GO! Advocacy Activities

The GO! Project developed the Adopt-a-Legislator program to help advocates build legislative advocacy skills, connect with their adopted legislator and nurture interest in developmental disabilities issues throughout the legislative session. Advocacy Team Members receive special advocacy materials and support from the GO! Project. Participants are encouraged to share updates and photos of their advocacy activities as they happen.  Below are outlines of the program, including monthly advocacy activity overviews 

2012: Introduction | Adoption Certificates | Fact Sheet | February

2011: Introduction | Confirmation | Fact Sheet | Checklist | December | January | February | March | April | May  

Print & GO! Advocacy Materials are designed to help advocates nurture their legislator’s interest in DD issues.  These printable materials are made for Adopt-a-Legislator Advocacy Team Members and will often reference key advocacy issues for the current or upcoming legislative session. 

For added convenience, most Print and GO! Advocacy Materials feature the corresponding Avery office product number.

2012: Constituent Calling Cards | Advocacy Buttons | Winter Holiday Card | New Year’s Card | Valentine’s Day Cardv1 | Valentine’s Day Cardv2

February through May 2011 - The Oregon DD Coalition and GO! Project hosted interactive trainings at the Capitol to provide advocates with information on how ideas become law in Oregon, how to track bills, how to testify in legislative committee hearings, and how to connect with legislators. This year, the Advocacy Days Trainings boasted over 100 participants, including 52 Professionals, 37 Self-Advocates and 19 Family Members.   These 4-hour legislative advocacy trainings were held on February 3, March 9, April 5, and May 5, and featured guided tours of the Capitol Building.  By the time the fourth training concluded, advocates had visited more than 40 different legislative offices to share their personal stories and voice their concerns about current issues affecting individuals with developmental disabilities.  

Flyer | Handouts

March 2011 - “...Hundreds of visitors to the Capitol could be seen sporting yellow buttons for 7 Days of DD Advocacy at the Capitol. Families, advocates, service providers, and people with disabilities of all ages came to share their stories with legislators and talk about bills of importance to them and their communities…” as reported by Disability Rights Oregon. From March 10-18, a steady stream of advocates checked in at the DD Advocacy Headquarters at the Capitol Building Room 257 to get yellow buttons, advocacy tips, fact sheets, coffee and help in finding their legislators. The DD Coalition provided support every step of the way, starting with helpful reminders to prepare for their legislative visits then meeting with participants afterwards. The result is that DD advocates were seen and heard in legislative offices throughout the Capitol every day for about two weeks straight. These all day events were a huge success. Now, let’s keep going! Make arrangements to meet with your legislators then just put on your yellow button and GO!

Capitol Advocacy Tip Sheet | Print and GO! Yellow Buttons

January 2011 - The Oregon Developmental Disabilities Coalition held three community forums to provide individuals, families, providers, direct support workers, brokerage staff and advocates with important information about proposed state budget cuts to DD services. The “Rough Waters Ahead” forums were held in the Eugene, Portland and Medford areas and attended by more than 200 people collectively. 

Flyer | Materials

2011 Legislative Session - The “DD Services: Rough Waters Ahead” Advocacy Campaign features a safety warning sign of a canoe in rough waters to make the point that without funding for vital DD Services we may soon be up a creek without a paddle. 

2011 Rough Waters Ahead Advocacy Campaign “Print and GO!” materials are provided below with the corresponding Avery office product number for added convienence.

Round Advocacy Stickers 5294 | Advocate Name Tag Stickers 5395 | Constituent Calling Cards 8371 | Legislator Door Hangers 5884