Every non-profit organization, especially those that advocate for people with disabilities, should become proficient in accessing state legislators who can help them push forth their agency's agenda. "Identify a champion legislator," said Marisol Jimenez-McGee, advocacy director for El Pueblo, Inc. "Then educate your champion about the need to advocate for people with disabilities. After all, disabled people are voters too."

Jimenez-McGee, together with Jo Perkins - assistant director of the North Carolina Division of Vocational Rehabilitation Services - told an audience at the Fourth Annual Bridges to Employment Conference in Raleigh, N.C. that people with disabilities would do good to learn the ins and outs of affecting legislation to benefit their communities.

Educate Yourself

"Informing yourselves about how the legislative process works is vital to your success as a non-profit," Jimenez-McGee said. "We need to make sure that Latinos have a say in the legislative process. But, if they don't know how to accomplish this, legislators won't come to the rescue. A legislator is only as good as the people he works for. We need to get our truths out there."

To be effective, Jimenez-McGee said, advocates should learn how a bill becomes law. When a bill goes to committee, advocates should find out who chairs that committee; find out what committee it will go to and who will be discussing it. "The bill is subject to change, so you should keep abreast about the changes. The worst thing that can happen is that your bill is not placed on the calendar, so that nobody will talk about your bill."

While Jimenez-McGee spoke to the audience about how to work with the legislature, Perkins reiterated the importance of simply getting a foot in the door. "Start at the local level," Perkins said. "Get involved, become known - get involved with true disability advocates, be well prepared. If you don't do that, your bill will linger and may die before it receives consideration. To affect legislation, the disability community needs to be unified."

Communicating with Legislators

Perkins reminded the audience that communicating their message to legislators is vital, and requires specific steps. The first step is to address legislators properly in writing. "Be brief and to the point," Perkins said. "Include key information using examples to support your position, address only one issue in each letter, mention the specific bill in question, give your reasons for supporting or opposing a bill, and don't forget to be polite."

The don'ts in writing the letter are as follows: Don't be long-winded, don't adopt a righteous tone, don't be rude or threatening, don't remind the legislator(s) that you are a tax payer, don't apologize for writing or for taking valuable time, don't be vague or deceptive, and, especially, don't hint that you think something is sleazy or dishonorable about the art of politics - even if you do feel that way."

Staff as Allies

Jimenez-McGee said to not discount the legislator's staff as allies. She said that, in a sense, a staff member is a legislator's alter ego. After you meet with a staff member, he or she is likely to summarize the meeting in a memo to the legislator. If you present your legislator with a complex problem, he or she may ask staff for a recommendation before taking any action. "By developing relationships with staff members you will have several contacts in the office to speak with regarding your issue."

"Keep the staff up-to-date regarding new information with your issue, such as articles, recent developments and timely information," Jimenez-McGee said. "Reciprocity in communication is important. Establishing a two-way road is essential in developing your relationship with staff. Remember that they are helping you and you need to make an effort to return the favor whenever possible."

Both Jimenez-McGee and Perkins recommended to the audience that they have "talking points." These are 3 to 5 solid arguments to support your bill. Distribute your talking points and share them with the media, with other legislators besides your champion, and with grass-roots organizations. Talking points are a tool to spread your message with influential people who can help support your bill.

"Above all, don't be shy or embarrassed about using the bully pulpit," Jimenez-McGee said. "You need to influence legislators to support or disprove a bill."

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