Day one
April 27, 2009
What a jam-packed and exciting day! I started the day with a trainee meet and greet where I met some new faces and reunited with some familiar ones. At “Lobbying 101,” a session for Disability Policy Seminar first timers, I gained some tips for successful interactions with legislators. Most notable were the importance of personalizing messages (including the subject line of an email) and emphasizing a personal connection with the legislator or staff member such as your membership in their district or a mutual acquaintance.
Kareem Dale addresses the audience Later we heard from disability policy specialists Kareem Dale and Connie Garner. Kareem is an assistant to President Obama while Connie works for Senator Ted Kennedy. It was a great dichotomy to hear perspectives and priorities from both the executive and legislative branches.
Connie Garner shares her insights
In the afternoon, policy and advocacy specialists from all the co-sponsors for the Disability Policy Seminar gave quick briefs and entertained questions related to upcoming legislative issues including social security, healthcare reform, employment, education, autism, and others. I am looking forward to more detailed information and focused discussions at the concurrent sessions on Tuesday.
Kim Musheno briefs on current legislation and policy updates
I had the privilege to share in the Leadership in Disability Policy Award ceremony where Congressmen Steny H. Hoyer (D-MD) was recognized. He shared an empowering message regarding the impact we as constituents can have in influencing our legislators.
In the evening, the trainee reception was a big success. Trainees from NY, NH, MA, OH, RI, OK, VA, NM, WI and others gathered to network with AUCD staff, program faculty and most importantly, other trainees! It was wonderful to meet fellow trainees and learn about other programs. After the reception, some trainees met for dinner which included an interesting conversation about school-based services for children with disabilities.
It was a busy first day and it passed very quickly! I am looking forward to the concurrent session on Education Policy Updates during day two.
Trainees from The Ohio State University take a break from the sessions for a photo!
1 comment:
I am so excited to see these posts. I am missing the seminar this year, but it has been one of my favorites and I wish I were there. I find that once a person actually learns the hows and issues of legislative advocacy and then actually walks into a legislator's office, they will be back!
More power to you, leaders of AUCD!
Post a Comment