Dear Addy,
I’m participating in an Advocacy Day with my local bleeding disorders organization this month. I have limited experience with legislative advocacy and it’s been a long time since I took a civics class! Could you share insight on what to expect and how to prepare?
Signed,
Proactive Participant
Dear Participant,
This is a timely question, as many state legislatures are in session. You don’t need experience with legislative advocacy to make the most of your day. HFA’s new resource, Legislative Toolkit for Patients and Caregivers, is a comprehensive resource to help new and seasoned advocates alike. The toolkit includes a presentation on talking to your legislator, reports from other patient advocacy organizations and experts in the field, and documents on how a bill becomes a law, roles during a meeting, writing to your legislator, etc. You can also find a podcast series on civics 101!
Use these past Dear Addy posts, including attending NHF’s Washington Days and legislative day follow-up, for additional support.
Remember, you are the expert on your story and on what access to care means to you and your family. Share what you know and you’ll have a great day. Thank you for engaging and making your voice heard!
Sincerely,
Addy
Have a question? Click HERE. Your name will be changed in the response.
HFA frequently receives questions from the bleeding disorders community related to advocacy issues. The questions often impact the entire community. In an effort to reach the largest audience possible with our responses to these widely applicable questions, HFA developed “Dear Addy.” Questions submitted to this column are edited in order to protect privacy and should be considered educational only, not individual guidance.
