Address: The Arc of Washington State, 2638 State Avenue NE Olympia, WA 98506
Phone: (360) 357-5596 | Toll Free: (888) 754-8798 | Fax: (360) 357-3279 | Email: info@arcwa.org
Changes Are Made By Those Who Show Up
Your elected officials represent you, but they can’t do this effectively if they don’t know what you want.
This webpage offers examples of ways to become a trusted resource for legislators and other elected officials on issues that affect your life.
It’s about building a relationship with those who make decisions that affect your life. Lawmakers look to their constituents for reliable information on issues before them. With so many issues to learn about including education, health care, transportation, the economy, and state institutions versus community services — your knowledge of developmental disabilities helps them to do their job!
2025 Legislative Advocacy Tips
With Shawn Latham and Jessica Renner from the Self Advocates in Leadership (SAIL) in collaboration with the Washington State Developmental Disabilities Council.
Become A Resource
It is important to keep your legislators current on developing issues and to have a positive working relationship with them. Legislators receive a LOT of communications, so if you keep in regular contact with your legislators, be sure to always provide fresh, useful information, such as the status of a bill or budget item on which you need their support or assistance.
Legislation changes often and quickly throughout the session, as other interest groups weigh in and amendments are made. Be sure to stay on top of these changes.
Take Action
- Attend Advocacy Days
- Join a local advocacy group such as a parent coalition or self- advocacy organization
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Visit The Arc of Washington State’s Online Action Center
Do‘s and Don’ts
Tips for Meeting with Elected Officials
Do’s
- Make Appointments
- Be on time for your scheduled visit.
- Be positive and friendly
- Clearly state the reason for your visit.
- Personalize the issue in your life.
- Provide reliable information.
- Give the names of people who can be a resource for additional information.
- Get back to them with more information, be sure to get back to them.
- Write a ‘thank you’
Don’t’s
- Get upset if your legislator can’t see you personally.
- Be late for the visit.
- Be confrontational or threatening.
- Try to discuss too many different issues.
- Ignore the legislative assistant (LA)
- Talk only in acronyms.
- Give incorrect information.
- Try to answer questions with guesses.
- Forget to write a ‘thank you’ letter
- Ignore legislators the rest of the year.
Phone Calls, Emails, and Mail
Your phone calls and emails are important, it just takes 10 to 15 calls about a bill (or budget item) and it is considered a landslide of public opinion. Most legislators use email to communicate and work on their laptops during committee meetings or on the chamber floor.
You can find who your legislator is and how to connect with them here.
An Outline for All Legislators’ Email Addresses:
- Legislators’s Full First Name, followed by dot (.)
- Full Last name
- And @leg.wa.gov
Example: firstname.lastname@leg.wa.gov
Although email is the best way to communicate during sessions, when things are happening really fast, a written letter or note can leave a lasting impression. Thank you cards remind legislators that you appreciate what they do.
When the Legislature is not in session, writing a letter or email is a good way for you to share your perspectives about issues in greater depth.
House: P.O. Box 40600 Olympia, WA 98504
Office of the Governor: PO Box 40002 Olympia, WA 98504-0002
Senate: P.O. Box 404__* Olympia, WA 98504
*Note: For your senator, insert your 2-digit district number after 404. Example for the 1st district: 40401
Budget Steps
The state budget process takes place each year. Every odd-numbered year the biennial (two-year) budget is created. In even-numbered years a supplemental budget makes fixes needed for unanticipated issues in the budget.
Start here: Each Spring, the Governor directs all state agencies to put together decision packages, based on their request for budget cuts and/or increases.
Next, State agencies work during the summer to deliver their decision packages to the Governor by Fall. This gives him some basis for making his budget proposals.
Next, the Governor decides in the Fall how they want to spend or save money, based on the information state agencies provide. They send the budget recommendation to the Legislature in time for the legislative session (usually toward the end of December).
Lastly, in the Winter, the Legislature develops budget proposals in response to the Governor’s budget. They have to agree before it can pass and go to the Governor for signature.
How a Bill Becomes a Law
IDEA: Bills start with an idea, they may come from legislators, agencies, the governor, or even from a member of the community that brings it to a legislator. The Idea is then written into legal language and then needs to find a member of the legislature to sponsor the bill. Once it has a sponsor it goes into the “Hopper” to be officially filed as a bill.
Next, the bill needs to be assigned to a committe and then scheduled for a hearing. If it passes out of the committee, it will then move on to the fiscal (money) committee for a hearing.
Next, if it is voted out of the fiscal committee, it moves on the Rules committee, which decides which bills will go to the floor for a vote.
Next, if it makes it to the floor for a vote, the chamber will debate the bill, potentially bring amendments to the bill and if it is successful, will come up for a vote.
Next, if it passes the chamber it moves to the other chamber, where it repeats the process. If it passes the other chamber, and the bills are not identical, the two chambers must “reconcile” the bills and vote again on any changes.
Lastly, once it has passed both chambers and has been reconciled, it goes to the Governor’s desk where he either signs it, vetoes it, or partially vetoes it.
Bills can die or be changed at any step along the way. Many bills are filed, but many more will not make it through the process.
Find out more about Bills and the process here.
Ways to Be Involved
Facebook pages are a way to share quick thoughts and ideas. The Arc of Washington State has a Facebook page with updates on legislative news, a forum for discussions, and links to other advocacy groups. Visit www.facebook.com/TheArcofWashingtonState
News to Know is an occasional e-newsletter from The Arc of Washington State’s. It’s easy to sign up to keep updated about issues of importance to people with I/DD and their families. To sign up visit arcwa.org/news-to-know-sign-up/.
Action Network provides you with email action alerts that offer easy-to-use information for you to make your voice heard. To sign up visit arcwa.org/action-center/
Virtual Advocacy Days
Advocacy Days, part of The Arc’s Advocacy Partnership Project, are held during each legislative session to involve individuals with intellectual/developmental disabilities (IDD), their families and their service providers in the legislative process, giving them opportunities to make their voices heard by their legislators and to have an impact on policy and budget legislation that affects the services and supports available to them. All Advocacy Days are held via Zoom (even if an in-person event is scheduled as well) to allow for more accessibility to all individuals across Washington State.
The Art of A Clear Message
It is important to communitcate clearly with decision makers. You want your message to be clear, simple and brief.
- Who you are and if you are a constituent
- What is important to YOU
- How it affects your life
- What you want your legislator to do
- Remember to be respectful
- Say “Thank you”.
Using Technology to ADVOCATE
Facebook pages are a way to share quick thoughts and ideas. The Arc of Washington State has a Facebook page with updates on legislative news, a forum for discussions and links to other advocacy groups. Visit www.facebook.com/TheArcofWashingtonState.
News to Know is an occasional e-newsletter from The Arc of Washington State’s. It’s easy to sign up to keep updated about issues of importance to people with I/DD and their families. To sign up visit arcwa.org/news-to-know-sign-up/.
Action Network provides you with email action alerts that offer easy-to-use information for you to make your voice heard. To sign up visit arcwa.org/action-center/.
Advocacy Days, part of The Arc’s Advocacy Partnership Project, are held during each legislative session to involve individuals with intellectual/developmental disabilities (IDD), their families and their service providers in the legislative process, giving them opportunities to make their voices heard by their legislators and to have an impact on policy and budget legislation that affects the services and supports available to them. All Advocacy Days are held via Zoom (even if an in-person event is scheduled as well) to allow for more accessibility to all individuals across Washington State. To learn more visit arcwa.org/advocacy/advocacy-days/.
Self Advocacy Groups
Self-Advocacy organizations for individuals with disabilities exist in communities throughout the state.
Self Advocates in Leadership (SAIL)
www.selfadvocatesinleadership.com
888.754.8798, ext. 102
Location: Statewide coalition meets monthly in the Seattle area
Allies in Advocacy
www.alliesinadvocacy.com
253-304-5762
Location: Statewide coalition
Leadership, Education, Advocacy and Determination (LEAD)
www.arcsno.org/programs/self-advocacy-l-e-a-d coalition
(425) 258-2459
Location: Snohomish County
People First of Washington (PFOW)
www.peoplefirstofwashington.org
253-999-7222
Location: Chapters throughout the state
Association of Centers for Independent Living
Washington State
Disability Empowerment Center
866.545.7055
www.disabilityempowerment.org
King County
Center for Independence
(North) 888.482.4839
www.cfinorth.org
Whatcom, San Juan, Skagit, Island, and Snohomish Counties
Central Washington Disability Resources
800.240.5978
www.mycwdr.org
Kittitas, Grant, Yakima, Chelan, and Douglas Counties
Center for Independence
(South) 800.724.8172
www.cfi-wa.org/
Pierce, Thurston, S. Kitsap, Grays Harbor, Mason, S. King Counties
Medicaid Matters Town Hall Informational Slides
Medicaid is more than healthcare, it funds all Home & Community Based Services for people with I/DD. The Arc of Washington State hosted a virtual town hall to discuss why it matters, potential service threats, and how you can be involved. View the informational slides here.
ABCs of Advocacy
Learn more about advocacy, the legislative system, and more in our informational ABCs of Advocacy slides.
Printable Signs
Print these signs to bring with you to help advocate! Or print the blank sign and write your own message.
