 in a local park clean-up event.
- Write and call your legislators. Many people feel out of touch with the legislative process, but it is important to remember, your legislators work for you. Legislators need to hear from parents about issues impacting schools, neighborhoods, and the quality of life of its most vulnerable citizens. Find your legislators online. Send them an email or schedule a meeting with them to tell them about important issues to you and your family. Testify at a committee meeting. This is when your three-minute pitch will come in handy.
Effective advocacy is not about being a confident public speaker. Effective advocacy is about believing in a cause and wanting to see positive change. If your voice shakes, it is a sign of your passion and authenticity. Remember, if you do not speak up, there is little opportunity for change, improvement, or advancement.
As Dr. Seuss once said, “Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It’s not.”
Laura Dahill is the director of marketing and communications for The Arc Lane County and author of the book, Dreams Without Limits: Changing Perceptions About People with Disabilities. Dahill helps families in their journey of raising children with special needs, and she advocates for policy and systems change to improve the lives of people who experience disabilities. Dahill’s dream is to make the world more welcoming for her son and others who experience disability; she is actively involved in her community to help make this dream a reality.