SDBP Legislative Advocacy Opportunities

SDBP Legislative Advocacy Opportunities & Guidance

SDBP is committed to supporting our members in engaging in advocacy related to legislation and other efforts intended to improve access to care and quality of life for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDDs). On this page, you will find current legislative advocacy opportunities as well as educational information to support you in your advocacy efforts.

For more information about Advocacy Committee activities, please contact the Advocacy Committee Co-Chairs, Rebecca Lieb (lieb@kennedykrieger.org) and Marisa Toomey (Marisa.Toomey@uky.edu).

Guidance regarding current legislative advocacy issues coming soon. In the meantime, please check out the advocacy resources below.

Guidance regarding current legislative advocacy issues coming soon. In the meantime, please check out the advocacy resources below.

ADVOCACY COMMITTEE TIPS AND RESOURCES!

Reach out to your Legislators!

Find your legislators:

CLICK HERE to find your Congressional representative

CLICK HERE to find your U.S. Senators

In-person visits:

Call your representatives and ask to schedule an in-person visit. See the tip sheets and videos at the bottom of this page for guidance on meeting with your legislators in person.

Tips for calling your representatives by phone:

Introduce yourself as a constituent.
Briefly discuss the problem and utilize personal examples and stories if applicable.
Offer a solution.
Ask for action (ex: I strongly encourage you to support/co-sponsor the HEADs UP Act OR I strongly encourage you to push forward The Autism CARES Act for a vote prior to its expiration on September 30^th)

Ways to e-mail:

CLICK HERE to send an e-mail to your representatives in under 2 minutes in regards to the Autism CARES Act.
CLICK HERE to send an e-mail to your representatives in under 2 minutes in regards to the HEADs UP Act.

Tweet about it:

Locate your legislator’s Twitter handle by visiting the links below and schedule 5 minutes a day to send a tweet.

- House Representatives: https://pressgallery.house.gov/member-data/members-official-twitter-handles
- Senators: https://ucsd.libguides.com/congress_twitter/senators

SAMPLE TWEETS BELOW:

Tweet about the HEADs UP Act: Support the #HEADsUP Act that helps to increase access to behavioral, medical and dental care for people with I/DD, including those with #autism. @(enter your representative’s Twitter handle here), please cosponsor this bill!
Tweet about the Autism CARES Act: The Autism CARES Act supports professionals interested in and currently collaborating with individuals with I/DD and their families on their behavioral and medical care including those with #autism. @(enter your Senator’s Twitter handle here), please push a vote on this bill in the Senate before it expires on September 30^th!!

VIDEO: Tips for Meeting with Legislators In-Person (Abigaile McGowen, LMSW)