Lasting Impact: Marketing Tips for Family and Self Advocates
Lasting Impact: Marketing Tips for Family and Self Advocates Introduction
Activity 2: Build Coalition
Families and Self Advocates can benefit from this workshop to develop marketing materials and strategies to influence legislators and other policy makers regarding disability issues. Based on a leadership workshop developed by the University of New Mexico’s Leadership Education in Neurodevelopment and Related Disabilities (NM LEND), this workshop can be adjusted from a 1-6 hour workshop, depending on the size of group participating and depth of topic and material development. Groups can be self selected or assigned. If you have multidisciplinary participants, it would be beneficial to split them up evenly. Recommended materials: • Markers, pens, pencils • Large sheets of paper • Easels • Supporting PowerPoint
For this activity, groups should brainstorm, using markers and large sheets of paper, who they would want to join their coalition. Make sure to suggest that participants consider celebrities, professional organizations, advocacy groups, and community members. Have the groups conclude this activity by presenting findings. This will allow each group to see ideas they may have missed.
Activity 1: Identify Topic Topic development is an important discussion to have with participants. It is important to talk about ways to synthesize topic, develop an “ask” or goal, and decide who the audience is (legislator, city councilor, superintendent). We have found that it is best to provide a topic relevant tot eh group you are working with. This is a great time to educate a group of advocates about an emerging policy topic.
Activity 3: Design Flyer This is possibly the most fun, and time consuming part of the workshop. Provide the groups with pens and markers and allow them to design a flyer or “one sheet” that encapsulates the key issues surrounding the topic. Encourage them to use bullet points and illustrations. Talk about the benefit to one sheets that legislators can reference and share one sheets in committees with little effort. Conclude this activity allowing each group to present their poster.
Activity 4: Develop Marketing Plan Finally, ask groups to develop a marketing plan and timeline. Will they want to start a web page? Will they set a Google Calendar for their group? When does their legislation occur? When do subcommittees meet? Stress the importance of a steady marketing “diet” and conclude the activity by allowing the groups to present their plans.
Conclusion Families and self advocates are the greatest human resource available to systems change efforts. With very little effort, their advocacy endeavors can be exponentially elevated and made highly effective. You will also be able to identify natural leaders through their work in the group activities of this workshop. Lisa N Rossignol, MA, New Mexico Disability Story, Albuquerque , New Mexico
Activity 2: Build Coalition
Families and Self Advocates can benefit from this workshop to develop marketing materials and strategies to influence legislators and other policy makers regarding disability issues. Based on a leadership workshop developed by the University of New Mexico’s Leadership Education in Neurodevelopment and Related Disabilities (NM LEND), this workshop can be adjusted from a 1-6 hour workshop, depending on the size of group participating and depth of topic and material development. Groups can be self selected or assigned. If you have multidisciplinary participants, it would be beneficial to split them up evenly. Recommended materials: • Markers, pens, pencils • Large sheets of paper • Easels • Supporting PowerPoint
For this activity, groups should brainstorm, using markers and large sheets of paper, who they would want to join their coalition. Make sure to suggest that participants consider celebrities, professional organizations, advocacy groups, and community members. Have the groups conclude this activity by presenting findings. This will allow each group to see ideas they may have missed.
Activity 1: Identify Topic Topic development is an important discussion to have with participants. It is important to talk about ways to synthesize topic, develop an “ask” or goal, and decide who the audience is (legislator, city councilor, superintendent). We have found that it is best to provide a topic relevant tot eh group you are working with. This is a great time to educate a group of advocates about an emerging policy topic.
Activity 3: Design Flyer This is possibly the most fun, and time consuming part of the workshop. Provide the groups with pens and markers and allow them to design a flyer or “one sheet” that encapsulates the key issues surrounding the topic. Encourage them to use bullet points and illustrations. Talk about the benefit to one sheets that legislators can reference and share one sheets in committees with little effort. Conclude this activity allowing each group to present their poster.
Activity 4: Develop Marketing Plan Finally, ask groups to develop a marketing plan and timeline. Will they want to start a web page? Will they set a Google Calendar for their group? When does their legislation occur? When do subcommittees meet? Stress the importance of a steady marketing “diet” and conclude the activity by allowing the groups to present their plans.
Conclusion Families and self advocates are the greatest human resource available to systems change efforts. With very little effort, their advocacy endeavors can be exponentially elevated and made highly effective. You will also be able to identify natural leaders through their work in the group activities of this workshop. Lisa N Rossignol, MA, New Mexico Disability Story, Albuquerque , New Mexico
