2017 Deaf, DeafBlind & Hard of Hearing Lobby Day

Lobby Day is held every two years. The 2017 Lobby Day will be held on Wednesday, March 8th. The Capitol renovation will be complete and we will return there for our rally.

What is Lobby Day?
Lobby Day is an exciting event that brings together deaf, deafblind and hard of hearing constituents, friends, family members, and allies, and their legislators to discuss issues that are near and dear to their constituents' hearts.

This is your chance to educate your legislators about the importance of communication access and equal opportunity! Your appointment with your legislator is the most important thing you do at Lobby Day.

There are several parts to the day:

• 8:30 A.M.-10:00 A.M.: Senate Aging and Long-Term Care Policy Committee Hearing on SF 818, the bill to require training for senior care workers (Minnesota Senate Building, room 1100)
• 9:00 A.M.-10:00 A.M.: Morning Training: How to Meet with Legislators (Minnesota State Capitol, Room B015)
• Morning Meetings with Legislators (Various times and locations, depending on who your legislators are)
• 11:00 A.M.-12:00 P.M.: Rally (Minnesota Capitol Building, Rotunda)
• 12:00 P.M. - 1:00 P.M. Afternoon Training: How to Meet with Legislators (repeat). (Minnesota Capitol Building, Cass Gilbert Library)
• 1:00 P.M.-2:45 P.M.: House Health & Human Services Finance Committee Hearing on 2 bills: HF 774, the bill to modernize and increase funding for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services Division (and Deaf Mentors) and HF 952, the bill to require training for senior care workers. (State Office Building, room 200)
• Afternoon Meetings with Legislators (Various times and locations, depending on who your legislators are)
• 3:00 P.M.-4:30 P.M.: Senate Human Services Reform Finance and Policy Committee Hearing on SF 738, the bill to modernize and increase funding for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services Division (and Deaf Mentors). (Minnesota Senate Building, room 1200)

Why should I register and how do I do it?
Registration for Lobby Day is now closed.

Proudly announce that you are going to Lobby Day! Tweet it to the world. Make a fun video about why Lobby Day is important to you and post it on Facebook. Send out an email and encourage your family, friends, and coworkers to sign up too. Be sure to be accessible and include closed captions, transcripts, and/or alt text for your pictures and videos. Use the hashtag #MobilizeDDBHH on social media.

We're so glad that you will be involved on this important day.

What is happening during the 11 A.M.-12 P.M. rally event in the Capitol Rotunda?
The rally is the most popular part of our day at the Capitol. There will be speeches and awards.

Minnesota is lucky as we have strong community leaders and organizations statewide. This is an opportunity to recognize a few of those deserving.

• Citizen Advocate Award
  Awarded to individuals who have done exemplary work in advocating for and with deaf, deafblind, and hard of hearing Minnesotans.
  Recipients: Fardowsa Ali and Jessalyn Akerman-Frank
• Civic Engagement Award
  Recognizing an organization or public official that has worked to increase the civic engagement of deaf, deafblind, and hard of hearing Minnesotans.
  Recipients: DeafBlind Services of Minnesota (DBSM), Minnesota DeafBlind Association (MDBA), and Deaf Grassroots Movement (DGM) - Minnesota.
• Access Awards
  Awarded to those who have done notable work in increasing the accessibility of services for and with deaf, deafblind, and hard of hearing Minnesotans. Examples of accessibility support may include Captioning, Interpreting, Public Access, or Accessible Technology.
  Recipients: Jimmy Beldon, Gilbert Law, PLLC, and The Office of Accessibility, State of Minnesota IT Services (led by Jay Wyant).
• General Awards
  Awarded to those who have done distinctive work for and with deaf, deafblind, and hard of hearing Minnesotans that is not recognized within other award categories.
  Recipient: Marisa Bocanegra (posthumous)
• Lifetime Achievement Awards
  Awarded to those who have done distinctive work for and with deaf, deafblind, and hard of hearing Minnesotans that spans their 20+ years of contributions.
  Recipients: Liz Brown, Kathy Moran (posthumous), and Kathy Schumacher (posthumous)

Who is helping to plan Lobby Day?
So far, the following organizations are involved with this big event.

• CSD Minnesota
• Deaf & Hard of Hearing Role Model Program (Lifetrack Resources)
• Deaf Mentor Family Program (Lifetrack Resources)
• DeafBlind Services of Minnesota
• Hearing Loss Association of America - Twin Cities
• Keystone Interpreting Solutions (KIS)
• Metro Deaf School
• Minnesota Association of Deaf Citizens
• Minnesota Deaf Muslim Community
• Minnesota DeafBlind Association
• Minnesota Employment Center (Lifetrack Resources, Rise, Inc., and Minnesota Vocational Rehabilitation Services)
• Minnesota Hands & Voices (Lifetrack Resources)
• Minnesota Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf (MRID)
• Minnesota State Academies
• St. Paul & Minneapolis Black Deaf Advocates

What topics will we discuss with our legislators?
You can share issues that are important to you with your legislators. Possible examples include:

• Increase funding for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services Division, including grants for Support Service Providers (SSPs) and Intervenors for children and adults who are deafblind as well as mental health services.
• More funding for MNCDHH to increase communication access.
• More training for service providers who work with older adults on the effects of age-related hearing loss.
• More funding for Deaf Mentors, who teach ASL to parents of children who are deaf, deafblind or hard of hearing.
• And more!

[Image description: Lobby Day attendees gather on the second floor of the Capitol rotunda.]