Community Resources for Independent Living Homepage  Informed
and Empowered > Advocacy  10 Steps to Advocacy for Yourself, a
check list.  Communicating with Policymakers  Persons with
disabilities often don’t exercise their political power. Yet,
explaining why disability rights issues are essential to the
local, state, and national economy is vital to improving
independence for persons with disabilities.  How can you help?
Many ways.  Writing to Legislators  Because most of our elected
representatives can’t come to southern Alameda County regularly
during a legislative session, it’s important to keep in touch
with your lawmakers in other ways. Personal, thoughtful, well-
written letters have a significant impact on lawmakers,
especially when the letters are from their constituents. Here
are the four most important things to remember when writing
elected representatives:    3. Explain the local impact.   4. Be
clear about the action you want them to take (support the bill,
oppose the bill, etc.).  Write your Ca