Over 650 people joined in Washington, DC, April 23-25 for the ultimate gathering of advocates for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. This year we focused on presidential election-year issues and how to make a difference with grassroots advocacy.

The Seminar began with two days packed full of informational and educational sessions on critical legislative issues facing the I/DD community from some of the foremost experts disability policy and culminated with participants taking their concerns directly to Capitol Hill in meetings with elected representatives.

View photos from the event on flickr.

Special Events for the 2012 DPS:

• On March 28, AUCD held an introductory webinar to help individuals get the most out of their time while in DC.  Please click on "Archived Recording" (right side of page) to listen to the webinar.
• Trainees and Fellows were invited to a special Trainee Symposium and Reception on Sunday evening, April 22, at the DPS.  

More Information & Resources

• Fact Sheets about the issues to be covered at the Seminar are now available on the DPS website under Resources
• Also under Resources is a useful chart of disability-related program appropriations that you will want to be familiar with
• Check out the program-at-a-glance with an outline of the sessions for this year's event
• Consider coordinating with other Seminar attendees to schedule visits with your Members of Congress for Wednesday, April 25. View the master attendee list to see who is registered from your state. Then have someone from your group (if applicable) call your Members' Washington, DC offices and ask to speak to the scheduler. Tell him/her that you are a constituent and would like to request a meeting on April 25.
  • If you are not making your visits with a state delegation, you are responsibile for making your own appointments.  Trainees: be sure someone in your group or a faculty member has made the proper appointments.
    
• Invite your Members of Congress to our reception on Capitol Hill on Tuesday evening from 5:30-7:30pm. Hosted by the Honorable Tom Harkin, U.S. Senator from Iowa, this is a great opportunity to meet with our representatives in Congress and their staff in a casual setting at the Dirksen Senate Office Building with light hors-d'oeuvres and drinks.
  
  • To invite your Member, call their Washington, DC, office and ask to speak to the scheduler. Inform the scheduler about the event, and he/she will likely ask you to send them an invitation electronically (see the sample email invitation at right for a template). The more information the staff has at their fingertips, the greater the chances of attendance.