Sample Letters to Legislators
The letters below are samples of what you might say when writing to your state legislators. Please put your letter in your own words, describing your own situation and your own experiences when writing. Some of the letters below can be sent before the Legislative Session starts; others can be submitted during the session. If you are writing about a specific piece of legislation, you’ll have to get the particular bill number and name to include in your letter. To find your state legislators, go to http://www.leg.state.mn.us/

Sample Letter Submitted by a Family who Has Children with Disabilities

Dear Senator Smith:

Our family is waiting – waiting for the supports that help us keep our child with disabilities at home. I urge you to support SF/HF _____ (insert bill number here when it becomes available), the bill that would reduce the wait for supports that we and families like ours face.

We need those supports to meet our son’s many challenges, including help to deal with some of his difficult behaviors. We have a staff member for a few hours per week, but she isn’t able to work as many hours as we need. SF/HF ____ will help provide the resources for families like ours and prevent them from being placed in more expensive institutional settings.

Thanks for your time and consideration.

Sincerely,

Your Name
Address
City, State, Zip
Phone

Sample Letter Submitted by a Self-Advocate

Dear Representative Samuels:

I am a person with disabilities, but I also have many abilities. I can work at a paid job. I like to volunteer in my town. I like to go out with my friends for a pizza every now and then.

Right now, there aren’t enough services for me to do all I’d like to do and be more independent. We need to pass a bill that will help people like me learn more skills and give back to my community. The “We Are Waiting” bill that you may have heard about will do that. Please vote for this bill. Thanks for your time; I hope to hear from you.

Sincerely,

Your Name
Address
City, State, Zip

Sample Letter Submitted by a Direct Care Staff

Dear Representative Jefferson:

I work full-time with a family who has two children with developmental disabilities, and I see the struggles that they face daily. I can provide the parents with some of the support they need by helping the children manage their challenging behaviors, but the family isn’t receiving all the help it needs. The parents are waiting for respite care to give them a well-deserved breather, and they are waiting for help around the house to meet the needs of all four children they are raising.

Help end their wait by voting for SF/HF ___ (insert bill number here when it becomes available).
This bill would reduce the number of people waiting for services by 10%. Right now 58% of the people waiting for services are looking for help inside their homes. Please help the family I work with and others like them.

Sincerely,

Your Name
Address
City, State, Zip

Sample Letter to the Editor Submitted by a Concerned Citizen

Dear Senator Jackson:

I have neighbors who have a child with significant disabilities. I have seen the supports they receive to help raise that child at home and include him as part of their family. I know that these services make a huge difference in their lives and that they couldn’t keep their child at home without them.

I heard that there are 5,000 Minnesotans with disabilities, though, who aren’t getting all the services they are eligible for – or getting services at all. I also understand there is a bill – informally called the We Are Waiting Bill – that will help at least make a dent in reducing the number of people who are waiting for these supports. Please vote for this bill and encourage your colleagues to do the same. Thanks for your consideration; I look forward to your response.

Sincerely,

Your Name
Address
City, State, Zip