Advocacy:

Standing Up for Your Rights
· Not getting your fair share?
· Feeling slighted or discriminated against?
· Feeling put down, put on or put out?

LVCIL can help. Using the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) as our backbone, LVCIL offers individual and collective advocacy on issues that impact a persons right to live an independent, productive life.

LVCIL advocates for change at three levels:

Locally: in the Lehigh Valley with its primary service areas in Lehigh and Northampton Counties, working closely with citizens, cities and officials, health care providers, service groups and interested citizens to make the Lehigh Valley a more inclusive community while, at the same time, encouraging and challenging people with disabilities to contribute their skills and talents.

Statewide: as part of SWAT-State-Wide Action Team, LVCIL joins the other 15 PA CILs in advocating to make change and connect with lawmakers in Harrisburg.

Nationwide: as one of over 400 CILs throughout the country advocating for systems change and the rights of all Americans with disabilities to live productive lives.

For assistance, contact LVCIL Advocate Joe Krycia or ext. 26.

The Lehigh Valley Action Team continues to meet every second Wednesday of the month. The meetings are at the CIL from 11:30 pm to 1:30 pm. All are invited!

We are continuing to recruit young people in their teens to twenties for our Future Advocates Now (FAN) group. We had our first meeting in early May when we met for lunch at the Lehigh Valley Mall. The FAN meets every month (the days change though) at LCCC-Schnecksville Campus. If you know any young person (teens and young adults) who are interested in having some fun and learning about how to make a difference in the world, please give me a call at the CIL.

It is very important to let your elected officials know who you are and what matters to you. Don’t hesitate to call your State Representative and Senator and ask to meet with them in their local office to introduce yourself and discuss an issue that is important to you. They want to hear from you. If you want some tips on this or are not sure how to contact your elected officials, let me know and I will be glad to help.