Conference outlines budget, legal issues on disabilities(2)

Graves added that difficult times lie ahead this fiscal year, and things may get a bit worse before they improve. “There are difficult choices to make, but things may get tougher before they get better.”

Another workshop, titled Legislative Advocacy, headed by attorney Henry Contreras, focused on the importance of working at local level in the district offices of state legislators. Contreras, whose work span 25 years as legal legislative counsel, was chief of staff for former democrat Assembly Floor leader Marco Antonio Firebaugh, and chief of staff for former democrat House of Representatives member Lucille-Roybal-Allard.

He said advocates for disability causes must inform themselves about how a representative looks at people with disabilities before starting any legislative approach. Contreras said many think the thoughts of having people with disabilities around their offices only because they need funds are untrue.

“Communities empower themselves with change and accountability, at grassroots levels with legal actions,” Contreras said.

What advocates need is practical knowledge to gain access to district offices, not only to Capitol offices. How to forward precise information, and little cluttered letters and resources are key to be effective in the possibility of eventual legislation, he said. As former chief of staff in Sacramento, he advises advocates to contact local field representatives, so that they can forward possible legislative ideas to their superiors.

Contreras advised to build local relationships with the “schedulers,” or staff leaders at district offices, because they give good mileage and help in the long run.

Once an issue has been forwarded, or talked about, “at least call to say hello, and to thank them too,” he said. “It’s good to maintain good relationships with local district offices’ staff, even if the elected official may not support the issue.”

Contreras said rallies in Sacramento are expensive, do not work as good as the local approach, and many times don’t get the attention of the legislators, because they are usually in session. In fact, several rallies take place in the same day, further diluting the need for attention to an issue.

“District rallies do get attention. Visits to Sacramento, or to Washington often only happen once, and the issue gets nowhere. I’ve met individuals who only visit the Capitol office once, and never comeback,” he said.

The point here, he said, is to make a strategic decision. Once a decision is made, keep the paperwork simple, and focus in only two or three visitors, no 20 or 30 in a group. If the issue awakens questions from the staff, follow with answers, and ideas on how the projected legislation may be funded, Contreras said.

Lastly, he advised to get statistical figures of constituents with similar needs, or concerns who live in the district of the given legislator. Legislators are privy of bad reputation, particularly if an important segment of the constituents want action in a proposal elected officials may ignore, or pass by.

Meanwhile, actor Danny Woodburn, who lives with a genetic disability that causes dwarfism, said media images and content in both entertainment and news should be inclusive of people who live with medical conditions, in order to erase, albeit slowly, stereotypes and negative portrayals of these communities.

“In media representation, nowhere near the representation on population is shown in television, film or other type of public work. We need accurate portrayals of people with disabilities in all walks of life, not only in acting in the media,” Woodburn said.

He said almost 18% of all Americans live with a diagnosed disability. It’s estimated that 50 million Americans have, or have developed some disability during their lives.