Power Tools

Legislative Advocacy 101: Getting Your Voice Heard

What is the difference between lobbying and advocacy? What is an elevator speech? How do you testify with your state legislature? Legislative Advocacy 101: Getting Your Voice Heard has answers to all these questions and more.

Download Legislative Advocacy 101: Getting Your Voice Heard.pdf

Making a Plan to Win: How to Run an Advocacy Campaign

What is a campaign strategy? How do you advocate for an important issue? It can seem overwhelming and confusing, but this guide here is to help you and your self-advocacy group understand what a campaign strategy is and the steps you take to create a strong advocacy campaign.

Download How To Run An Advocacy Campaign.pdf
Download Companion Toolbox.pdf

Getting What You Came For: Using Meetings to Advance an Agenda

“Getting What You Came For” is an advanced guide that explains strategies you can use when meeting with someone about a topic that is important to you (e.g. legislative visits). It includes tips on targeting your time, creating a “pitch” that uses logic and emotional connection, and staying on topic. ASAN recommends groups to read this guide together before attending important meetings.

Download Getting What You Came For.pdf

Intro to Policy Guide: Did You Know that Anybody Can Write a Law?

The policy process can be overwhelming at first. Our “Intro to Policy Guide” explains the basics: how laws are made, how you can get involved, and who you will need to get to know and work with. Read this if your group wants to change or make a law, or if you want to work with your state government.

Download Intro to Policy Guide: Did You Know that Anybody Can Write a Law?.pdf

State Level Advocacy

Does your self-advocacy organization want to advocate on the state level? Do you want to learn how to advocate on the state level? This resource guide has information on how the state government works. It also has information on how to advocate at this level.

Download State Level Advocacy.pdf

Being Non-Partisan

What is being non-partisan? What does being non-partisan have to do with elections and voting? Why is it important for certain types of organizations to be non-partisan? What are some examples of being partisan or non-partisan? What are some voting and political activities my organization can still do? Learn more with this resource.

Download Being Non-Partisan.pdf

Federal Level Advocacy

What are some key parts of the federal government? How does the federal government create laws? How does the federal government create other rules and regulations? Do you and your self-advocacy group want to influence federal-level policy? This resource guide has the answers to those questions and more.

Download Federal Level Advocacy.pdf

SMART Goals Guide

How can you and your group create goals that make the best action plan possible? This guide explains SMART Goals. SMART goals are a way to create those kinds of goals. But what do the letters in SMART stand for? What are some good things about using SMART goals? What are some examples of groups using SMART goals? You can download the SMART goals guide to find out!

Download SMART Goals Guide.pdf

Webinar: Legislative Advocacy

Is your self-advocacy organization interested in working with your state legislature to make new policies that will help people with disabilities? Do you want to learn how to talk to your legislators? This webinar talked about all these parts of legislative advocacy on May 19, 2015. Nicole LeBlanc, Green Mountain Self Advocates’ Advocacy Director, presented.

Webinar: State Level Advocacy

Does your self-advocacy organization want to advocate on the state level? Do you want to learn how to advocate on the state level? This webinar was about advocating at the state level on December 22nd, 2015. Kit Mead, the Autistic Self Advocacy Network’s Policy Intern, presented.

Webinar: Federal Level Advocacy

Does your self-advocacy organization want to advocate on the federal level? Do you want to learn how to advocate on the federal level? This webinar was about advocating at the federal level on February 23rd, 2016. Kit Mead, the Autistic Self Advocacy Network’s Technical Assistance Coordinator, presented.

Webinar: Intersectional Advocacy

What is intersectionality? Why is it important? How can I include people with many different identities in my advocacy? This webinar focused on intersectional advocacy on Tuesday, April 26, 2016. Finn Gardiner, the Autistic Self Advocacy Network’s Boston Community Coordinator, presented.

Webinar: Building A State Advocacy Group

How do I build an advocacy group that is statewide? How can I rebuild an existing organization into a statewide advocacy group? This webinar was about building a state advocacy group on Tuesday, May 17, 2016. Kellie Ellerbusch, Kathy Hoell, and Travis Schaffer of People First Nebraska presented.