Are You Sick of me Posting my Letters to Congress?

I wasn't going to post these, but I'm running out of ideas. Keeping up with writing posts 5 days/week is A LOT. So without further ado:

Senator Cardin/Mikulski:

I am writing in strong support of my friend Ari Ne'eman's confirmation to the National Council on Disability.

Ari, a current resident of our state, fights for an inclusive society, so that everyone can obtain the appropriate supports that they need, tailored to them. He fights so that people affected by all types of disabilities can live better lives.

I hope you are not the anonymous senator blocking Mr Ne'man's confirmation. [As the sponsor of Rosa's Law] I'd be ashamed of you [for being a hypocrite]. How could you not [I know that you] support an inclusive society [and]? [took the first 6 words out] I hope that you do, and that if you know the identity of the Senator blocking Mr Ne'eman's confirmation you will pressure them to do the right thing and withdraw their motion.

Sincerely

Cheryl *Censored*

Co-organizer Maryland ADAPT

The words in brackets are what I used to tailor Senator Mikulski's letter to her. You can find the address of your Senator's office by doing a quick google search of their names. If you do not know their names I suggest googling [your state] senators. I also suggest that you mail your letters to their closest local office, and not to DC, as they will be read in a more timely manner, and that you write them by hand on brightly colored stationary, so that they will stand out, as I always do. This time it was a blue glitter gel pen on pink stationary. I am also going to write a thank you note to Obama for sticking his neck out.

I'M WITH ARI!

In case you haven't heard, President Obama wants to appoint Ari Ne'eman, a young adult "on the spectrum" as he likes to label himself, to the National Council on Disability, a federal commission, but an annonymous senator has placed an indefinite hold on his confirmation. Ari's view's on autism are somewhat controversial, but as I wrote in an email to 2 people recently

I will always fight tooth and nail to support Ari's viewpoint. I find the treatment of autistic adults, pitted against each other on purpose it seems, is akin to the way things worked with slavery. The whole lighter skined/darker skined slaves thing. Ari fights for an inclusive society, he fights so that everyone can obtain the appropriate supports that they need, tailored to them, so that we can all have better lives. How can anyone fight against that? I agree with him that one way to move towards this is to stop differentiating types of autism.

So I guess I'm controversial too. Ari's views are so controversial that someone even started a hate blog that includes death threats (I've decided to refrain from linking). To read more on this saga, check out the recent NYT article. Remember when I went to the ASAN protest 6 months ago? I'm totally down with ASAN. (done with tangent).

So what can you do? WRITE YOUR SENATORS!!! Since we don't know who put the block on, we need to inundate all 100 senators with letters. I may even write the President a thank you note for sticking his neck out there. Here are the guidelines from the I'm with Ari facebook group (as usual)

1. Be heartfelt and honest

1.1 If you agree with Mr. Ne'eman, say why you agree and what you agree with. Nothing more, nothing less. It's about supporting the good work of another.

1.2 This is about why you think Mr. Ne'eman is a good choice. This is not about any other problems you see or any disagreements you have with anyone else.

2. Be brief and to the point

2.1 Members of the House of Representatives and the Senate are busy folks. Tell them what it is you want in as few words as possible while making yourself clear.

2.2 Stay focused. If you have a staff member on the phone, relate that you understand they are busy and merely would like the member of Congress to know that this is something people really do care about.

3. Say it to the right set of people

3.1 You can speak on behalf of yourself and yourself only (unless you have permission to speak on behalf of an organization)

3.2 You can only really make a difference with the Representatives (House and Senate) from your state.

4. Technical Details

4.1 Call BOTH the Washington DC office and the local office of BOTH the US Senators of your state (info can be found online for these phone numbers).

4.2 Request to speak with the advisor who handles matters concerning people with disabilities. Request someone call you back if nobody is there.

4.3 When making phone calls, get the name of the person you spoke to and remain upbeat and friendly - remember that the person on the other end works hard too and should be treated with respect regardless of your view of the member of Congress they work for.

4.4 Make it about your state or local area. Say why this matters for where you live. For instance, do you know how many people with disabilities live in your state? Is the Senator facing a tough election? Make it clear they should care about this issue in a friendly manner.

The people that have lived across from me for the last 2 months have a 4 year old autistic grandson and I often see them wearing their Autism Speaks shirts and cringe. I keep my mouth shut, telling myself they don't know any better, and I don't want to get in a fight with the neighbors. I'm thinking though of taping the NYT article to my door along with Sen Mikulski & Cardin's addresses. Am I being passive aggressive?

Have YOU Written the Governor Yet?

I wrote mine on some old bright ORANGE (If you're an ADAPTer, you'll get it) personalized stationary that I found so that it will STAND OUT. Remember, the Governor's address is:

100 State Circle
Annapolis, MD 21401-1925

Here is my letter (I hope he can read my messy cursive):

Governor O'Malley:

I am writing in response to the current budget crisis. I understand that some tough decisions need to be made in this economy but you must look CAREFULLY at every cut you make. Between March and November over $17 million have been cut to the MHA budget for community services with little to no funding cuts to state inpatient facilities. As mental health consumer I am writing to beg you not to cut funding any further as it has been well established that appropriate community supports can stabilize psychiatric symptoms better then institutional settings.

Not only are community services more effective, they are also CHEAPER. The cost per person per year in a state psychiatric facility can be over $200,000 while the statics I received state that services through a wellness and recovery center is about $1000 per person per year. I estimate though that the wellness and recovery center I attend twice a week operates at about $200 per person per year while providing a level of acceptance, friendship, & support higher then with any other service I have tried over the last 14 years. There have been plenty of times over the last 6 months where seeing friends I have met through the Towson On Our Own center was my only motivation to leave my apartment.

It has been my experience that the programs with the least funding supports are the first to have their funding pulled. Keeping programs such as these operational will keep people moving & motivated during these tough economic times. I can't imagine what could happen to me should this support disappear and I worry about people who are uninsured that use wellness and recovery centers as their only resource in dealing with their psychiatric issues.

I urge you Governor to be fiscally responsible and supportive of the citizens of Maryland by not further cutting funds for community mental health services.









Cheryl *censored*


The next letter I need to write is to Senator Mikulski to thank her for sponsoring Rosa's law. She is my Senator after all. I've been meaning to write this for over a month, however I don't have all the info I need in order to write it. I want to get in EVERYTHING. I want to write 'hey, thanks so much for sponsoring Rosa's Law & supporting disability rights, you could really show your support if you signed onto...'

Someone help me with the bills I need please. I know the Community Choice Act and I know the CLASS Act and the Community First Choice Option, but what else? Isn't there a restraint and seclusion law? What am I missing?

Way to Be on the Ball Sen Cardin...

After 4th of July I was inspired to write letters to all 9 of the MD members of congress who have not shown support for the CCA, plus the President, and thank you notes to Rep Cummings (the only one so far to show support), Sen Harkin, & Rep Davis (the sponsors). I hand wrote them after hearing some statistic about the amount of attn hand written things get vs mass emails. I wanted to make a point, so I spent HOURS. My 10 pleas for support were done on funky green/pink stripe w/giant funky pink flower and my 3 TY notes were done on red cards w/yellow rubber duckies all over. Hey, I figured if I REALLY wanted to get noticed...

Today I got a letter back from Sen Cardin, dated July 27, 2009:

Dear Ms *censored*:

Thank you for contacting me in support of the Community Choice Act.

The next paragraph goes on to explain to me what the CCA is like I don't already know that... who contacted who first here?????

The Community Choice Act, S.799, was introduced by Senator Tom Harkin on March 7, 2007. The Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions held a hearing on the legislation on July 10, 2007. Unfortunately, this legislation was not reported out of Committee before the end of the 110th Congress. Please be assured that I will remember your support for this legislation if it is introduced during the 111th Congress. [emphasis added]

[image description: a beach ball. Get it? On the BALL... lol]

I don't have much faith in someone whose staff can't do a simple proof read before sending out a form letter. That, and I mean, if you're too busy to keep track of the year and every bill #, a simple google search will tell you what is in my sidebar--It's 2009 & the CCA was reintroduced into the 111th Congress on March 23 by Sen Harkin as S.683.

Sen Mikulski's people can at least send me an email referencing the right bill # even if all the rest of it rambles on about the CLASS act, which is NOT THE POINT!!!!