The CHADD Advocacy Manual
The information provided in the CHADD Advocacy Manual
will help you become an effective advocate and communicator about issues
affecting AD/HD. The information has been put together by CHADD
leaders and staff who have been advocating on behalf of children and
adults with AD/HD for many years.
You do not have to be an experienced advocate to be effective. It
is the average citizen and voter who is the most credible and
influential person with policymakers. Your experience living with
AD/HD and related disorders every day is the most important message you
can share.
Together we can make a difference and build a social movement that
continually supports the needs of those with AD/HD.
E. Clarke Ross, DPA
CEO, CHADD
To view the Advocacy Manual cover,
click here (Adobe Reader required).
To view the Table of Contents, click here (Adobe Reader required).
NOTE: Adobe Reader is required to view all contents
of the Advocacy Manual below. The numbers to the left
of each section correspond to the page numbers within each section,
following the pagination in the print edition.
Section 1: Introduction
Make it personal. For whatever reason, people are often
intimidated by the thought of advocating for their cause. As a
result, few people actually do it. That is why showing up and
presenting your case to your elected official can have such a dramatic
impact. You are truly the expert
here. This section discusses
concerns and allays fears about advocating, highlights rules for
success, and suggests appropriate language to use to lessen the stigma
against those with AD/HD when speaking with legislators.
1.1 Introduction: You are the Expert
1.4 Cartoon: How a Bill Becomes Law
1.5 Rules for Success
1.6 People First Language
Section
2: How to Influence Policymakers and Rules
for Effective Advocacy
Legislation affecting people with
AD/HD often revolves around the concept of disability. In Section 2 read about the many different variables that go
into influencing policymakers. Also included is a brief, practical
list of do’s and don’ts to help you prepare to affect
policy.
2.1 Top Ten Tips on How to Influence Policymakers and the
Policymaking Process
2.4 CHADD's Rules for Effective Advocacy
Section 3: Crafting Your
Message
This section gives you step-by-step
instructions on how to use your personal story to have maximum influence
on a legislator or a staff member, whether in person or through a phone
call, email, or a letter.
3.1 Crafting Your Message
3.3 Turning Your Story into Effective Advocacy
Section
4: Developing Relationships with Elected
Officials
Here you will find tips on
developing relationships with officials and their offices, such as how
to conduct research on your Congressperson’s background, district
demographics, and related interest groups that vie for his or her
attention. This section also gives you instructions on how to open
a two-way line of communication with an office to help you maximize your
influence as a resource for the staff on AD/HD or disability
issues. In addition, a checklist in this
chapter prepares you to meet in person with a policymaker.
4.1 Developing a Relationship with Elected Officials and
Policymakers
Section 5: Letter Writing, E-Advocacy,
Telephone Calls, and Giving Public Testimony
Section 5 gives you detailed
instruction on how to craft relevant and meaningful letters or emails to
your elected official, with in-depth tips on how to increase your
know-how when phoning a policymaker’s office. Part of this section teaches you how to create Action Alerts to
inform your organization’s advocates.
5.1 Letter Writing
5.5 E-Advocacy: Using the Internet
5.7 Sample Action Alert
5.9 Telephone Calls
5.11 Giving Public Testimony
5.13 Addressing Procedures for Contacting Federal, State, and
Local Officials
Section
6: Media Tool Kit
This excellent chapter explains how to
work with a reporter to get a story out, the elements of what a good
story and a good interview entail, essential pieces to include in a
press release and media advisory, and sample documents to help you get
started.
6.1 The CHADD Media Tool Kit
Section 7: AD/HD Fast
Facts
Unfortunately, a good deal of
inaccurate information exists about AD/HD. As a CHADD advocate, you
can help dispel these untruths and advance the rights of all people with
AD/HD and other mental illnesses. This section will update you on
all the accurate AD/HD information you need to know when a member of the
media or a policymaker has questions.
7.1 An Introduction to Fast Facts
7.2 Fast Facts
Section 8: Model State Legislation and State
Legislative Toolkit
Inform yourself on what both
model mental health and anti-mental health legislation look like.
Included are sample reaction responses to potential
legislation affecting CHADD members, such as letters to editors,
legislators, and fellow advocates. Also, find out
how a bill becomes a law and how to build a coalition with other groups
to magnify the attention that your cause receives.
8.1 Model State Legislation
8.4 Sample Anti-Mental Health & Anti-Psychiatry State
Legislation
8.5 Utah: State Action Alert
8.7 Utah: AD/HD is Real Fact Sheet
8.9 Sample Opinion Letters and Letters to Editors
8.13 Letters to Legislators and Governors
8.21 A Primer on the Legislative Process and Coalition
Building, Media Clips
Section 9: Appendix
Here, find a diagram on the legislative process as well as website
and contact information for legislative bodies and disability and
advocacy organizations. Web links to AD/HD health and policy
information are also housed here. Finally, look for a glossary of
policy terms to assist you in your advocacy efforts.
9.1 Appendix A: The Legislative Process, A Flowchart on
How a Bill Becomes Law
9.2 Appendix B: Disability and Advocacy Resources
9.5 Appendix C: Glossary of Legislative Terms
Posted July 18, 2008
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