This year’s January 28th NYAPRS Albany Legislative Day promises to be one of most important advocacy actions in our history!
This year’s policy agenda continues NYAPRS’ long term commitment to advancing the recovery, rehabilitation, rights and community inclusion of New Yorkers with psychiatric disabilities and the expansion of community recovery supports by reinvesting funds from institutional settings.
On our home page under NYAPRS Breaking News, you will find our draft 2014 state advocacy priorities that we have identified in consultation with our Public Policy Committee and our members at regional forums across the state.
Are you ready? Join Harvey Rosenthal on a first-ever legislative day preparation webinar, next Wednesday, 10/22 at 10AM! Register for the webinar now by clicking here. You can watch the webinar with a group of people at your agency to build excitement and understanding of the day’s events!
Are you already signed up to get on the bus? The next step is setting up an appointment with your legislator. Discuss this with the regional coordinator listed for your area on the attached flyer, as many of the coordinators arrange these meetings and can assist you doing so. Your legislators want to hear from you, so give them a call to tell them you want to speak to them!
Step 1: Visit the ‘Find Your Member’ page of the NY assembly by clicking here. Type in your address, click enter: the name and website of your district assembly member appears below!
Step 2: Visit your assembly persons’ website to find their office phone number. Make the phone call: a friendly assistant will likely greet you.
Step 3: Say “Hi, my name is enter name, and I live in district enter district number listed for your address. I am going to be in Albany on January 28 for a lobby day with NYAPRS, an advocacy agency dedicated to community rehabilitation for persons with psychiatric disabilities. I would like to meet with assemblyperson enter name of your assembly member between 1PM and 3PM on January 28 to discuss legislative priorities for 2014. I will bring a few other community members to share our experiences. Can you arrange that meeting for me?” When you are given a meeting time, note the time down.
Step 4: Contact your regional coordinator to let them know you arranged this meeting.
Our NYAPRS Regional Coordinators are arranging with our members to sponsor and make available numerous buses to help you join us that day. Currently we have buses committed from Long Island, New York City, Buffalo, Rochester, Hudson Valley, Binghamton, and Watertown-Syracuse, with more to come! To see more details or to reserve some seats, please check in with our coordinators as listed on this flyer.
Look for our January 21st summary of the Governor’s proposals and whether they alter or add to our agenda.
Thanks as always for your strong support for our recovery, rehabilitation, rights and community inclusion agenda! See you on January 28.