How to Meet with Your Governor and Editorial Boards

Jennifer Laszlo Mizrahi www.RespectAbilityUSA.org

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More than half likely voters either have a disability or have a loved one with a disability
Do you, a family member, or a close friend have a disability?

This presentation is based on a survey conducted by Greenberg Quinlan Rosner Research. The survey of 1000 likely 2012 voters (1000 weighted) nationwide was conducted from September 8-12, 2012. Unless otherwise noted, margin of error= +/-3.1 percentage points at 95% confidence.

Party identification: people from across the political spectrum are impacted by disabilities
Do you, a family member, or a close friend have a disability?

This presentation is based on a survey conducted by Greenberg Quinlan Rosner Research. The survey of 1000 likely 2012 voters (1000 weighted) nationwide was conducted from September 8-12, 2012. Unless otherwise noted, margin of error= +/-3.1 percentage points at 95% confidence.

Key Facts
More than 50 million Americans are people with disabilities (PWDs). 10 million PWDs are working age. Most want to work. 70% of working age Americans with disabilities are outside of the workforce (compared to 28% of people w/out disabilities). Taxpayers spend hundreds of BILLIONS a year in benefits to people with disabilities (PWDs). There has been no improvement in employment percentages for PWDs since the ADA passed in 1990.

Massive Increase in Disability Rolls

Key Opportunities for America

Employers who hire PWDs are MORE profitable. Examples include Walgreens, AMC, Manpower, EY, Lowes etc. PWDs are an untapped resource who can help companies become more profitable while saving U.S. tax money. Empowering PWDs to achieve the American dream can also make us better able to compete in the global marketplace.
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Change Needed
Attitudes and beliefs are a major factor. Americans need to see and value PWDs for what they CAN do, not for what they cant. Public policy and practices support dependency. Change requires community collaboration including PWDs, employers, leaders, faith community, media, philanthropists and more. Early integrated work experiences play a key role in preparing PWDs for a lifetime of independence and success.
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Active Recruiters Knowledgeable Asset Based Hiring Relationship Based Matching Respect for Job Coaches Cost / Benefit Focus Providers People with a Disability & Families Service Definition Driven Limited Belief & Aspirations Focus on Persons Deficits Cant Future Legacy Services Not Ready Employment PWD as only customer Passive Little Collaboration Perceived Safety of Segregation No Standard Training Benefit Risk No Certification Reliance on System Outsider to Employers Unprepared for Transition Process Compliance Driven To: Current Low Pay / Esteem Full Belief & Desire Employment To: Yes I Can Holistic Outcome Driven Yes You Can Focus on Persons Abilities Active Best Practice Services Dignity of Risk & Integration Trained / Certified Benefit Management Employer AND PWD as Utilize System to Bolster customers Natural Supports Rewarded for Outcomes Prepared for Transition Support System Improved Pay / Stature Fragmented, Agency Centric To: Coordinated, Person Centric Area Mental Health Silos Integrated Vocational Rehabilitation Dept of Social Services Not my mission/Lack of Professionalism Employer as the Customer Social Security Focus on Persons Deficits Common Goals Workforce Development Housing Authority Measured on Process Focus on Persons Abilities DPI Lack of Coordination Measured on Outcomes Community Colleges Universities Funding Gaps Coordinated Community Agencies Policy Deterrents Sufficient & Flexible Funding

Goal: Increase Employment for People with Disabilities

Employers Benevolent Agnostics To: Fear of Lawsuits/Diversity Sympathetic Hiring Randomly Solicited Tolerant of Job Coaches Cost / Risk Focus

Employment First Vision What Must Change?

No Experience Needed!
What you do need is to: Care about your topic. Willingness to do a little reading/listening. Have a desire to educate the public and to make a difference. Have the facts about your topic. Be willing to build relationships of trust.

Build a local coalition/gather partners

Invite other people who care about employment for

PWDs to join you in a coalition and at the meetings with your governor and local editorial boards (sample partners to follow). Enable all members of the coalition to be heard. Look to find common ground and goals. Pick people who are honest, optimistic and willing to be a part of a team. Its ok if some of them just want to play a supporting role so long as expectations are clear up front.
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Partner 1: PWDs and Disability Groups

Nothing about us without us. Their goals jobs for PWDs.

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Partner 2: Elected Officials, Policy Makers & Political Consultants

Strong bipartisan cooperation with a focus on saving tax money and serving the public good.
Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers

Congressman Brad Sherman and Lisa Sherman

Senator Tom Harkin

Elected officials need to see Americans with disabilities as a powerful voter group.
Congressman Pete Sessions

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Partner 3: Private Sector

Walgreens, EY, Bank of America, AMC Entertainment Inc., Lowes, Manpower are examples that do good
and do well at the same time. Show the profit potential and new government contracting opportunities.
http://abcnews.go.com/WN/story?id =4272981&page=1#.UcyOVD7wKA0 http://www.nbcnews.com/video/nigh tly-news/19562689#19562689

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Hiring Americans with Disabilities

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Partner 4: Media
Lens through which hundreds of millions of Americans see people with disabilities. Experiencing dramatic transformation - fewer reporters, thus relying more on information packaged by outside groups.

Shine a spotlight on companies that are using the talents of people with disabilities to achieve a better bottom line.
Work with disability groups and experts to educate the media so that their coverage can inspire positive change.

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Partner 5: Faith - Based Groups

Numerous leaders in religious traditions had a disability or other limitation in one form or another. Religious leaders have previously been at the forefront of civil rights in America, and can do much to help people with disabilities. Congregations can be recruited and trained to be volunteer job coaches who can help teens and young adults with disabilities get and maintain their first internships and jobs.

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Partner 6: Philanthropists
Philanthropists play a major role in making the world a better place, however, few have yet to significantly use their resources to benefit people with disabilities. Even those who do not provide funding in this sector can make a tremendous positive difference if they request that their grantees explore ways of becoming more inclusive of people with disabilities.

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Partner 7: Innovations/Make Working Easier

Research and technology facilitates independence Assistive technology enabling people to communicate in job sites

Providers of such technologies can be natural allies

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Partner 8: Hollywood/Local Celebrities

Murray Siegel

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Getting the meeting with media/leaders

Call the reporter or Governors office to get the email for the person you want to see or their scheduler. Use email to send a formal request for a meeting that tells the reporter/scheduler the importance of the group (i.e. x,y,z disability group represents 10,000 constituents; a,b,c company has 60 employees in the state) and that you want to discuss employment for people with disabilities. Use facts in your meeting request letter (see next page) Put in a P.S. with links to NGA and USBLN reports, key op-eds and other facts (preferably with local angles). Before the actual meeting be sure to give them names and bios (their job titles or fact they have a disability might be enough) of people joining you for the meeting.
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How to contact your governor

Contact Your Governor
http://www.usa.gov/Contact/Governors.shtml http://nga.org/cms/sites/NGA/home/governors/staff-directories-contact-infor/col2-content/governors-office-addresses-and-w.html Sample Meeting Request: http://www.respectabilityusa.org/#!sample-meeting-request/c1gkc Sample Letter: http://www.respectabilityusa.org/#!sampleletter/c1qo

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Facts for your meeting request letter

70% of working age Americans with disabilities are outside of the workforce (compared to 28% of people w/out disabilities) Most people with disabilities want to work Taxpayers spend hundreds of BILLIONS a year in benefits to people with disabilities (PWDs) who would rather work There has been no improvement in employment percentages for PWDs since the ADA passed in 1990 Employers who hire PWDs are MORE profitable examples include Walgreens, AMC, Manpower, EY etc. 10 million American PWDs are an untapped resource can help companies be more profitable while saving tax money Empowering PWDs to achieve the American dream can also make us better able to compete in the global marketplace. INSERT LINK TO SAMPLE MEETING REQUEST LETTER HERE
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CLICK TO READ BOOKLET/You will want to give your leaders a copy of this http://www.nga.org/f iles/live/sites/NGA/fil es/pdf/2013/NGA_20 13BetterBottomLine Web.pdf

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Each Governor/Reporter should be given NGA report and this booklet CLICK HERE to read and
make a copy to share http://www.uschamber.co m/sites/default/files/rep orts/020709_DisabilityIn clusion_final.pdf

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Examples of Good Op-eds

A Better Bottom Line: Employing Individuals With Disabilities By Jack Markell, Gov. of Delaware Aug. 13, 2013 http://www.huffingtonpost.com/gov-jack-markell/a-better-bottom-lineempl_b_3749414.html?view=print&comm_ref=false Finding jobs for Cole and his peers By Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-Wash.) July 1, 2013 http://thehill.com/blogs/congress-blog/healthcare/308499-finding-jobs-for-cole-and-hispeers Disability advocates laud governors' jobs focus By Cindy Bentley, Daniel Bier, Joan Karan, Lisa Pugh And Beth Swedeen Aug. 1, 2013 http://www.jsonline.com/news/opinion/disability-advocates-laud-governors-jobs-focusb9966299z1-217983671.html Michael J Fox: A Role Model for the disabled By Jennifer Laszlo Mizrahi September 25, 2013 http://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2013/09/25/jennifer-laszlo-mizrahi-ondisabilities/2860765/

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Prepping for the meeting

Confirm the meeting a day or so in advance and remind them who you are bringing to the meeting. Resend the facts and links so that the person you are meeting with can read everything before the meeting. Have your team meet in advance, even if just by conference call, to go over the specific agenda and handouts in advance. You literally need to be on the same page. Create a leave behind which is what you will hand the person you are meeting with during the meeting. Usually it simply contains the same info you sent them before the meeting (but that, in fact, they may not have read in time for the meeting. Show up a little early for the meeting, dress for success and go over your meeting goals before you go in.
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KISS = Keep it Short and Simple

Avoid using jargon and technical terms. If you are talking about IEPs, ODEP, ADA, 503 etc. you are usually losing your listener. Speak in plain English! Use your personal experience. Use facts - but also try to be conversational. Use people-first language terms that respect people with disabilities.

You are in position to shape the public image and opportunities for people with disabilities!

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Practice Your 3 Messages (a.k.a your message triangle)

1. The majority of Americans with disabilities who are working age want to work. They represent a talent pool of 10 million Americans who can make companies and organizations stronger and better. In our state there are (fill in blank) number of people with disabilities who are working age who are on benefits. 2. Hiring people with disabilities can make companies more profitable. Nationally Walgreens has found this to be true as employees with disabilities, when aligned with their talents and interests, are more productive, loyal and have fewer work place accidents than employees without disabilities. Locally x,y,z companies are doing this well. 3. Hiring Americans with disabilities can save money for taxpayers. The U.S. spends in$450 billion a year on benefits to people who, in most cases, would rather have a hand up than a hand out. Our state spends ?? amount. They need to be included in employment because of the talents they bring to the table. Their work and commitments to success can be a part of how the U.S. can compete in this tough global economy.

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At The Meeting
Let reporter/leader know you are there to help them save tax money and to create jobs. Share facts that 70% of working-age people with disabilities are unemployed, that most of them want to work and that this is costing billions in tax money. Give them your leave behind -- a copy of NGA initiative, USBLN report, opeds along with local examples, your bios, contact info etc. Ask for governor-led statewide summit on disability employment that includes private sector, public sector, nonprofits, faith-based communities, media, and philanthropies, etc. Ask them to use their position of leadership to promote progress through personal statements/op-eds/media.
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At The Meeting
Explain that new Federal procurement policies mean that when local companies become inclusive employers of PWDs they can get more Federal contracts. Ask them for their advice and opinions! How do they view hiring people with disabilities in their own offices and as a large employer? Ask them: How I can help you on these issues? and be prepared to deliver. Ask for a specific commitment to improve the numbers of people with disabilities who are employed in a real job for a real wage, as well as disability-owned businesses to be created and expanded through best practices.
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Agenda with media/Governors

Support Employment First, not from cradle to benefits. This would mean that public school and support services, including transition, are geared toward individualized and competitive employment opportunities. Schools will be measured on their success. Ask leaders to create a task force comprised of the private and public sectors reporting directly to the governor in order to achieve specific employment goals. Hold people accountable for better outcomes in the public and private sectors so Americans with disabilities in your state can be empowered to achieve the American dream.
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Gov. Daugaard (SD) with disability leaders

Gov. Nixon (MI) with disability leaders

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Gov. Bryant (MS) with disability leaders

Gov. Walker (WI) with disability leaders

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Say Thank You

Send a formal thank you letter/email that reminds them of the benefits of employing people with disabilities
Get the cards of everyone in the meeting from the other side and be sure to thank all of them. Reiterate these points: Most people with disabilities WANT to work Most people with disabilities want to give a hand-up, not get a hand-out There are many advantages to employing people with disabilities You stand by, ready to help! REMEMBER this is the START of a relationship! This is a marathon, not a sprint.
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RespectAbility is a non profit organization. While RespectAbilityUSA is awaiting a final separate IRS approval we are operating as a project of the Autism Society of America. Make checks to RespectAbilityUSA at:

RespectAbilityUSA, a Project of the Autism Society 4340 East-West Hwy, Suite 350 Bethesda, MD 20814 www.RespectAbilityUSA.org Cell: (202) 365 0787 JenniferM@RespectAbilityUSA.org

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