Background: The Alliance for Disability Recreation and Sport seeks $2,404,000 in additional funding for the Department of Education's Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA) for recreational programs for people with disabilities, an existing program. The Alliance requests $5,000,000 in total program funding for fiscal year 2002.

In March, the Alliance forwarded a written request for funding to each Member of the Subcommittee that funds the Education Department on behalf of this project. The Alliance has met with representatives of the Subcommittee Chair and Ranking Member as well as other Members of the Subcommittee.

Action: Determine which Members of Congress on the Labor, HHS, and Education Subcommittee (see attached list) represent you in Washington. Call the U.S. Capitol Switchboard at 202-224-3121 and ask to be connected to your Senator/Represenative's office. Ask to speak to the staff person responsible for disability or education issues.

Once you get the right person on the phone, use the following suggested talking points (if you get voice mail, leave your name and number and the reason for your call and ask for a return phone call):

· I'm ___________ and I'm a ______________ (rec. therapist, athlete with a disability, etc.) from _____________ (state or district).

· You may have seen a letter from the Alliance for Disability Recreation and Sport asking your boss to support an increase in funding for the Department of Education's program that supports recreation opportunities for people with disabilities. (If they haven't seen the letter or aren't familiar with the program, offer to have these materials sent to them.)

· I would like to tell you why increased funding for this program is so important. In my work as a ___________ or in my experience as a ______________, access to recreation and sports programs for people with disabilities is limited, yet they/we stand to benefit more than any other population from these activities. PLEASE GIVE YOUR PERSONAL ACCOUNT OF WHY RECREATION/SPORT IS IMPORTANT. WHAT HAS ACTIVE PARTICIPATION DONE FOR YOU? GIVE EXAMPLES OF RECREATION AND SPORTS PROGRAMS IN YOUR STATE.

· Do you think that Congressman/woman ____________ would support this request? Would you discuss this request with your boss and ask if he/she is willing to support it? When should I call back to learn of the result of your conversation?

· Thanks for your time. I know you are weighing countless requests like this, but if there's anything you can do to help, I'd really appreciate it.

Follow-up: If the staff person you spoke with has not seen the letter or asks you for material on the request, contact the ATRA National Office or the Alliance for Recreation and Sport Representative, Ann Cody at 202-312-7419 or aecody@bakerd.com. Please report to Ann any messages of support from staffers.

Thank you for taking the time to work the phones. No advocacy is more effective than the direct voice of the constituent!

Additional background information to on the Department of Education Program to prepare you for the call:

· Physically active people with disabilities experience improved mobility and independence, fewer medical complications, increased self esteem, and many other benefits.

· People with disabilities have limited access most community recreation and sport programs and facilities.

· The sole source of federal assistance to create access to physical or recreational activity for people with disabilities is through the Department of Education at the Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA).

· The program has been in existence since the early 1980's and has been funded at approximately $2.5 - 3 million.

· That funding allows for 6 - 8 local programs per year, serving anywhere from a few hundred to several hundred people.

· That's a tiny fraction of the 54 million Americans who have a disability.

· The Alliance seeks an additional $2.5 million for next year, to double the numbers served.

· Funding is granted for a three-year period and requires an increasing proportion of non-federal matching money each year.

· More federal funding would increase the number of accessible programs and the number of people with disabilities participating in local recreation activities.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact the ATRA Public Policy team or the ATRA National Office at (703) 683-9420, fax (703) 683-9431 or national@atra-tr.org.