Dirft summer institute advocacy panel with sponsor

Get Involved In Advocacy!

Barbara Dunbar, PhD Diane Cullinane, MD Pat Marquart, MFT Traci Swink, MD Josh Feder, MD Jim Lantry, Legislative Advocate

Support Parent Choice Today! www.dirfloortimecoc.com

The Southern California DIRŽ/Floortime™ Regional Institute Pasadena, California October 2010- May 2011 Josh Feder, MD jdfeder@pol.net Mona Delahooke, PhD mdelahooke@socal.rr.com

Diane Cullinane, MD diane@pasadenachilddevelopment.org Pat Marquart, MFT patmarquart@aol.com

Get Involved!

Rally!

Speak Out

Meet Famous People!

You too can be a Leader!

Atlanta Update Barbara Dunbar, PhD

Introduction  1.

It is important for all of us to participate in advocacy and the legislative process  2.

We all have the skills to be helpful in advocacy and the legislative process  3.

Everyone knows someone.... who knows someone....who knows someone....

Atlanta Update ď Ż 1. Participation in advocacy and legislation is full of surprises ď Ż 2. Help can come from the most unexpected places

Class Action Law Suit Diane Cullinane, M.D.

The decision to sue ď Ż Phone calls, meetings, relationships

Friends!  Gibson, Dunn and Crutcher  Ricki Robinson  Rick Solomon  Josh Feder

Technicalities  Experimental  “Specialized Recreation”  Non-medical therapy

Appeals ď Ż Meetings with parents ď Ż Becoming a lawyer like on TV!

The Settlement  Strong statement by judge  Monitoring  Relationships?

Language that Works Pat Marquart, MFT

Language & Lessons from ELARC  “DIR is clinically proven and evidence-based according to 3 of the top M D.s in the field of autism”  “No one treatment has proven to be ‘the best’ for children with autism - it is important not to take a ‘cookie cutter’ approach”  Don't be afraid to stress how different DIR is from ABA

Letters from Parents ď Ż It is ok to ask! ď Ż Effective uses of letters

Winning in the Insurance Arena Traci Swink, MD

The Situation  My state  My center  The problem

Legislation  Getting it written  Getting it passed  Implementation

The Process of Getting Involved in Advocacy Josh Feder, MD

My growth in this stuff  Vague awareness, rubbing elbows with politicians  Barbara as role model  DDS Guidelines rumors  Getting Jim  Developing Relationships  Sacramento

Sacramento  Jim did it!  Rally  Message: Parent Choice and Responsible Funding  28+1  A seat at the table  Follow up

Basic Principles:  Developing relationships  Schedule regular time to work on it  Win-win moments with / for others

The Message  Be specific & stick to the message  Specific requests re legislation  Plan ahead: talking points & plan

Attitude  Stay positive  Stay honest  Persistance and follow up

Meet your legislators!

Advocacy is Fun!

Legislative Advocacy Jim Lantry, Legislative Advocate

Engaging this ‘Lobbiest’      

Before DIR: PWI, etc.

How I got involved in DIR The Threat of the ‘Guidelines’ Working with specific people The sea change Making connections - e.g. military families

Sacramento  Rally - logistics  Message: Parent Choice and Responsible Funding  Specific Action: the military resolution  Follow up

Expanding Advocacy  NY – passed, but still some room to impact the process  MA – immediate  Organizing in every state  Anticipating upcoming work in specific states

Resources: Advocacy Tips On ICDL portal:  Talking with your legislature  Writing a letter Building a Grassroots Organization  Working with the media

Support Parent Choice Today! www.dirfloortimecoc.com

Working for a place at the table

Get Involved!