Post on 18-May-2015
Making Your Case
Commission ofDeaf, DeafBlind and
Hard of Hearing Minnesotans
With MCDHH Executive Director Mary Hartnett and
Trudy Suggs of T.S. Writing Services
Purpose of Presentation
Build on the great success of Massachusetts- ASL Laws, Interpreter Laws, Telecommunications, Preventing Budget Cuts, Deaf Child’s Bill of Rights
Learn about the Minnesota Experience and apply lessons learned from case studies
Learn the skills and strategies needed to increase influence in public policy
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What is Public Policy?
Public policy is the set of decisions that we make at every level of government about how money is spent and the rules we live by.
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Congratulations on Your Recent Success
Not only have did you prevent budget cuts, but this year you are asking for money to be restored!
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Commission of Deaf, DeafBlind and Hard of Hearing Minnesotans (MCDHH)
Is a governor-appointed commission advocating for and with people who are deaf, deafblind and hard of hearing
Successful advocacy happens: By people themselves Through alliances With clear and driven goals
How we operate
Policy and advocacy goals set by diverse stakeholders in the community who drive the process.
Develop a strategic plan every 5 years: survey, interview key stakeholders and hold focus groups.
Priorities set, plan developed.
Legislative proposals presented and reviewed yearly.
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Funds for transition program for transition aged youth.
Minnesota Employment Center for Deaf and Hard of Hearing
Technology Standards
Captioning for Greater MN
Candidates who receive public financing must caption their ads
Examples of Legislation
EHDI Mandate
Deaf Mentors for Families
Parent Guides for Familes
Hearing aid loaner bank
Mandated Coordinator in Dept of Education for children birth to 3
Mandate for data collection on outcomes for d/hh/db kids and and improvement plan
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Example Minnesota educational interpreter certification law: Background
1994: Educational interpreting law Seven years for implementation From 4 to over 300 interpreters School districts and some interpreters
resisted.
2007: A Deaf person requests removal of language
Minnesota educational interpreter certification law: Strategies
Strategies: Establish clear goals Meet with each legislator and bill
author Check with all stakeholders Meet with union representative
Result: SUCCESS!
Testifying: What worked?
Understand the rules Approaching legislators
Be persistent Be visible during hearings
Know who you’re talking to Learn about legislators and
their backgrounds
Lessons learned: Educational interpreting law
Always have an eye—or 20—on existing and new legislation.
Ensure all parties involved have accurate information.
Have solid alliances and networks in place.
Know who to contact.
Be prepared.
Making Your Case course
Produced by MNCDHH
Created by ZenMation T.S. Writing Services Digiterp Communications
Signed by Deaf narrators
Is based on curriculum for other disability groups
Contains seven modules Information Activities Case studies
Let’s get started!
Module 1: Getting Started
Module 2: Changing the System
Module 3: Building Your Case
Module 4: Making Your Case in Writing
Module 5: Making Your Case In Person
Module 6: Keeping It Going
Module 7: Conclusion
Ten-step advocacy process
1. Identify your issue.
2. Develop your story.
3. Define your request.
4. Get the facts.
5. Find allies.
6. Get to the right person.
7. Choose your tactics.
8. Create a detailed plan.
9. Take action.
10.Keep it going.
Course objectives
Understand how public policy is made and who makes it
Understand the advocacy process and apply it to your situation
Tell your story in writing and in person
Know how to identify the policymakers who can help bring about the changes you need
Write effective letters and e-mails
Conduct meetings with policymakers
Give effective testimony and answer questions
Work with others to tackle community issues
How to tell your story: Which is better?
Option 1: My son needs more special education services.
OR
Option 2: My creative, inquisitive son Mickey is deaf. He’s a math whiz but he can’t explore ways to use this because there is a math club at his school but the school won’t provide an interpreter for this after-school activity.
What’s your story?
A good story: Introduces you and your family. Focuses on one thing. Explains your situation. Has enough details to make it interesting. Includes only information that relates to the
situation or your goal. Reminds the policymaker that you are a
constituent. Captures your emotion and passion for an
issue. Asks for a specific action to correct the
situation.
Face-to-face meetings
99% of Congressional staffers believe personal meetings influence decisions.1
Ask for support.
Explain your case.
Personalize an issue by sharing your story.
Educate the policymaker.
Invite the legislator to be involved.
Respond to and/or evaluate the policymaker’s stance.
1 Source: Communicating with Congress: How Capitol Hill is Coping with the Surge in Citizen Advocacyhttp://www.cmfweb.org
Providing testimony
Be prepared.
Meet with interpreters beforehand.
Keep it short.
Follow protocol.
State your position upfront, then restate it.
Personalize the issue.
Use facts.
Request a specific action.
Have a written version available.
Do not read straight from your paper.
Don’t repeat other people’s comments if possible.
Watch meetings and hearings in advance to get an idea.
As e-government services increased, employment for people with disabilities in state government decreased over a 10-year period, from 10% to 4%
Met with IT and employees with disabilities.
Governor didn’t support the change.
Accessible E-government services
Videos produced by the state not captioned.
Live-streamed legislative hearings were not captioned.
Documents and software for citizens and state employees were not accessible to blind and DB.
The state online job application site was not accessible.
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Funds for live captioning online for legislature
Funds for state CIO
Funds to teach how to make products accessible
Received funds for ASL video production- a WCAG 2.0 requirement
Results
Making Your Case
Health Care Rights Video
Capitol Accessibility Serieshttp://www.mncdhh.org/capitol-access/#access-ASLVideo
Video Captioning Essentials
Accessible Word Webinar
Accessible Website Webinar
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Keep it going
Keep the momentum going
Register to vote
Participate in community organizing
Stay updated
Ways to organize the community: Coalitions Media Internet Rallies Petitions Communications Public hearings Political involvement
Recent examples
Medicaid coverage for outpatient mental health services for deaf youth
We notify of email:http://www.mncdhh.org
Vlog http:
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Reminders for working with policymakers
Be prepared.
Avoid being negative and focus on the solution.
Focus on the issues, not personalities.
Your reputation is important.
Be polite even if you disagree.
Be patient with the process.
Know who your opponents are.
Be generous.
Continue to communicate.
Make sure you are registered to vote.
EHDI
Deaf Mentors
EHDI Mandate
EDHI Committee must have deaf members
EHDI Coordinator Department of Ed
Hearing Aid Loaner Bank
Parent to Parent Guides
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Group activity: Signing bus drivers
Group A: Argue in favor of requiring bus drivers to be fluent in ASL and/or having a supervisor on the bus
Group B: Argue against this requirement
Be sure to: Discuss strategies Identify allies and opponents
Training Legislative staff
Every two years we train legislative staff on how to make the capitol accessible to people who are deaf
Training on Deaf Culture, how best to communicate with people who are hard of hearing and deafblind
They love it!
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Civic Engagement
Each election year we apply for and receive funds for voter out reach from the Secretary of State
Voter Registration Drives
Deaf, Hard of Hearing Day at the Twins/Voter Registration
Collaborate with nonprofits to provide captions/interpreters for candidate debates
DeafBlind Vote Ride
You Decide video on the Secretary of State’s site
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Thank Legislatorsand Staff
Awards
Thank you notes
Often
It makes a big difference
Invite them to your events and recognize them there
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THANK YOU!
www.mncdhh.org/makingyourcase
www.youtube.com/mncdhh
www.facebook.com/mcdhh
www.twitter.com/mncdhh