Re: Fwd: National ABLE Act Call-In Day

[Guest guest]

Thank you for this info! I have forwarded to about 30 advocates in my state. My

DS group in my city was already coordinating to meet with our legislators in

person, so this will be a nice little warm up for when we meet with them. They

will have had time to do some homework on the ABLE act!

For people who haven't yet read the info, the odds are against this bill right

now so you've got to make some noise and make the contacts to get your

representative to act. No matter how good an idea this is, if the elected

official isn't hearing from you about why this matters to you and how it makes a

difference in your life, they won't act on this. There is another group with

another interest ready to motivate that legislator to action on something else.

Make your issues your legislator's priorities!

>

> ---------- Forwarded message ----------

>

> Date: Fri, Apr 20, 2012 at 3:08 PM

> Subject: National ABLE Act Call-In Day

> To: dadsds

>

>

> [image: Description: Description: C:\Users\Joe's\Documents\DADS Logo.jpg]

> ****

>

> ** **

>

> *D.A.D.S. National Update*

>

> * *

>

> *Support, Fellowship and ACTION. D.A.D.S.----your ACTION is required next

> Wednesday! *

>

> * *

>

> *Fyi—D.A.D.S. Policy discussion point topics tool kits are ready;

> johngoodrich@... *

>

> * *

>

> ** **

>

> [image: Description: Description: Home] <http://www.autismspeaks.org/>

> [image:

> Description: Description:

> C:\Users\sweir\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\Temporary Internet

> Files\Content.Outlook\M242MMTV\MDA logo.jpg] [image: Description:

> Description: clrlogo] [image: Description: Description: NDSS 2 Color Logo]

> [image: Description: Description: National Fragile X

> FoundationForward]<http://www.fragilex.org/>

> [image: Description: Description:

> C:\Users\sweir\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\Temporary Internet

> Files\Content.Outlook\M242MMTV\tdof logo for use.jpg]****

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> **** ****

>

> * *

>

> *National ABLE Act Call-In Day*

>

> *Wednesday, April 25th, 2012 *

>

> ** **

>

> *Steps to Take Action -- Easy as 1 – 2- 3***

>

> * *

>

> * *

>

> ***1) ****Find out if your two Senators **an**d your Representative have

> signed onto the ABLE Act by clicking on the links below **(under cosponsors)

> **: *****

>

> ** **

>

> *House:* http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/112/hr3423****

>

> *Senate*: http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/112/s1872****

>

> * *

>

> *If any of your Members have NOT signed onto the ABLE Act, please call

> their Washington, DC offices (click

> **here*<http://capwiz.com/ndss/officials/congress/?lvl=C>

> * to find out the phone number). *

>

> ** **

>

> *Begin the call by introducing yourself and asking to speak with your

> Member's disability legislative staffer. *(Note: You may need to leave a

> voice mail or call back, if the disability staffer does not answer)**

>

> ** **

>

> ***2) ****Follow this ABLE Act phone script:*

>

> ** **

>

> *Once you have the staffer on the line, open and introduce yourself with: *

>

> * *

>

> **· ** " Hello, I am calling to ask my [senator/Representative] to be a

> cosponsor of the *Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) Act. " *

>

> * *

>

> **· **I am a constituent from your [state/District] and am a

> self-advocate, parent, sibling, grandparent, etc. from the [insert

> disability] community.****

>

> ****

>

> *Talking Points to Mention During Your Call:*

>

> ** **

>

> **· **The ABLE Act (S. 1872/HR 3423) currently has over 134

> cosponsors in the House and 14 in the Senate. This bipartisan bill was

> introduced by:****

>

> **o **Senators Casey (D-PA) and Burr (R-NC) as S. 1872 ****

>

> **o **Representatives Crenshaw (R-FL), Mc Rodgers (R-WA), and Van

> Hollen (D-MD) as H.R. 3423 ****

>

> ** **

>

> **· **The bill has been endorsed by over *50 national, state, and

> local disability organizations.* ****

>

> ** **

>

> **· **This bill would utilize the 529 education saving accounts

> program with which thousands of Americans are already familiar. As with

> the existing 529 accounts, contributions to ABLE accounts would grow tax

> free and would be easy and inexpensive to create. ****

>

> ** **

>

> **· **The ABLE Act will give individuals with disabilities and their

> families the ability to plan and save for their child's future just like

> every other American family, and help people with disabilities live full,

> productive lives in their communities without losing benefits provided

> through private insurances, the Medicaid program, the supplemental security

> income program, the beneficiary's employment, and other sources. ****

>

> ** **

>

> **· **The account could fund a variety of essential expenses for

> individuals, including medical and dental care, education, community based

> supports, employment training, assistive technology, housing, and

> transportation. ****

>

> ** **

>

> **· **The ABLE Act provides individuals with disabilities the same

> types of flexible savings tools that all other Americans have through

> college savings accounts, health savings accounts, and individual

> retirement accounts. ****

>

> ** **

>

> *If your Member is interested in signing on as a cosponsor, please have

> them contact:*

>

> ** **

>

> **· ***Senate:* Sen. Casey/ McCloskey (

> _Mccloskey@...)****

>

> **· ***House:* Rep. Crenshaw/ Debes (

> .Debes@...) ****

>

> * *

>

> ***3) ****Let Us Know About Your Call: *Please let us know about your

> conversation Email (insert organization contact) to let us know who you

> spoke with and what they had to say about the bill. We can help by

> following up with their DC office. **

>

> ** **

>

> * *

>

> *For more information about the ABLE Act, please use the following

> resources:*

>

> **· **ABLE Act

>

one-pager<http://www.ndss.org/PageFiles/736/achieving_a_better_life_experience_a\

ble_act_one_pager.pdf>

> **

>

> **· **The ABLE Act - The 112th

>

Congress<http://www.ndss.org/PageFiles/167/ABLE%20Act%20of%202011%20Background.p\

df>

> ****

>

> **· **ABLE Act Gains Support from 49 National, State, and Local

> Advocacy

Organizations<http://www.ndss.org/PageFiles/167/ABLE%20Coalition%20Grows%20to%20\

49%20Advocacy%20Organizations.pdf>

> ****

>

> ** **

>

> ** **

>

> ** **

>

> ** **

>

> ****

>

> *Joe Meares*

>

> *D.A.D.S. National*

>

> * *

>

> joemeares@... ****

>

> www.dadsnational.org ****

>

> ** **

>