Advocacy Tips and Tools:

Making a difference through advocacy does not have to be difficult or time consuming. Below is information that will help advocates be effective and learn more about the different methods to make a difference. Information is included on how to set up a meeting with a legislator, tips on writing a letter to the editor, tools to help you prepare for public testimony, and many other useful topics.

Information on how to identify and contact your representatives can be found at http://www.fyi.legis.state.tx.us. This includes current members of the Texas Senate, Texas House of Representatives, the Texas delegation to the U.S. House of Representatives, and the State Board of Education (SBOE). Additional details on how to contact your legislators are at http://www.lrl.state.tx.us/citizenResources/ContactLeg.html.

TIPS:

Writing your legislator or agency representative
Meeting with your legislator or agency representative
Calling your legislator
Making Public Testimony
Advocacy Do's and Don'ts
Working with the news media – including writing Letters to the Editor and Guest Editorials.
Telling Your Story and Legislative Checklist from Texas Advocates at the Arc of Texas..
12 Steps to pass legislation by the New York State Coalition for the Aging, Inc.

TOOLS

Advocacy Handbooks in English (36 pages) and Spanish (36 pages): “Basic Legislative and Systems Change Advocacy Training Primer” and
"Advancing Advocacy: The Advanced Course" in English (73 pages) and Spanish (73 pages) All created by The Arc of Texas under a grant from TCDD.
How to Follow a Bill in the Texas Legislature.
Help Texas Kids is an advocacy website created by two parents that addresses a multitude of legislative concerns. It is designed to educate readers on the serious issues Texas faces and provide an easy, cost-free method to send a letter to your representatives. These parents have a prepared letter that they send on behalf of individuals who visit the website. By the end of February 2011, they had already sent more than 1,000 letters during Legislative Session. The website is at http://www.helptexaskids.com.
How to Monitor Committee Meeting Audio/Video:
- (House)
- (Senate)
Look up bills by subject, author or committee.

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Public Policy Public Policy News Advocacy 101 Texas Legislature 82nd Legislature Find your Rep TCDD 2011 Public Policy Priorities Position Statements Access to Health Care Aging w/DD Children & Families Community Living Criminal Competency Education Emergency Preparedness Employment Family Support Services Guardianship Public Transportation Right to Privacy Service Coordination Transition from School to Adult Life Public Information Act Federal Policy Update Sunset Review	Advocacy Tips and Tools: Making a difference through advocacy does not have to be difficult or time consuming. Below is information that will help advocates be effective and learn more about the different methods to make a difference. Information is included on how to set up a meeting with a legislator, tips on writing a letter to the editor, tools to help you prepare for public testimony, and many other useful topics. Information on how to identify and contact your representatives can be found at http://www.fyi.legis.state.tx.us. This includes current members of the Texas Senate, Texas House of Representatives, the Texas delegation to the U.S. House of Representatives, and the State Board of Education (SBOE). Additional details on how to contact your legislators are at http://www.lrl.state.tx.us/citizenResources/ContactLeg.html. TIPS: Writing your legislator or agency representative Meeting with your legislator or agency representative Calling your legislator Making Public Testimony Advocacy Do's and Don'ts Working with the news media – including writing Letters to the Editor and Guest Editorials. Telling Your Story and Legislative Checklist from Texas Advocates at the Arc of Texas.. 12 Steps to pass legislation by the New York State Coalition for the Aging, Inc. TOOLS Advocacy Handbooks in English (36 pages) and Spanish (36 pages): “Basic Legislative and Systems Change Advocacy Training Primer” and "Advancing Advocacy: The Advanced Course" in English (73 pages) and Spanish (73 pages) All created by The Arc of Texas under a grant from TCDD. How to Follow a Bill in the Texas Legislature. Help Texas Kids is an advocacy website created by two parents that addresses a multitude of legislative concerns. It is designed to educate readers on the serious issues Texas faces and provide an easy, cost-free method to send a letter to your representatives. These parents have a prepared letter that they send on behalf of individuals who visit the website. By the end of February 2011, they had already sent more than 1,000 letters during Legislative Session. The website is at http://www.helptexaskids.com. How to Monitor Committee Meeting Audio/Video: (House) (Senate) Look up bills by subject, author or committee.
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