In 1987, I entered the Cannon House Office Building in Washington DC as a summer intern. A rising college senior, I was agog at my good fortune in getting a front row seat at how it all works in the House of Representatives. Little did I know that my most important lesson that summer would be not how it all works, but how to engage as a citizen…or how NOT to engage.
Here’s the 40,000-foot overview of what I learned that first summer and what has continued to ring true to this day.
As people who care about disability issues, we are passionate by nature. That can work for us if channeled properly. Left unchecked, it can hamstring us. The rules of successful engagement are the same for all levels of government: local, state and federal. Certain things, while seemingly good on the silver screen or in anecdotes, work against you and the things for which you are advocating. Doing it right can accomplish what you want and more. Before we get into the specifics, consider this: we who wear the name of Christ are called act in such a way to as to share the Gospel without using words, your interactions should reflect this.
It’s a simple series of “Do this, not that”.
DO NOT start out any communications with words of frustration or anger.
DO thank the official for the good work they are doing and tell them that you are praying for them. Be as respectful as possible in all communications and meetings.
DO NOT send long letters with a ton of grievances or suggestions, either by snail mail or email. If you send an enveloped letter by snail mail, they won’t get it for six weeks because it has to be scanned at an offsite security facility and then opened by an intern or staffer to be triaged. If you send a wordy email, the length and content will result in it being sent to a spam folder.
DO send a 5×7 postcard with a picture of your logo or beloved person with a disability on one side. On the “blank” side, leave room for the address and list bullet points with your concerns. If you are writing about a piece of legislation or program, include that information in bold print. You can make them yourself using blank ones found at Staples or Amazon.
DO NOT show up without an appointment and expect to meet with the elected official. You’ll get stuck with a disgruntled staffer instead who will check their watch copiously every 5 minutes, silently willing you to leave. It’s not a lack of caring that is at the heart of this, but an effort to effectively manage their time and the taxpayer monies that pay their salaries. This is a sure-fire way to never get a meeting or be heard.
DO make an appointment by emailing the scheduler. Include brief bullet points of specifics that you want to discuss. This helps them and you. Knowing what you want to accomplish through discussion is helpful in allotting time and staff. It helps you as the advocate keep it concise and focused. Be sure to include in the email the relevance of your concern to the issues that are important to the elected official. This communicates respect. It shows the love of Christ.
DO NOT cry, yell or be rude during the appointment. It’s tempting, especially when you want to wield whips and chains while flipping over tables. There will be a time for that.
DO cover the appointment in prayer ahead of time so that you can be cool, calm and collected while effectively making your points.
DO NOT share so much information that the person with whom you are meeting won’t have any questions or time to ask them.
DO bring things you want them to see/read with you to the appointment. Bring 3 copies of each thing.
DO NOT raise more than 3 issues per meeting. It’s tempting to bring up everything concerning you, but don’t. There will be other opportunities if you get the first meeting right.
DO be as concise and relevant as possible, staying within the allotted time for the meeting (usually 20 minutes).
DO NOT lose touch after the meeting.
DO send a handwritten thank you note along with an email. Also, invite them to visit your ministry for a firsthand look.
These are a few things to get you started. I am available to do in-person or zoom training sessions with your group to better equip your ministry in advocating for disabled friends and family members. Advocacy is especially important in these perilous times.
Melissa Ortiz is founder and principal of Capability Consulting, a speaker, and a self-described “relentlessly resilient warrior princess (RRWP).” At Capability Consulting she advises on ADA-compliance, accessibility, and disability policy. She served as a presidential appointee and has written op-eds for USA Today, the Washington Examiner, and other publications. She has been interviewed by numerous tv and radio outlets, including the BBC, Fox News and One America News. Prior to founding Capability Consulting, she served as Senior Advisor for Able Americans, which the National Center for Public Policy Research bought from her in 2022 after she founded it in 2011. Melissa has also served as a visiting fellow for the Independent Women’s Forum and in 2005 served as Ms. Wheelchair New York. She also served as the first female board member of The Conservative Caucus and is the newly minted VP of the Spina Bifida Patients Association. Melissa currently resides in Washington, D.C. with her husband Tony and service dog dachshund, Annie Oakley.
Connect with her online through her website: capabilityconsulting.org or on Instagram and Twitter. Her handle is @DCBelleonWheels or email her at melissa@capabilityconsulting.org