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Advocacy
Until a few decades ago, people with developmental disabilities had few choices. Many were forced to live in institutions and thought to be incapable of learning or steady employment. But through grassroots advocacy sponsored by The Arc of Spokane, people with special needs in our community are living independently, graduating from high school and holding jobs. We're improving lives in a meaningful way. Here's how: 

Community Advocacy
Improving public policy for people with developmental disabilities means changing the attitudes of lawmakers at the local, state and national level. Above all else, members of The Arc are activists, united in their desire to change attitudes about people with developmental disabilities by edcuating lawmakers about their real needs and desires. Our community advocacy effort educates through a number of mechanisms, including: 


  • The Spokane County Parent Coalition--Reaching 1,500 people a month, the Spokane County Parent Coalition provides information, education and advocacy training to parents with children who have a developmental disability.    

  • The Advocacy Committee--The governing board of our community advocacy effort, this committee meets on the 2nd Thursday of each month from 5:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. in our Boone building conference room.

  • Advocacy Days--During the state legistlative session, which generally runs from January through May of each year, a number of volunteers travel with us to Olympia to speak with lawmakers about proposed legislation that we either favor or oppose.
  • The Rapid Response Network--During the state legislative season, network volunteers call or e-mail other activists asking them to urge their legislators for or against pending legislation.
  • The Disability Seminar--Each year in February or March, a small group of volunteers and staff travel to Washington D.C. to learn about pending federal legislation and to speak with our congressional respresenatives about specific bills that we may favor or oppose.

To be a part of our advocacy team, contact Lance Morehouse at (509) 328-6326 (ext. 205) or lmorehouse@arc-spokane.org.

 

Individual Advocacy
People with developmental disabilities living in our community sometimes need help as they interact with landlords, merchants, government agencies or other people in the community. Individual advocates at The Arc of Spokane help people address these challenges in a positive way. Individiual advocates can:

  • Act as a witness to dealings with officials and practitioners
  • Help stabilize a stressful situation through listening and counseling 
  • Explain an individual's needs or views to others  
  • Explain complex information in terms the individual can understand
  • Write letters or fill-out legal forms

 

To talk to an individual advocate, contact Terry Villalovoz at (509) 328-6326 or p2p@arc-spokane.org.
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