Begin on the phone:
Telephoning an MPP's office is a legitimate and common form of lobbying. Be concise. State your own connection to the issue of autism and the implications of the current situation for you and your family. Here are some potential points you may wish to make:
- Children that have been removed from pre-school waitlists have not lost their autism. They have just lost their chance of getting help.
- Children with autism who are six or older should get ABA in school. Special Education other than ABA is not effective for them, and the only cost of providing ABA would be training the Education Assistants who are already working with autistic children.
Follow your call with a letter:
A letter should be short and to the point. Thank the MPP for the phone call, even if you spoke with staff. If that was the case, mention the staffer's name and compliment them. Staffers will see the letter before the MPP does, and a compliment costs you nothing. Flattered staff become friends quicker. You can then request a meeting. Most offices do not treat meeting requests as “real” until there is some paper. Plan on bringing a couple of friends, and mention this. It is harder to turn down a group than an individual. Do NOT surprise the member by suddenly showing up with companions. From the MPP's point of view, that's called a “bushwhack.” Do NOT promise to bring others and then arrive alone. From the MPP's point of view, that's called an “amateur.”
You may first be offered a meeting with staff. Press for an opportunity with the MPP. Ask for a meeting on a Friday. There is no excuse available at Queen's Park because the Legislature never sits on that day. It will be harder to arrange time with an MPP who is also a cabinet minister than it is to see a “backbencher.” Don't let this stop you, be persistent. You may have to go to Queen's Park. If that happens, then a member of the rally team may be able to attend the meeting with you. Push without being pushy.
When you hold your meeting:
Prepare for your meeting by finding out as much as you can about your MPP—what did they do before they were in politics? What are their interests? Do they have any children? Knowing these things will help you figure out how to tailor your presentation. When you go to the meeting, dress professionally, be patient (you'll be kept waiting) and be respectful. Don’t be surprised if there are a few extra people in the room from the MPP’s staff. The more people that hear your story, the better. Don’t be awed by the power of your politician: behind their fancy title, whatever it is, they’re still just a human being. Spend some time on introductions and small talk, and then tell your story. It can be very hard to do this without going on forever—but to the extent that it’s possible, tell them how autism has affected your family in a brief, concise manner. (Although in most cases, there’s nothing wrong with a few tears.) Show the MPP a photo of your child(ren).
It is best to visit with your MPP in a small group (three constituents is optimum) and to keep the visit as brief as possible. One person should lead off as the prearranged spokesperson. Going alone is often unsatisfactory because it is easier for the MPP to “out-talk” the constituent or for the two to reach an impasse. The small group should create the impression that it is representing many more people.
The legislature does not sit on Fridays, and MPPs use this as a “constituency day.” Members who live far from Toronto may use Saturdays for this purpose. Do not be overly concerned if you end up meeting or speaking with staff rather than the legislator. In many cases, this is equally or even more effective. Be sure to treat staff with the same degree of respect you would afford the legislator.
Remember that the MPP may not have an understanding of our issue beyond what has been told to them by the Minister’s office, Ministry staff, or in briefing notes, so your main job is to educate him/her about its impact.
Do not be surprised if your meeting starts a bit late or is cut short or you are not able to speak directly to the MPP. Fifteen minutes (possibly 20) is a realistic expectation for your meeting. Don’t be surprised if staff sit in. Don’t be surprised if the staff are very, very young.
Know your issue and bring effective handouts. Focus on the fact that the solutions we’re looking for are realistic and achievable. We’re asking for more intelligent spending, not more spending. We’re asking for ABA in schools—which is already happening in several other jurisdictions. If they put their minds to this, they can do these things.
Carefully review our “Talking Points.” Add your name, phone, email and address to the “Fact Sheet” and leave it behind. Present your opinion and back it up with facts-background information, including statistics and studies that support your point of view. Never lie, never guess. If you lose your credibility, you can never get it back. Just say “I don’t know, but I’ll get back to you” Éand then get back to them! Know the opposing arguments and ‘frequently asked questions’ and have answers ready to go. Make your MPP’s job easier.
Avoid party politics. We have friends on both sides of the speaker.
Use personal anecdotes. Nothing emphasizes the importance of an issue like a personal story. Tell your MPP how the issue affects your family, your neighbours, and your child’s school or daycare. Bring a photo of the child with autism that you're connected to. All politics is local!
Draw them in with an invitation. You may want to personally invite the member and his or her staff on an informal visit to see ABA therapy in action. Once they’ve seen it in action, it’s pretty hard to believe that it won’t work for older kids or can’t be done in schools.
Offer solutions. Don’t just talk about how bad our problem isÉtell your MPP what you’d like to see done to fix it. In addition, let the representative know what he/she should do: meet with the Minister. Ask for a commitment from the member to support your position-but do not apply pressure or be threatening.
Know when the meeting is over. The MPP will never be the “bad guy” by saying you have to go. A staffer will interrupt with a reminder about “that thing” or the next visitor is waiting, or someone is on the phone. Say “Thank you” and indicate you’re looking forward to following up on this issue. Your member may want to keep you longer, but let them send this signal. Never end in harsh words or personal remarks. You will only burn bridges. Remember that it’s a small world, and being a jerk will only mean you get a reputation of being a jerk.
After the visit... send a gracious thank-you note. By now, you are closer to your legislator than 99% of his/her constituents...and your “Thank you!” will be remembered. Include any answers or other information that you may have promised during the meeting. Remind them that you will be following the issue closely. MPPs and staff clearly remember the constituents who follow up. It reminds them how passionate you are about the issue. Ask for an update on where the issue stands. Don’t be discouraged—the squeaky wheel will eventually get the grease!
Be visible locally. Every MPP has a riding office and most hold local “town hall” meetings. Show up, and go over and say hello to your official and/his staff — this shows you’re serious about developing a relationship. That way, the next time you contact the MPP you’ll be more than a face — you’ll be a known entity.
Dos and Don’ts of Lobbying
DO
Identify yourself as a constituent (when appropriate) indicating where you live and where you work. If you are not a constituent, identify someone who is or draw some indentification with the riding (i.e. the last time you may have been there).
DO
Bring copies of the Deskin-Wynberg ruling and be familiar with its contents. Leave a copy with the MPP.
DO
Ask the legislator for his or her support.
DO
SMILE, exercise courtesy AT ALL TIMES and remember to THANK the MPP for the opportunity to meet with them.
DO
Honour any request for follow-up information.
DO
Get to know the MPP’s staff. They do all the “heavy lifting” work, and they can choose to put you and your meeting request on the top or bottom of the pile.
DON’T
Lie or mislead an MPP. Your credibility rests on your honesty.
DON’T
Don’t use terms or abbreviations that may be unfamiliar to an official without explaining their meaning, such as ASD, PDD, ABA/IBI, DFO, etc.
DON’T
Talk about your political opinions on other issues or other politicians.
DON’T
Threaten or suggest that you’ll pursue any negative action if the MPP disagrees with you.
DON’T
Mention contributions, money or any promises of reward for their support.
DON’T
Try to grab credit. “Nothing is impossible if it does not matter who gets credit.”
DON’T
Linger... if the MPP has informed you that he or she supports your position.
Just say, “We very much appreciate your support and will do our best to make sure that other folks in the riding know where you stand” and get out of there.
Spend your time with MPPs we need to convert or those we DONŐT know where they stand on our issues.
DONŐT
Attempt to answer a question you can't. Never lie. Offer to get back to him or her with an answer, or to follow-up.
“Nothing just happens in politics. If something happens you can be sure it was planned that way.”
-Franklin Delano Roosevelt