Communicating Your Cause

Introduction

As you may have noticed, the workshops are getting more specific to your own advocacy path. Workshop #3 is built around your starting point: what is the venue, what is your message, what is your work?

You don't have to do this alone! DCAL Coordinators can help you make those connections, point you in the right direction, and move with you through the process. Don't hesitate to reach out! If you are participating in the Workshop series, these all are covered in Workshop #3.

Remember that everything you write on the worksheets gets emailed back to you and all your work is your own. We will always ask your permission before we share anything, including whether you want it anonymous!

Crafting Your Message

This is a HUGE topic! There are so many ways to get your message out, that the following list is just the tip of the iceberg. Each one has advantages and disadvantages. The DCAL team has resources for each and can support you in finding the medium that works for you. We can also provide templates and feedback.

Consider the following in terms of your skills, budget, and, most importantly, purpose of the message.

• Public Speaking at a meeting, church, or other gathering

• Email

• Social media (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc)

• A blog, video channel or website

• Letter writing campaign

• March or demonstration

• Pamphlet or similar longer document

• Petition drive

• Writing a story , article or essay for publication

• Contacting a news organization with your story

Telling your Advocacy Story

Identifying the basic elements of your story will make it easier for you to adapt it to many forms of communication. Remember, storytelling in advocacy is about persuasion and getting people to see a problem the way you see it. Giving an action step or an idea of a future solution at the end will help inspire your audience to work towards the change you want to see.

However long or short your time frame is to tell your story, you should consider adding these three elements to make your story effective:

• Who you are

• Your situation related to the issue

• What would improve your situation

We have made a whole video on this topic and provided some examples of effective stories. You can check the video out here!

• Video transcript

• PowerPoint Slides

• Patrick's story

• Teddy's story

Boundaries & Owning Your Story

Your advocacy is your own work and it is important to maintain appropriate boundaries between the organizations or businesses you work for (in an official capacity), those you work with (say, as a volunteer), and those where you are a client or program participant. Double check with others at the organization so that roles are clear. For example, being a participant in DCAL does not mean you can say you are speaking as or for the AACIL, nor could the CIL say it was speaking for you.

The main question here is: Who are you speaking for? Yourself? As a representative of an organization? As an official spokesperson?

Town halls and Public Meetings

City councils will hold public meetings so that citizens can know how decisions are being made. Sometimes organizations will hold public meetings to teach about a cause or recruit new people. Whatever the setting, there will likely be an agenda. Sometimes the people holding the meeting will have restrictions on what can be talked about and when the public can make comments and ask questions.

• What to Expect at a Town Hall from the Autistic Self Advocacy Network

• How to Attend a Public Meeting by Kate Carlson of the Holland Sentinel

A specific type of a public meeting is a public hearing. Public hearings are conducted when a government wants to get public input on a policy issue before an action is taken. Hearings will usually involve more chances for citizens to participate than standard public meetings.

Town Hall meetings are usually held by one politician. This type of meeting has the most audience participation built into it. You can tell the host and the audience about the issues affecting you and ask questions directly to the politician. This is a great time to tell your advocacy story, but remember you may be asked to follow a time limit. Practice telling your story in under a minute.

Joining an Advisory Committee or Board

There are a LOT of advisory committees, at every level of government. Some are committees that are permanent, while others may be ad hoc, set up to examine a particular issue or matter. The committees are usually formed in order to provide expertise or specific advice that the folks making the decisions do not possess.This is particularly true with regard to disability, since the disability community often has specific knowledge and experiences that they can bring to bear on policy decisions.

Advisory Committees usually have applications, and often want interested participants to attend a meeting to become familiar with the questions and other participants. They also usually have a set term and require a commitment of time, meeting attendance, etc.

Boards of Directors are similar, though they typically have more decision making authority. Sitting on a Board can allow you to advocate directly for people with disabilities within that organization and the communities they serve.

If either of these sounds like a direction you want to take your advocacy, let us know! We can put you in touch with organizations that match people to Boards, find openings on Advisory Committees that interest you, or point you to places where you can investigate further.

Setting up Meetings & Visiting Officials

Finally, meeting with public officials is a highly effective way of advocating your issue. The larger the area or population an official serves, sometimes the harder it can be to get on their schedule. Often you may end up talking to an aide or assistant, especially at the federal or state level. But there are also times when their doors are open.

At a regional or local level, there are coffee hours, public forums, neighborhood gatherings, and other regular venues where officials schedule time and open their doors to talk with their constituents. Don't be afraid to show up, be a regular, and get to know your representatives. They work for you!

The DCAL team and others can help you identify how and when to access public officials, and hopefully start some great conversations!