Public Policy & Advocacy
At Easterseals Northern California, we have a dedicated team working behind the scenes to advocate for the people we serve and their families, and the disability community at large. They meet with legislators across California and in Washington, D.C., to break down the ins and outs of Medicaid, support various state and federal bills that make a difference and so much more.
Learn what our team does and see how you can get involved too! Your input can influence decisions and shape outcomes by sharing how proposed policies or regulations impact you, your family or your community.
How You Can Get Involved
There are a number of ways to make your voice heard and make a big difference, from contacting legislators to a simple social media post.
- Contact Your Local Legislators
- Congress: Find Your Members in the U.S. Congress | Congress.gov | Library of Congress
- California State Representatives: Find Your California Representatives
- Not in California but still want to make your opinion heard? You can search online using the search term “find my representatives [state name]” to find the right contacts for your state.
- Once you identify a comfortable method of communication, use it to express your concerns! This can be a specific piece of legislation that impacts you, or a general comment about desiring more governmental support for your community. Remember, sharing personal stories is the most impactful way to influence legislators.
- To keep up with legislative activity, you can find the state legislature websites for California here: California Legislative Information
- Sign Petitions
- Support causes that matter to you by signing petitions that reflect public opinion and community priorities. You can often find petitions posted on websites like change.org, on social media and on government websites.
- Share Your Story
- We recognize that everyone is an expert in something—share what you know! Your story can help build collective understanding by sharing knowledge and lived experiences with policymakers and the public. You can share your story with legislators directly or contact us at [email protected] if you would like our Public Policy & Advocacy team to bring your stories to their meetings with legislators.
- Attend Local Public Hearings
- Attend your local representatives’ town hall meetings in your city or county. You can sign up for newsletters from their offices to learn when and how to attend these. While speaking isn’t required to attend, sitting in the audience to show your support for the causes you care about speaks volumes.
- Register with Organizations You Support
- Sign up for newsletters from organizations you support to learn more and be notified about petitions, facilitated outreach to lawmakers and events. You can also sign up for our quarterly newsletter with updates on behavioral health, advocacy, local events and more.
- Here are a few organizations that you can follow to stay informed:
- Speak Up in Your Day-to-Day
- There are many ways you can share your input. You can share posts or articles from Easterseals Northern California on social media, submit feedback on government and private sector proposals that are open for public comment, and talk about issues with friends, family and colleagues to raise awareness. Sharing your expertise—whether in science, finance, policy or lived experience—can help others understand complex topics.
- Make a Donation
- A simple way to show your support is to make a donation to Easterseals Northern California. Your contribution helps sustain programs and services that empower people with disabilities and strengthen our communities. Donations can also be made in honor or in memory of someone special, celebrating the positive impact Easterseals Northern California’s work has on real lives every day.