NCART_CelebrateNationalRehabWeekByAdvocating T The week of September 18-24 marks National Rehab Week, and NCART urges you to celebrate it by bringing attention to those who use Complex Rehab Technology. With your help, we can make sure that Washington hears the voices of those who most need this lifesaving equipment. Here are just a few ways you can do that: Bring Attention to It at the Grassroots Level Changes in our political landscape start at home. Those who are federal and state legislators now often start off as members of the city council or board of supervisors. Contact the mayor or board secretary and ask to be added to the next meeting's agenda. Speak about the issues facing those who use CRT, and what problems the disabled community is facing on a locally. Don't get discouraged if nothing happens right away. Often, you need to speak up regularly at local meetings before you start seeing change. Use the Tools for Telling the CRT Story on our website as a start. Make Sure Your State Legislators Are Aware of the Issues The next step is to contact your legislators at the state level. Many times, state-level coverage and funding dictate the availability of CRT products and supporting services. We've included links to the Medicaid policy in each state here. If you need help understanding what the issues are in your individual state, you can visit the Kaiser Family Foundation or contact NCART directly. State legislators are usually more attentive than those at the federal level. Because they remain in the state where they are elected, they are more connected with their electoral base. Often, they will base their vote off of how many constituents they hear from on a given issue. Even if only one person speaks up to them, it will be enough to sway their vote! Write to Your Federal Legislator Just like with state legislators, a legislator at the federal level will sometimes vote according to what he or she hears from their constituents. Often, an overwhelming amount of letters on a given issue will be their deciding factor. The key is to keep letting our voices be heard! Like at the grassroots level, we need to be patient and continue to speak up until change happens. At NCART, we are dedicated to helping those who use CRT have their voices heard and ensuring that they have access to the equipment they need. Join us this September 18-24 in celebrating National Rehab Week by kicking off grassroots, state and national efforts to make sure the CRT story is heard!