent's knowledge or approval."

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"If your Member/Senator has not already arrived at a firm decision on an issue, how much influence might the following Individualized written communications directed to the Washington office have on his/her decision?"

Take Home Message:

Most forms of individualized written communications work

Strategic Thinking Approach to Advocacy

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Self-InterestPower only yields to powerTime (Balancing Priorities)TrustKnow the viable Policy options.

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Promote and protect the boss.Help with sorting through

information to get to what’s most important.

Be a resource for fiscal and program estimates.

Help identify Key playersHelp in developing true policy

options, drafting bills, etc.Help in developing political strategy

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Agriculture Appropriations *Armed Services Budget Education and Labor *Energy and Commerce *Financial Services Foreign Affairs Homeland Security House Administration Judiciary Natural Resources Oversight and Government Reform Rules Science and Technology Small Business Standards of Official Conduct Transportation and Infrastructure *Committee on Veterans' Affairs Committee on Ways and Means *Joint Economic Committee Joint Committee on Taxation Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence   Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming

Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Appropriations *Armed Services Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs *Budget Commerce, Science, and Transportation Energy and Natural Resources Environment and Public Works Finance *Foreign Relations Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions * Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Judiciary Rules and Administration Small Business and Entrepreneurship Veterans' Affairs Indian Affairs Select Committee on Ethics Select Committee on Intelligence Special Committee on Aging Joint Committee on Printing Joint Committee on Taxation Joint Committee on the Library Joint Economic Committee

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Senate • Appropriations• Budget • SubBudget: Edu

cation 

• SubBudget: Human Services  

• Education • Health

Human Services

• Judiciary • Transportation• Housing • Public Safety

Assembly• Appropriations• Budget• SubBudget: Education • SubBudget: Human Servi

ces • Education• Health• Human Services• Judiciary• Transportation• Housing• Public Safety

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Time Your Efforts – Why Are you Getting Another Action Alert?

Federal

State

Self-Advocates & Parents/Siblings

Advocates

Providers

Paid Lobbyists

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More likely to understand & care about the issues. Most of our champions have a close

personal connection (E.g. Kennedy, Sensenbrenner, Harkin).

Pavley, Matthews, Bogh, Karnette, Chesbro, etc.

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Invite to programs, events, your house for coffee with friends, etc. Seek local media coverage

Participate in Campaigns *Vote

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* Learn about lobbying restrictions for 501(c)3 non profits at: http://www.clpi.org/Make_a_Difference_Resource_Guide.aspx

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Sen. Barbara Boxer’s Constituent Sen. Barbara Boxer’s Constituent Breakfast Breakfast

Thank you

Confirm conversation

Confirm commitments

Ask to help

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Follow through is the Chariot of Genius

Terry Lierman, Chief of Staff House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer

One visit a year isn’t enough

Don’t always ask for something

Publicity

Thank yous /Awards

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Offer face to face interactions with Members & staff

Help to get your message to your fellow community members.

Photo opsSign up for alerts on your members’ web sites

Example

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Social Media: Twitter, Facebook,

Newsletters, Email List, Flicker, etc.

Know the issues and their impact on you and relate that quickly, then

Ask your legislators and or their staff to help you meet your needs in the context of the cuts they participated in making.

Have them follow-up with the proper entity to get answers to your questions.

Approach the interaction as an planning Team Meeting for an IPP/IFSP

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Get involved It’s your jobYou are the expertMuch is at stake It can be frustratingDon’t ever give up

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Questions?Tony Anderson, The Arc of California

(916) 552-6619www.thearcca.org

Tony@TheArc CA.org