2008 Campaign 

 We decided to set up a "Café" 
  - much like the set in the show "Friends." We serve coffee and snacks along with ours our dreams, lives, names and legislative agendas. We have a breakfast, brunch and a late snack shift available each day - one or more legislator and his/her staff are invited to the Café.
 
Guests: Legislators and Aides who wanted to learn more about building and supporting "A Life Like Yours"!
 
We would like to thank Senator Mark Herring, Supervisor Catherine Hudgins, Senator Cuccinelli, Senator George Barker and Anna Johnson for participating in the first day of our campaign. We had a great time, and our guests were very flexible as we figured out how to run a "Café" in the midst of our busy visitor center setting in the heart of Falls Church City.
 
Hosts: The Host staff was responsible for giving a tour of the office, making introductions, sharing the "Credo of What Self Advocates Expect in Virginia" and presenting a draft Legislative Agenda. 
Jill (Vienna), Christina (Burke), Pete (Arlington), Tom (Vienna) , Pamela(Falls Church) and Erin (Fairfax) hosted the event with our wonderful photographer Kathy  (Fairfax). 
  
Key Issues discussed today included:   
Transportation: Today we learned how people with disabilities can serve as leaders in the effort to help everyone learn how to take public transportation.  Christina, Tom, Jill and Pete shared their "commuter" routes with the legislators. They were proud to share stories of how they are able "to get around the town" as a result of understanding how to use public transportation system.  Erin shared that she lives in an area where there is no public transportation close by, BUT she and Nancy carpool to work twice a week. This is another creative way of getting to work and "being green."
 
Tips for using the public system included:
Plan your route BEFORE you start your trip. Bring something to read, it may take a while to get from one place to another. Understand that traveling on the metro and buses is an adventure, not a burden.
 
Employment: Each of the hosts shared his/her experience in the work force. Did you know a person needs to make $22.00 an hour to rent a place in Northern Virginia? Did you know that people with disabilities are often trained for minimum wage jobs, jobs that pay by "piece", and volunteer work?
Jill, Tom, Christina and Pete shared their work experiences in the grocery store setting. Each one had a different experience-not all wonderful! But they all learned a great deal even if they had challenges and they came up with some tips for employers below.
 
The hosts for our café pointed out the following tips for any work environment that wants to thrive:Train people well and answer what may appear to be "simple questions" -that way you will build a strong and reliable work force. People with disabilities can and often are dependable and reliable workers, so be patient and build on all talents; even the hidden ones. People with disabilities need to make a living wage, like everyone else.
 
"I have a dream session": The hosts facilitated a dream sharing time during the visit.  
Christina: "I would like an apartment of my own and I want prices to go down-like gasoline."
Tom:  I would like to find another paying job, in addition to Papa Johns on Saturdays."
Jill: "I would like to learn to drive, have a relationship with someone special and keep working hard at The Arc."
Erin: "I would like to take more classes on George Mason Campus and be the CEO of a Teen Magazine."
Pete: "I would like to be a kindergarten assistant teacher, get married and have kids."
Pamela: "I would like to get married and have my own home."
Senator Barker: "I am living my dream, I love being able to help people with their problems."
Anna: "I would love to go to UVA and be a lawyer and eventually start my own non-profit."
Senator Cuccinelli: "My dreams are focused on my children, now they have shifted!"
Senator Herring: "I love being a Senator and being able to set policy and make a difference."
Supervisor Hudgins: "I learn from everyone I work with. I enjoy being able to learn and build my community."
 

 
I Have a Life Interviews: The Hosts shared their personal stories and learned a little more about each of our guests!
 
Senator Herring: We learned that the Senator-even though he is a grown man is occasionally referred to as "Lil' ol Mark Herring" when he is in his old neighborhood. "No matter how old you get, when you go home you never grow up!"  Senator Herring shared that he testified at the Special Education Hearings in Loudoun this summer, he heard from  a lot of his constituents and after doing his research he supported parent's rights to have a voice in their child's education community-particularly in the area of "termination of services."  Another interesting fact: Did you know that Senator Herring used to serve as a guardian in his early days as a lawyer? Senator Herring enjoyed learning about The Arc's Guardianship of last resort program and the important role George Edwards plays as the representative payee-making a little money go a lonnnnnnnnnnnng way!
Advocacy Tip: Bring a constituent (someone from the legislators district) to present an issue. (More on the Senator at www.markherring.org )

 

 

 
Supervisor Hudgins: "I can be a voice in Richmond for you-as well as in Fairfax County." We learned that Supervisor Hudgins sits on important Human Service Committees in Richmond as well as a Transportation Committee for the Council of Governments. We also learned that Supervisor Hudgins has always promoted the use of public transportation-teaching her son, at a very young age, to use the community bus in Reston to "get around town." Supervisor Hudgins was very impressed when she learned that our team of self advocates were talented public transportation users and encouraged them to take a leadership role in teaching the community how they too can benefit from "Riding the Metro"
Advocacy Tip: It is important to listen to the community, even if it is not someone in your district to understand the big picture.
(More on the Supervisor at www.fairfaxcounty.gov/Huntermill)
 

 

Senator Cuccinelli: First of all congratulations to Senator  and Mrs. Cuccinelli on their newest addition to the family and the first boy. No,  it is not "Ken the III" -his name is Jack and he arrived six months ago! Senator Cuccinelli caught us up on all the kids and shared his interest in becoming Attorney General. The Senator shared that he loved being practicing law, which prompted Pete to share a joke to lighten the mood, "What does a lawyer name his daughter? SUE!" . We learned about the role of the Attorney General and shared our experiences working with the AG's office on the "R" Word Bill and Death Penalty issues. Senator Cuccinelli asked questions about funding services for non-waiver eligible people with disabilities and was interested to learn how these advocates envisioned a world without large institutional care.
Advocacy Tip: Understand the political climate and present your case accordingly. (More on the Senator at www.cuccinelli.com )
 

 

 

Senator Barker: The Senator has been very active in policy development even before his election to state senator in November of 2008. Senator Barker has always taken a great interest in early intervention programs and was very interested in hearing the most recent "funding shortfalls" and administrative changes in the program. Senator Barker explained his role on the Joint Commission on Health Care and talked about how the "waiting list" for Waivers is a BIG concern.  We discussed the differences in how waiting lists are maintained in Virginia-and pointed out that when there are limited resources. We operate in "Triage" mode-much like a MASH unit, making sure the neediest get the services first. We promised to keep the Senator up to date on strategies we develop for "prioritizing limited resources" and making sure everyone has access to "A Life Like Yours" in Virginia-regardless of ones' ability.
Advocacy Tip: Start early, prioritize your agenda, build your coalition and it is helpful to send in bundled stories from a couple of constituents with the same needs-"This meeting was helpful because we had the opportunity to meet five different people, with five different stories, but with one strong message," Anna. (More on the Senator at www.barkerforsenate.com )

 

 

 

What did we learn today?  

People with disabilities have the same dreams that people without disabilities have. The wish to have a home, a job, a family and friends.
 
People with disabilities often have different lives than their peers without disabilities. We learned that although many people with disabilities live with their families, well into their adult years,

this is not always a "choice." It is a necessity as a result
of lack of affordable, accessible and supportive
housing.
 
People with disabilities are one step closer to living "A Life Like Yours" and even being a leader in the community when an they have access and training to learn the skills necessary to use public transportation, seek and maintain employment-even if they live at home!