Calling your legislators

Calling your legislators is another effective way for educating them about developmental disabilities issues. Here are some tips for calling legislators.

Ask to speak directly to the legislator.
Identify yourself and where you are from (city, county).
Be brief and concise. State the purpose for your call.
Express your appreciation if the legislator supports your position. If the legislator is undecided, offer to provide more information.
be sure to refer to the bill number and title in your conversation.
Be prepared to spend more time if the legislator wants more information.
If you can't reach the legislator directly, leave a phone number where calls can be returned and ask to speak to the staffer handling this issue.
Remember to be courteous and to thank the legislator for his/her time.
Send a follow-up letter restating the substance of the call and the legislator's position on the issue as it was understood (whether there was direct contact with the legislator or with his/her staff). Again, thank the legislator for his/her time.

The content of a phone call to a legislator is very similar to that of a letter. Be prepared to answer questions and provide additional information.

Sample call to a legislator

Senator/Representative last name, my name is your name and I am a resident of city in county. I have (specify your disability) (or I have a family member with specify the disability). I want to tell you about First In Families, an organization that makes a big difference for thousands of people with developmental disabilities and their families in North Carolina every year.

First In Families helps people with developmental disabilities and their families find the services and supports they need to lead the lives they want. They support families and stretch public dollars making it possible for people with developmental disabilities to be a part of their communities and to be more independent.

(Briefly talk about how First In Families has made a difference in your life and what it might be like if First In Families wasn't there.)

Currently, there are 11 First In Families chapters serving 42 counties. We need First In Families statewide to make sure people with developmental disabilities have the services and supports they need and that public money is being efficiently and effectively used.

I know money is tight this year, so please remember that First In Families makes a big difference with a small amount of funding. (If the legislator supports your position, thank him/her for his/her support. If the legislator is undecided or opposed, offer to meet with him/her or give more information. Answer any questions as best you can. For any questions you can't answer, offer to find the answers for him/her. Offer the legislator your name and phone number in case he/she has additional questions at a later time. Also give him/her the web address for First In Families: www.fifnc.org.)

Thank the legislator for his/her time.

Remember to follow up your phone call with a thank-you letter.

Next: Visiting your legislators

First In Families of North Carolina | 524 S. Duke Street | Durham, NC 27701
919-251-8368 | email