Statewide Legislative Advocacy Training And Engagement (SLATE)
Goal:
Advocacy: People with I/DD, their family members and others will participate in and have information about a broad range of leadership and advocacy development opportunities
Objective:
People with DD, family members and others will participate in training to improve their knowledge of public policy advocacy and engage with policymakers.
BACKGROUND, RATIONALE AND SCOPE OF PROJECT:
People with developmental disabilities and their family members are their own best advocates when it comes to educating members of the public and policymakers. Over the years, their hard work, courage, and dedication have brought about meaningful improvements in Ohio’s public policy, particularly in areas such as employment, home and community-based services, health care, special education, and civil rights.
These advances have been achieved through direct, personal engagement with lawmakers — telling real-life stories that bring issues to life. However, Ohio’s legislative environment presents an ongoing challenge: term limits and high turnover mean that a significant number of legislators and their staff are relatively new to the complex system of services and supports for individuals with developmental disabilities.
Ohio’s system is uniquely complex, involving county boards, property tax levies, Medicaid financing, Home and Community-Based Waivers, waiting lists, employment initiatives, special education programs, guardianship and trust options, and more. For advocates, explaining both barriers and proposed solutions can be challenging without a policymaker’s foundational understanding of this system.
This project will address these challenges by:
- Conducting an annual, large-scale grassroots advocacy event at the Statehouse to connect people with disabilities, their families, and stakeholders directly with legislators and staff.
- Hosting regular legislative briefing sessions throughout the year to ensure lawmakers and staff have the knowledge and context to make informed policy decisions that benefit people with disabilities.
By integrating direct advocacy with ongoing legislative education, the project will create a continuous, mutually-reinforcing cycle: empowered advocates will engage with more informed policymakers, and informed policymakers will be better positioned to act on advocates’ priorities.
Key Activities:
Annual Grassroots Advocacy Day
The project will plan, promote, and execute an annual “DD Awareness and Advocacy Day” at the Ohio Statehouse. Responsibilities will include:
- Collaboration: Seek and secure support and participation from organizations dedicated to supporting individuals with developmental disabilities, including, but not limited to, the Department of Developmental Disabilities, county boards of developmental disabilities or an association representing county boards, DD Act partners such as the state protection and advocacy organization or university centers of excellence on developmental disabilities.
- Recruitment: Engage participants with developmental disabilities, family members, friends, and stakeholders from across Ohio, with emphasis on diversity in race, ethnicity, and geographic representation.
- Preparation: Distribute educational materials to participants, provide training or coaching on meeting with legislators, and coordinate legislative visits to maximize advocates’ impact.
- Execution: Organize event logistics including registration, participant pairing, scheduling, and legislative office coordination.
- Follow-Up: Gather and compile participant feedback, track legislative contacts, and seek media coverage to raise public awareness.
Ongoing Legislative Briefings
The project will coordinate a series of legislative briefings to educate state representatives, senators, and their staff about the developmental disabilities system and current policy issues. Responsibilities will include:
- Planning: Establish a planning committee of organizations and individuals — including self-advocates, family members, and subject-matter experts — to identify briefing topics and develop a cohesive agenda that aligns with the grassroots advocacy day.
- Curriculum Development: In collaboration with the Ohio Developmental Disabilities Council, identify priority topics and target dates for briefings each year.
- Scheduling & Invitations: Coordinate with legislative offices, send invitations, and track attendance.
- Speaker & Logistics Coordination: Arrange for expert speakers (including self-advocates and family members), prepare presentation materials, and manage A/V needs. The project’s emphasis is that people with lived experiences should be involved as speakers or presenters.
- Session Support: Provide on-site assistance and ensure smooth execution.
- Evaluation: Collect feedback and use it to improve future briefings.
Outputs:
IFA 1.1 – The # of people with developmental disabilities who participated in Council supported activities designed to increase their knowledge of how to take part in decisions that affect their lives, the lives of others, and/or systems.
IFA 1.2 The number of family members who participated in Council supported activities designed to increase their knowledge of how to take part in decisions that affect the family, the lives of others, and/or systems.
IFA 2.1 After participation in Council supported activities, the percent of people with developmental disabilities who report increasing their advocacy as a result of Council work.
IFA 2.2 After participation in Council supported activities, the percent of family members who report increasing their advocacy as a result of Council work.
IFA 2.3: The percent of people who are better able to say what they want or say what services and supports they want or say what is important to them.
IFA 2.4: The percent of people who are participating now in advocacy activities.
IFA 2.5: The percent of people who are on cross disability coalitions, policy boards, advisory boards, governing bodies and/or serving in leadership positions.
IFA 3.1: The percent of people with developmental disabilities satisfied with a project activity.
IFA 3.2: The percent of family members satisfied with a project activity.
SC 1.5.1 – The number of Council supported systems change activities with organizations actively involved.
SC 2.2 – The # of Council efforts that were implemented to transform fragmented approaches into a coordinated and effective system that assures individuals with developmental disabilities and their families participate in the design of and have access to needed community services, individualized supports, and other forms of assistance that promotes self-determination, independence, productivity, and integration and inclusion in all facets of community life.
*ODDC determines customer satisfaction for Council supported or conducted activities. Grantees will be required to assist ODDC with this process.
Short-Term Outcomes:
- Increase the number and diversity of self-advocates and family members who engage directly with policymakers.
- Improve policymakers’ understanding of the developmental disabilities system, leading to more informed and effective policy decisions.
Long-Term Outcomes:
By 2031, the project will demonstrate strengthened relationships between the disability community and legislative offices and create a sustainable advocacy-education loop that continues to influence positive change in Ohio’s public policy.
Resources To Be Invested:
| |
2027 - 2031 |
| *Federal |
$ 85,000 |
| Matching Funds |
$ 28,333 |
| Total |
$113,333 |
*Continued funding will be contingent upon the availability of funds.
Funding Method:
Competitive
Grantee:
To Be Determined