Letters to the editor can be a powerful way of getting our message across. These letters should be 250 words or less. Longer pieces for the opinion page of your newspaper, typically called op-ed pieces, can run about 750 words.
Newspapers print guidelines periodically on their editorial page for submitting letters and op-ed pieces, or they will post them on their web site, if they have one. You can also call the paper's editorial desk for guidelines. Be sure to consult these guidelines before writing your piece. If you need contact information for the paper in your area, go to the Minnesota Newspaper Association web site at www.mna.org/index.html, or call them at 1-800-279-2979.
Below is a sample op-ed piece that you can adapt and send to your local newspaper. Please feel free to edit this as you see fit to reflect your family's situation or the situation of others with disabilities in your area. You don't have to have to make major changes; this letter is designed so you can just make a few revisions to personalize it, then e-mail, fax, or mail it to your local paper. If you send a letter via e-mail, be sure to send the letter in the body of your e-mail message. Don't e-mail the letter as an attachment, because the paper may not accept them for fear of downloading a computer virus.
The section starting with "What does it mean for a family with a loved one with a disability?" is a particularly good place to highlight your family's situation or the circumstances of others. Mention specific supports in your area that are crucial to the well-being of persons with disabilities and their families, whether they be family supports, transportation, employment services, residential services, etc.
DEFICIT = BUDGET CUTS = DEVASTATED!
The recent announcement of our state's devastating $4.6 billion deficit sent most of us reeling. I have heard through reports in local media that this amounts to about $1,000 for every man, woman, child, and infant in Minnesota, which is almost incomprehensible. The Minnesota Council of Non Profits stated that 53% of the surpluses we had from 1997 to 2001 went to tax cuts and rebates. Our deficit wouldn't be nearly as large if permanent tax cuts hadn't been made in 2001.
What does it mean for most Minnesotans? With a pledge of no new taxes by the Governor-elect, we will likely see increases in property taxes and city and county surcharges, fewer educational services and snowplowing, and who knows what else. The Governor's budget proposes cuts in most state programs, including programs that support people with disabilities.
What does it mean for a family with a loved one with a disability? The supports and services that are the safety net for our society have been targeted for budget cuts. As a society, we have valued keeping families together, community supports, and people having a choice of how they live, work, learn, and play. Cuts to these programs will jeopardize the well-being and lives of people with developmental disabilities.
I have a sister with physical and mental disabilities who lives in a group home. She wasn't able to live at home in the late 70's because there were no supports available. She had to leave her family and live in a state institution. These institutions are now closed because they were more costly than community care and as a society we valued a better quality of life for people with disabilities.
Years later, my daughter was born with a disability; however, she was able to stay at home and have the support she needed. This support has been both crucial to me (I have a back problem that prevents me from doing a great deal of lifting) and for her (it has helped her learn new skills and secure a job so she is now a taxpaying citizen). We are scared to death what it may mean for her life when we see the supports potentially on the chopping block!
Why should you care? Having a disability or a loved one injured or disabled is not a road any one of us would choose; however, it could happen to you. It happened to me twice. My sister had encephalitis at 18 months, probably from a mosquito bite, and my daughter was injured at birth by a doctor. We, or our family members, are all one car accident, one illness, one missed diagnosis, or one injury away from joining the "club." No one -- lower class, middle class, or even moderately wealthy -- can bear the brunt of these catastrophic disabilities without a safety net.
That safety net is the Medicaid program, Social Security, and Medical Assistance. Our state gets a dollar of federal money for every dollar spent on the Medicaid program, which includes the community-based services used by thousands of Minnesotans, and Medical Assistance. So, a cut in state dollars means a double cut in actual dollars available to people with disabilities. These programs are also cost-effective; spending money on these supports avoids more costly out-of-home placements and greater institutional care.
In these tough times, we have to define as a society who we are. There are places to cut and places not to cut. I think services to people with developmental disabilities is NOT a place to cut. . . it will hurt too much!
Sincerely,
Your Name, Address, and Day Time Phone Number
(Be sure to sign your name if you mail or fax this to the newspaper)
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Merriam Park Software
This page last updated May 2008.