Hand in Hand’s Visit to the Capital
By Angie Kendall
Real Estate Buyer Agreements, Electric Power Generation, Alcohol Compliance Training, Physician Wellness Programs, EMS License Plates, Ambulatory Surgical Centers, Public Officer Bonds, Termination of Parental Rights, Public Lake Vessel Regulation, Misbranded Food Products, Small Business Linked Investments.
What do all these things have in common?
They were all topics discussed by lawmakers at the capital on February 27th.
Our legislators are entrusted to represent the constituents who voted them into office, but they can’t effectively fulfill that duty without knowing our needs. Despite being experts in their respective fields, they can’t be expected to be experts in everything, from Real Estate Buyer Agreements to Public Officer Bonds and Misbranded Food Products all at once. Legislators rely on us to provide valuable insights to help them make informed decisions on a wide array of topics.
This is where we, and you, come in! We hire and, if necessary, fire legislators through our votes. If you hired someone in your business but never communicated your expectations, would it be fair to dismiss them? Probably not. Similarly, if you express your needs to a lawmaker and they fail to represent you effectively, you can dismiss them through your vote. However, it's crucial to give them the opportunity to listen and understand our concerns first.
Ever heard “The squeaky wheel gets the grease”? The loudest constituent gets heard (and by loudest, I mean consistent, respectful, honest, and persistent).
On February 27th, Hand in Hand took to a bus to advocate for our community.
We departed Tessa’s Place bright and early, with a bus load of team members, families, and even a Pre-K kiddo from Hand in Hand eager to visit with lawmakers to discuss the issues most important to them including childcare, family support, and disability services.
We arrived at the Iowa DD Council Office around 9:30 AM ready to learn about current policy and the best way to advocate for these important issues and the people we serve.
Arriving at the capitol around 1 PM, we were armed with knowledge from the Iowa DD Council, ready to talk to legislators. During our visit to Des Moines, we voiced the urgent needs of families, children, and adults in our community. We highlighted the crises in the care industry, the scarcity of childcare slots, the insufficient funds and reimbursement rates for children and adults, the exodus of talent, and the lack of programs and support for a significant portion of our population (namely young children and those with disabilities).
Lawmakers listened attentively, encouraging us to continue contact. We have already circled back, monitoring several key legislative proposals closely. Our system is built for us to engage with our lawmakers, who are accessible in our community for most of the year and spend time in Des Moines only during sessions.
We must not be dissuaded by the perception of power and intimidation from exercising this unique opportunity and dare I say, obligation.
Our trip to the capital was special, and a gift for us to witness. It totaled nearly 14 hours; hours advocates could have been doing countless other things but instead prioritized our children and adults!
Hand in Hand was born of opening doors and providing opportunity, ushering parents in front of lawmakers to tell their stories is just another story of our commitment. It provided an invaluable experience to engage with our democratic process firsthand, walking through the law library, standing in the rotunda, observing a senate debate, and meeting with our lawmakers. We continue to reach out to local legislators in the Quad Cities and have since had visits with Senator Cournoyer, Representative Mike Vondran, and Representative Luana Stoltenberg.
I urge everyone to participate with us or on their own. Use your voice to tell lawmakers what you need, what your children need, and what your neighbors need. Hold your lawmakers as accountable as you’d hold a colleague, they do indeed work for us.
Stay tuned for future events and opportunities with Hand in Hand, and please pass along your own legislative questions and concerns impacting your family if we can be helpful!
Tips to connect with your lawmaker:
Visit this site and enter your address. You will find the lawmaker who represents you specifically. Live in Illinois? Use this one.
Prepare your talking points. Iowa DD Council provided us some great tips we’ve passed on below:
Be Polite: Treat policymakers with respect, even if they don’t agree with you and expect the same from them.
Be Persistent but Patient: Policy change takes time. Don’t give up.
Practice and Prepare: Practice talking to your legislator. It really does help. Think about what you want to say before you meet with, write, or call them.
Be Clear: Stick to a simple and clear message. Get to the point quickly, and don’t forget to let them know what you want them to do. Giving them an ACTION is important.
Be Personal: Real life examples help legislators look at issues differently and put a human face on them. Remember they are real life people, too.
Be Honest: Never lie. You want to be a reliable source of information to your policymakers.
Tell Them Who You Are: Lawmakers are often inundated with messages, don’t forget to include your address and other contact information so they know you are their constituent!