Grassroots Advocacy Partnership
The Council is devoting resources to serve as a catalyst in the disability community to help re-vitalize grassroots advocacy throughout the State of Utah.
This grassroots effort will engage families, individuals with disabilities and allies to help them express their needs. People will be trained to explain “this is what my life looks like; this is what I have done on my family’s behalf using family members / friends / church support systems; and here are the pieces that would make a difference for me (i.e., respite services, employment supports, living supports and skill building).”
This grassroots effort will help people tell their stories and educate policy makers and the community as a whole about the issues that impact the lives of people living with disabilities.
Goal for the Grassroots Advocacy Partnership:
To promote input from the disability community to ensure that disability viewpoints are considered by policymakers as policy and funding decisions are made.
Objectives:
- To form a communication conduit to inform the disability community on statewide issues.
- To inform local communities of opportunities for training and information concerning persons with disabilities and their families.
- To assist in organizing local communities to address issues regarding persons with disabilities in their local communities.
- To mobilize people with disabilities and their families to participate in the development of policies, regulations and statutes impacting the lives of persons with disabilities and their families.
Advocacy—Using Your Words
Are there curb cuts in your neighborhood? Do you need accessible restrooms in buildings you visit a lot? Learn how to let community leaders know what is important to you.
The Regional Organizers:
Regional organizers will be part of a network operating across the state. Organizers will be assigned to cover a designated geographic area and will be responsible for organizing a local team (composed of a person with a disability, a family member, and a professional). They will support the local team and will help them reach out to members of the local disability community, developing communications systems and disseminating information to that network, and promoting contacts by members of the disability community with policy makers.
Regional Organizer’s duties:
- Identify, on an ongoing basis, members of the disability community (persons with disabilities, family members, advocates, and others) in their geographic area to develop and maintain a network of persons interested in disability issues who provide input to policy makers.
- Disseminate information to their local network through such methods as e-mail distribution lists and phone trees.
- Make personal contacts with legislators and other policy makers, and encourage such contacts by members of the local disability community to inform policy makers about disability issues and concerns, so that policy makers are hearing from the community on a regular basis.
- Encourage attendance by members of the disability community at local meetings with legislators, formal legislative hearings, town hall meetings, etc.
- Organize/host occasional local events such community forums, town hall meetings, or informal meetings with policy makers..
