Join us for a day of advocacy on Capitol Hill on September 16 as part of National FASD Impact Week this September 15-17 in Washington, DC. Impact Week includes three days of advocacy, action, collaboration, and community. Join passionate FASD advocates for Advocacy Day on the Hill and take the opportunity to make your voice heard. Now more than ever, FASD needs your voice on Capitol Hill. You can register online now.
Hill Day is Your Opportunity to Meet with Lawmakers
Advocacy Day on the Hill, as part of National FASD Impact Week, is a chance for advocates from across the country to bring their experience and knowledge directly to their legislators. Advocacy happens year-round, but Hill Day brings the community together in a powerful way to show lawmakers that FASD is taking a seat at the table. Join self-advocates, caregivers, researchers, physicians, professionals, and others in meeting with members of Congress and educating them on the complexities of FASD.
FASD United would be happy to help schedule meetings, and there will be experienced advocates who can join meetings and provide support. Cant join us for the full week? You can participate in Impact Week however you want, and we would be happy to stand next to you on the Hill.
The FASD community needs Advocacy Day on the Hill and National Impact Week
While we continue to make great progress, much more work is needed. We recently published “5 Reasons Why the FASD Community Needs Impact Week.” For one, we know that FASD is misunderstood. Hill Day is a fantastic way for leaders to hear directly from families with living experience. By bringing advocates together, we are making the FASD community more visible in order to be recognized and understood. Visibility reduces stigma, and we know that people with FASD face tremendous stigma. We need to destigmatize FASD and Hill Day is crucial to that effort.
Funding for FASD does not match its prevalence. We need adequate funding and a seat at the table where funding decisions are made. Advocacy day on the Hill is a way to make leaders in Congress aware of FASD and the need for funding and support. FASD advocates and families are powerful. When we come together, we are even stronger.
Connect with FASD United’s Dedicated Policy Team
The Policy and Training Center at FASD United is dedicated to achieving public policy outcomes on behalf of individuals living with FASD. Our legislative priorities include:
- Enact S. 2121, the SUPPORT Reauthorization Act with FASD provisions included in Section 104 and S.139, the FASD Respect Act
- Advocate for more FASD-informed systems of care
- Build relationships with key legislators (appropriators, potential champions)
- Help Affiliates make connections with legislators to enact change in their states or grow their organization
YOU can be an advocate and we need you!
Advocacy can be anything from raising awareness to offering concrete solutions to problems within our systems of care. Thankfully, advocacy is not a one-size-fits-all endeavor, and there is room (and a need!) for all kinds of advocates.
If you cannot engage in any activity that could be construed as lobbying, you can still talk about your research, share your professional experience and opinion, and show that you stand in solidarity with self-advocates and their caregivers.
Advocacy does not need to be lobbying. Sharing your experience and expertise is powerful and valuable, and another advocate can always step in to make the “ask”.
What you can expect on Hill Day:
Start the day with us at the conference hotel for Hill Day Kickoff at 9 am. We will go over some talking points, hand out leave-behind material, and answer any last-minute questions. This is also a good opportunity to coordinate transportation to Capitol Hill.
Meetings on the Hill will mostly be scheduled between 10 am and 4:30 pm. You will attend meetings that have been scheduled for/by you, and you are free to ask other advocates if you can join their meetings. FASD United staff will be positioned in the Congressional Office Buildings, so there will always be people to regroup with. We will take a group photo towards the end of the day, more details to come.
Once you finish up your meetings you can switch out your walking shoes for your fanciest red shoes and get ready for the Red Shoes Gala!
Building on a successful track record of advocacy
Last year, Hill Day brought over 75 advocates together to engage their legislators, with over 50 meetings. Check out some video highlights from Hill Day 2024, Reflecting on their time on the Hill, leaders of our affiliate organization Dream Acres remarked that, “It was a great day, staff told us that they are on board with the FASD Respect Act.” Staff from affiliate Proof Alliance met with Rep. Angie Craig of Minnesota and remarked that, “It was great to talk with her staff and get her support with the Respect Act. It was fun to get to talk about how far we’ve come and how much we have left to do to address the need.”
The team of FASD experts from the University of Rochester met with their representative from New York and reflected that, “Hill Day is a wonderful opportunity to share the stories of our community and impress upon our representatives the importance of understanding and supporting the FASD community.” A parent greatly appreciated the opportunity to share her story with lawmakers of how her son with FASD struggles to get the supports he needs, remarking that, “It was great to be here to advocate for my son and other kids like him who may not even have the benefit of a diagnosis.”
Here’s how you can get involved:
We need you! Please reach out to the Policy and Training Center team. You are always welcome to join our policy calls and a schedule is posted on our website.
Visit our website today to register for FASD Impact Week activities.
Thank you so much and we look forward to seeing you this September on Capitol Hill!