GaRRS
disABILITY LINK is partnering with Georgia Radio Reading Service (GaRRS) to help increase disability rights advocacy within their programming by providing the content for “Disability Rights – a Two Minute Advocacy Training Session” – and for disABILITY LINK to reach the 15,000 members of their statewide audience – you can learn more about GaRRS and apply for their services by contacting them at http://www.garrs.net/
“GaRRS is an independent, nonprofit, 501(c)(3) organization, founded in 1980. Our mission is to provide blind and print-impaired Georgians with access to the printed word through technology and volunteer readers. We are staffed almost entirely by volunteers who read from more than 120 magazines, 35 newspapers, and 25 unabridged books each month. We also deliver public service information, as well as, community-support programs targeting such audiences as seniors and veterans.
GaRRS programs are broadcast 7 days a week, 24 hours a day by way of special subchannel radios provided by GaRRS to its subscribers. Listeners can also hear our broadcasts via an audio streaming link on our website.”
Download the 30 minute "At Your Service Sessions":
Download the “two minute advocacy sessions":
Disability Rights – A Two Minute Advocacy Training Session,
brought to you by disABILITY LINK….the Center for Rights and Resources –www.disabilitylink.org
A quote….“The most common way people give up their power is thinking they don’t have any,” Alice Walker
- Advocacy is “the act or process of defending a cause,” (Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary) – for us the cause is the rights of people with disabilities
- There are many kinds of advocacy, today we want to highlight legislative advocacy – influencing the legislative process – this time we are talking about the Georgia State Capitol (rather than the process at the congressional or federal level, in Washington DC)
- In Georgia in 2010, the Legislative Session begins on Monday, January 11 – the annual session runs for 40 Legislative Days, normally the session ends in late March, it depends on how many recess days there are – very rarely, a special session is called by the Governor to deal with a big issue that cannot wait until the following January
- Here are some things to bear in mind:
- How to find your elected representatives – there are a variety of ways of looking up your elected representatives – I suggest you try http://www.votesmart.org/ - you will need your 9 digit zip code (you can find this on your junk mail or using the web site for the post office http://zip4.usps.com/zip4/welcome.jsp) - the vote smart site will give you your Congressional, Gubernatorial, State Legislative (Representative and Senator) and Statewide Elected Representatives and a lot of other information – their contact information, voting records and ratings (by various organizations on various issues)
- You can get even more information at www.legis.state.ga.us – the web site for the Georgia General Assembly – perhaps more information that you can comfortably deal with? – so my suggestion is – do not be intimidated – even if the process or information might be bewildering at times – so educate yourself, one step at a time!
- Communicating with your elected representatives – while every member has an email address, the most effective way to communicate is by letter or phone – legislators prefer to hear from their own constituents (people who live in the district they represent) and will probably give less attention to mass emails or form letters from people outside their districts – tips include (a) your purpose for writing should be stated in the first paragraph of the letter, (b) if your letter pertains to a specific piece of legislation, identify it accordingly, e.g., House bill: H. R. ____, Senate bill: S.____. , (c) be courteous, to the point, and include key information, using examples to support your position, (d) address only one issue in each letter; and, if possible, keep the letter to one page
- While this information is centered around the Georgia State Capitol, don’t forget that you can contact or visit your legislators at their home districts – attend forums and meetings organized by the legislator or local organizations
- You can visit your legislators at the Georgia State Capitol,– follow similar tips when visiting as when writing – (a) plan your visit – be clear about what you want to achieve, (b) make an appointment - explain your purpose and who you represent, (c) be prompt and patient – understand there might be changes in the legislator’s schedule, (d) be prepared - bring to the information and materials supporting your position, (e) be political - demonstrate the connection between what you are requesting and the interests of the member's constituency - if possible, describe for the member how you or your group can be of assistance to him/her - where it is appropriate, remember to ask for a commitment, (f) be responsive - be prepared to answer questions or provide additional information, in the event the legislator expresses interest or asks questions - follow up the meeting with a thank you letter that outlines the different points covered during the meeting, and send along any additional information and materials requested
- There are a number of elements to the legislative process – writing and introducing legislation, referral to committees and sub-committees, scheduling floor action and debate, referral to the other chamber, etc. – the more you know about these parts of the process, the more effective you might be, however it is possible to influence the legislative process without knowing the details of how an issue becomes a bill and then becomes the law or how the budget is created – so the most importantthing you can do is communicate with your elected representatives
- Something worth being cognizant about is only raising state issues with state legislators (and congressional or federal issues with congressional legislators) – it is easy to be confused by this at times, but it is certainly a waste of time and energy, never mind reputation, to ask your legislator to act on an issue over which she/he has no influence
- The message you give needs to be as simple as the issue allows – when in doubt, make sure you are clear that “people with disabilities want to live in the community and control their own lives”
- Now enjoy the feeling of being an active citizen and participating in democracy – share the experience and information with others!
Attending advocacy days at the Georgia State Capitol is one of the many ways people advocate for their causes. If you are interested in advocating for issues that affect people with disabilities, there are several upcoming events you can participate in.
Blind Day at the Capitol
Blind Day at the Capitol is being held on January 13, 2010. It is at the Coverdale Legislative Office Building, and the address is 18 Capital Square SW, Atlanta, GA 30334. This event will be held from 8:30 am to 3:00pm. Pat Nobbie from the Georgia Council on Developmental Disabilities will train advocates on how to work with your legislators. Some important issues are getting the commission and Braille bills passed this coming legislative session. For more information, please visit the websitewww.georgiacounciloftheblind.org .
Self Advocacy Day
Self Advocacy Day at the Capitol is February 9, 2010. This event is organized by People First of Georgia. People First chapters are groups of people with disabilities who get together to support one another as each member practices self advocacy (speaking up for ourselves!) in our personal lives and for issues that are important to all people with disabilities. People First chapters are run by and for people with disabilities. For more information on attending this event, contact Cheri Mitchell by email cherimitchellg@gmail.com or by phone at 678-755-6015.
Poor People’s Day
Many people with disabilities are living at the poverty level. Poor People’s Days at the Capitol is February 10 and 11, 2010, and is organized by the Hunger Coalition. This is a 2 day event. The first day is an education day, and the second day will be an advocacy day at the capital. For more information, please call Sandra Robertson at 404-622-7778 or email hungercoalition@mindspring.com. There will be a planning meeting on January 7, 2010, for this advocacy day, at the Hunger Coalition’s office. The address is 9 Gammon Avenue, Atlanta, Georgia 30315. Lunch will be served at 12:30 pm, and the meeting will start at 1:00pm.
Unlock the Waiting Lists Day
On February 16, 2010, Unlock the Waiting Lists will have an advocacy day at the Capitol. Unlock the Waiting Lists advocates for the budget to include more funds for Medicaid Waivers. For more information, please visit the website www.aadd.org. You can also contact Dave Blanchard or Rita Young at 404-881-9777.
Disability Day at the Capitol
A day for all people with disabilities to be seen and heard by their Georgia legislators is Disability Day at the Capital. This event will be held on February 25, 2010, and is organized by the Georgia Council on Developmental Disabilities. For more information, please visit the website www.gcdd.org or call 404-657-2126.
Mental Health Day
Mental Health Day at the Capitol will be held on March 4, 2010. For more information about this advocacy event, please visit the Georgia Mental Health Consumer Network. The web address is www.gmhcn.org or call 1-800-297-6146.
- Like the bumper stickers say …..”Get involved…..the world is run by those who show up!”……or “The best way to predict the future is to help create it”