2016 Legislative Session ADVOCACY toolkit. Local Government Matters to the People!
Advocacy Matters Vol. 4, Issue 2
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July 2012 Governmental Affairs Ambassador Program Seminar On July 11th, a group of Advocates and Advisors from Middlesex, Somerset, Union, Essex, Morris, and Warren counties gathered together to learn more about legislative advocacy, state government and the ways to reach out to decision makers about issues of importance to people with disabilities statewide. The group discussed goals for the future of the Ambassador Program, which included communicating with legislators on a consistent basis, and using the media to raise awareness and educate people. While some of the Advocates who participated in the seminar were already familiar with their local legislators, every participant received a customized Know Your Legislators! worksheet (pictured below). Let’s face it: legislators are generalists, not specialists. They are well versed in particular subjects, but cannot be expected to know everything about everyone. Legislators need to and want to hear from you, their “constituents,” because they need to know what supports and services you use every day. There are several ways to reach out to legislators, both in writing and in person, and each opportunity to communicate with your legislators is an opportunity to inform them about your specific needs. To receive a worksheet with the legislators in your area and to learn more about how you and your Self-Advocacy group or Council can get involved, please contact Ashley Ritchey, Training and Technical Assistance Specialist with The New Jersey Self-Advocacy Project: 732-246-2525, ext. 37. The New Jersey Self-Advocacy Project would like to thank The Arc of Middlesex County for hosting the event. The NJSAP team would also like to thank all the dedicated Advocates, Advisors and Support Staff Members who attended the event. Advocacy Matters Vol. 4, Issue 2 The 29th Annual New Jersey Statewide Self-Advocacy Network’s Annual Fall Conference will be held on Saturday, October 13th at the DoubleTree Hotel in Somerset. Registration information for the event will be mailed out in mid-August in the upcoming issue of the NJSAP newsletter, The Self-Advocate. A digital newsletter produced by the New Jersey Self-Advocacy Project
Transcript of Advocacy Matters Vol. 4, Issue 2
July 2012
Governmental Affairs Ambassador Program SeminarOn July 11th, a group of Advocates and Advisors from Middlesex, Somerset, Union, Essex, Morris, and Warren counties gathered together to learn more about legislative advocacy, state government and the ways to reach out to decision makers about issues of importance to people with disabilities statewide. The group discussed goals for the future of the Ambassador Program, which included communicating with legislators on a consistent basis, and using the media to raise awareness and educate people. While some of the Advocates who participated in the seminar were already familiar with their local legislators, every participant received a customized Know Your Legislators! worksheet (pictured below).
Let’s face it: legislators are generalists, not specialists. They are well versed in particular subjects, but cannot be expected to know everything about everyone. Legislators need to and want to hear from you, their “constituents,” because they need to know what supports and services you use every day. There are several ways to reach out to legislators, both in writing and in person, and each opportunity to communicate with your legislators is an opportunity to inform them about your specific needs.
To receive a worksheet with the legislators in your area and to learn more about how you and your Self-Advocacy group or Council can get involved, please contact Ashley Ritchey, Training and Technical Assistance Specialist with The New Jersey Self-Advocacy Project: 732-246-2525, ext. 37.
The New Jersey Self-Advocacy Project would like to thank The Arc of Middlesex County for hosting the event. The NJSAP team would also like to thank all the dedicated Advocates, Advisors and Support Staff Members who attended the event.
Advocacy Matters Vol. 4, Issue 2
The 29th Annual New Jersey Statewide Self-Advocacy Network’s
Annual Fall Conference will be held on Saturday, October 13th at the
DoubleTree Hotel in Somerset.
Registration information for the event will be mailed out in mid-August
in the upcoming issue of the NJSAP newsletter, The Self-Advocate.
A digital newsletter produced by the New Jersey Self-Advocacy Project
Education Station: Tips for Advisors & Officers
Take advantage of the delicious weather this month. If you and your group are up for it, take your meeting out of doors! Explore your surroundings. Soak up some sun (don’t forget the SPF!)
Getting tired of the same old routine? Shake it up. Take a different route (or ask your support staff to!) on your ride to the grocery store or work. Keep an eye out for accessible eateries, shops and community centers. If you notice a spot that you want to check out and it is not accessible, perhaps you and other group members can speak with or write to the owner about making their business accessible to all customers.
While some self-advocacy groups decide to “break” for the summer, advocacy doesn’t take a vacation! There are countless events happening in your community. Realize that these events can be a great way to meet your neighbors, have some fun and (if you happen to be rockin’ a Self-Advocacy Network t-shirt) raise awareness about New Jersey’s stellar self-advocacy movement!
Check out this website for information about county fairs and events taking place all summer long and statewide: http://www.countyfairgrounds.net/newjersey/newjersey.php
ADA Awareness Month Boardwalk Outreach Event
Saturday, July 28th, 2012 Where: On Jenkinson’s Boardwalk, between the Aquarium
and Sweet Shop. Parking is available in the lot behind the Aquarium at 300 Ocean Avenue in Point Pleasant Beach
Who: Everyone is welcome to come out, stroll the boards, and celebrate ADA Awareness Month! NJSAP Staff will be running the booth, distributing information and some sweet
giveaways!
Questions? Please email [email protected] or call 732-246-2525, ext. 37
