So you’re ready to advocate, now what? Follow the map below to find out.
If you do your research on the issue, reflect on your personal experience with it, and prepare a 3-5-minute story that concludes with a clear ask, you will already be on your way to creating change.
You might find allies to join you in your efforts, or you might be the single change-maker, either is fine. When you schedule a meeting, you might meet with a staff member of the legislator’s instead of the legislator themself, this is normal. At any time, you can also try to coordinate a meeting with a legislator you have researched who is more supportive of the issue, or who has a personal tie to it. This can be quite an effective strategy.
If you feel overwhelmed or if barriers to access exist that prevent you from participating in a meeting, you can ask for accommodations before the meeting, or upon arrival. The individual with whom you meet will typically ask you to give a brief introduction and then describe the issue that brought you to their office. This is where the storytelling guide on the next page comes in handy.
Table of Contents
- Advocacy Toolkit
- The Issues
- Quotes from Self-Advocates
- Quotes from Diverse Stakeholders
- Definitions
- Model Legislation
- Demystifying the Legislative Process
- What’s Your Story?
- Resources/Allies to Know
Download PDF version of the toolkit