YOU Can Make a Difference!
Legislative advocacy is about making your voice heard and taking action that involves acting on behalf of yourself or others. Legislative advocacy can involve working personally with legislative staff to bombarding legislators with phone calls, letters and tweets about a particular issue. Legislative advocacy is not a one-time thing! In general, we recommend several different types of legislative advocacy when working with elected officials:
How to find your legislators!
Legislative Strategies
Legislative advocacy is about making your voice heard and taking action that involves acting on behalf of yourself or others. Legislative advocacy can involve working personally with legislative staff to bombarding legislators with phone calls, letters and tweets about a particular issue. Legislative advocacy is not a one-time thing!
In general, we recommend several different types of legislative advocacy when working with elected officials:
Organizing an APSE Day at the Capitol is an effective way that a few APSE chapters have utilized to raise awareness and engage with stakeholders. Contact info@apse.org to learn more!
The objective of the Take Your Legislator to Work Day is to raise awareness about the benefits of hiring individuals with disabilities and to show our legislators “Real Jobs with Real Pay!”
The most effective way to build connections with your legislators is to go on a personal visit to the office.
For more information about working with and developing coalitions, review this advocacy resource Coalition Checklist.
APSE's Employment First Legislation and Policy Update
APSE's E1 Legislation and Policy Update provides a list of state-level Employment First initiatives, organized by type. Links are provided to state legislation, executive orders and policies aimed at increasing competitive, integrated employment outcomes for people with disabilities.
(Last update: Feb. 2021)
APSE's Update on 14(c) and Subminimum Wage
Learn about what is happening federally and at the state level to ensure fair wages for people with disabilities. APSE's Update on 14(c) and Subminimum Wage is updated regularly with the latest data and links to legislation.
(Last update: Jan. 2021)
Competitive Integrated Employment Data Fact Sheets
Employment outcomes for people with disabilities vary by state. Having up to date information is important when approaching legislators. APSE provides available PDFs for download, sharing, or printing. Prepare to tell the Employment First story!
(Last update: 2020)
State Disability Employment Snapshots
Be prepared with data. Using the data from the 2019 Annual Disability Statistics Compendium / American Community Survey (2018), APSE has prepared state data snapshots available PDFs. These 1-page resources are useful when sharing information about Employment First in your state!
Public Policy Priorities
Read more about APSE's Public Policy Priorities and efforts, updated annually and as the year evolves. Check it out for more resources about specific issues.
Current Federal Legislation that APSE Supports
- Direct CARE Opportunity Act (HR 4397) - download the Action Alert
- Transformation to Competitive Employment Act (HR 873 / S 260) - download our Action Alert
Employment First – A Guide for Self Advocates and Families
The links within the document will take you to publications and resources that help you develop better advocacy strategies to make Employment First a reality.
Want to receive APSE updates?
APSE’s Legislative Action Center keeps you up to date on proposed policy changes that could impact Employment First – and provides tools and tips to make your advocacy easy and effective.