Using your local Buddy Walk™ as an advocacy tool isn't complicated and doesn't have to involve extraordinary planning. The following are some simple ways you can use your Walk to send a wonderful, positive message about how we see people with Down syndrome as valued members of our community.

Set up an "Advocacy Table"

Many Buddy Walk™ events have exhibit tables for participating groups that represent individuals with Down syndrome. We encourage you to have, as part of your group?s exhibit, a table to inform your participants about the important advocacy work that you do. This is an excellent opportunity to build support for your advocacy priorities and to share how your group and NDSS work together to improve lives by working with our schools and government.

• Advocacy Signup Sheet
• Higher Education Opportunity Act of 2008 Press Release/a>
• Kennedy-Brownback Prenatally and Postnatally Diagnosed Conditions Awareness Act Press Release
• NDSS Legislative and Policy Agenda

Write to members of Congress

• With so many people gathered in a setting with so much energy and enthusiasm, your Buddy Walk™ is a wonderful opportunity to let your senators and representatives know that we speak with one voice when it comes to our concerns for our children and family members with Down syndrome. You can include letters to members of Congress on your "Advocacy Table" and gather signatures from all your Walk participants.
• Use template letters available in the Advocacy Legislation and News Section of NDSS.org, or draft your own.
• Prepare one joint letter to your senators and representatives that walkers can sign.
• Or, draft separate letters to each representative and have walkers sign only the letter to the representative for their home district. Then, fax the letters on their behalf.
• You might also consider writing separate letters to specific senators and representatives thanking them for their vote on a particular issue, or asking them to change their vote.
• Remember to keep your messages simple and direct so that attendees understand what they are signing.
• Promote your letter-writing campaign throughout your Walk by asking your DJ or emcee to make regular announcements.
• Or, ask volunteers to hand out flyers letting participants know that their signatures are needed.

Invite Advocacy Leaders to Speak

• Invite a leading advocate in your community to speak briefly and energize the crowd.
• Invite a self-advocate to speak on the importance of advocacy.

Contact the press

• Contact the press in your area to see if you can get press coverage for your Walk. This is a great way to raise public awareness.
• To find the contact information for your local media outlets, visit the Advocacy Center's Media Guide, which allows you to search for media organizations (such as newspapers and TV stations) and individuals (such as editors and reporters) by zip code.
• Detailed tips on how to obtain media coverage for your event are available in the Marketing and Public Relations chapter of your Buddy Walk™ Organizer's Manual.

If you are a Buddy Walk™ Organizer and have some Advocacy Tips for your walk, please contact buddywalk@ndss.org.  We look forward to sharing your tips with others!

Susan Corse Adams, co-chair of the NDSS Affiliate Advisory Board and member of the Down Syndrome Association of Jacksonville in Florida, is happy to help you in your Buddy Walk™ advocacy efforts and can be reached at DSA@Hope-Haven.org.