Advocacy is a primary focus at MNCCD
We have ongoing programming that supports advocacy at the Capitol and advocacy in the community.

Visit Us Tuesdays during the legislative session from 9:30-11:00 a.m. in the Department of Transportation Cafeteria, Check our calendar for other advocacy events and programming.

General Advocacy Tools

Who Represents Me in the MN State Legislature?
This tool has an interactive map to help you discover your legislator. 

Partners in Making Your Case
This is an online self-study course designed by Partners in Policymaking ® to help people advocate for positive changes in public policies that impact people with disabilities and their families. It is designed for self-advocates; parents and family members of children and adults with disabilities; direct care workers; service providers; and professionals working in fields related to disability services. Partners in Making Your Case teaches the critical skills you need to be an effective advocate.
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Telling Your Story iPad Application
“Telling Your Story” is a free tool that persons with disabilities, family members, and other advocates can use to compose and practice the personal story they'll present to elected public officials or other policymakers at all levels of government when seeking policy changes or increasing awareness about disability issues. The app guides users through the steps, from introducing yourself to identifying the specific issue to the best methods for presenting a compelling personal story. After entering the text of their story, an audio recording feature allows the user to rehearse their story. Users can also select and preview a photo they may wish to include.

Tips for Meeting with Your Legislator

Key messages to get across to your legislator: 
  • How have the programs or services you are advocating for improved (or how would they improve) your life or the life of your family member or those you serve? 
  • What challenges would you face if these programs and services were reduced or eliminated (or what challenges will you continue to face if changes are not made)? 
  • What specific action are you asking your elected official for? 

A set of steps to help you cover the above messages while sharing your story with your legislator: 
  • Introduction and background on you (name, where you live, etc…) 
  • Relate a specific personal experience (what specific disability issue are you interested in discussing?) 
  • Frame the issue (is something working well for you and you hope it remains that way? Is something not working well and you would like to see a change?) 
  • Tell them what you want/ ask for a commitment 
  • Thank them for their time 

General Reminders:
  • Be brief : legislators are extremely busy and appreciate speaking to people who can be concise and too the point. This is easy to do if you have picked a specific focus for your talk and have practiced moving through the steps above. 
  • Be real : remember that YOU are the expert on your own story and only you can share with your legislator what your life is like. If a legislator asks you a question that you are unsure of the answer to, tell them you will get back to them and contact a disability advocacy organization to direct you to the answer. 

What to Say When Meeting with Your Legislator