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 DIR®/Floortime™ Regional Institute
Pasadena, California October 2010- May 2011

Josh Feder, MD       Diane Cullinane, MD

jdfeder@pol.net diane@pasadenachilddevelopment.org

Mona Delahooke, PhD Pat Marquart, MFT

mdelahooke@socal.rr.com         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

 1. Participation in advocacy and

legislation is full of surprises

 2. Help can come from the most

unexpected places
Class Action Law Suit

Diane Cullinane, M.D.

The decision to sue
 Phone calls, meetings, relationships
Friends!
 Gibson, Dunn and Crutcher

 Ricki Robinson
 Rick Solomon
 Josh Feder
Technicalities
 Experimental
 “Specialized Recreation”
 Non-medical therapy
Appeals
 Meetings with parents
 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
 It is ok to ask!
 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!