ADVOCACY
 
To understand our plan for advocacy we must first understand what it is to advocate.
Everyone should agree that people living with developmental disabilities deserve the same fundamental rights as people living without a developmental disability. Simply agreeing that people with a developmental disability should have a right to live and work in the community of their choice, be provided the same supports necessary to live productive and satisfying lives, and be valued citizens who enrich the lives of those around them is not advocacyAdvocacy is turning this passive support into informed action.
 
FOCUSING OUR EFFORTS
 
STEP 1:
The first step in becoming effective advocates is to understand how best to focus our efforts. 
 
It is easy to get overwhelmed by the vast amount of bills and amendments that are drafted each legislative session.  Only a small percentage of these proposals become law and understanding where to focus energy is important. 
 
Fortunately PARC, through our membership with The Florida Association of Rehabilitative Facilities (FARF), uses software to track legislation that can potentially have an impact on the individuals we serve. 
Good analysis takes the guesswork out of when and where we focus our efforts, and allows us to craft a message that is relevant to the most important issues.  
 
SHARING A UNIFIED MESSAGE
 
Our elected officials are barraged with information on a daily basis and in order to effectively communicate we need to be saying the same thing whenever possible.  
 
PARC participates in government relations committees with other stakeholders across the state to develop a legislative platform that enables us to share a common message.
 
We also utilize the strengths of PARC’s Board of Directors by meeting as needed with the newly formed Advocacy Committee.