The first thing you need to do is start building your team. You cannot go at this alone. You will need a small group ready to do the leg work. Eventually you will need supporters from all over the state. We began by creating a Facebook page where we could share our work. Soon after, we made a website where people could learn about the issue. We sent emails sharing our efforts and a link to our page to therapy clinics and disabilities groups across the state. The more your legislation progresses, the easier it will be to build this alliance. Make sure to let us know about the team you are building so we can add it to the Disability Empowerment website so others in your state can find it.

Next, find a legislator who will sponsor the legislation. Talk to your local legislators. If they won't do it, find a legislator who will. You will get more "no" responses than "yes", but you only need one "yes". Send media from our efforts in Missouri so they know this is being done in other parts of the country. Encourage your legislators that your state needs to be in the front of this effort.

While you are looking for a legislator, start telling your story. Find local media outlets to feature the children who would benefit from this legislation. Ask them to do a story on the need for all children having insurance coverage for medically necessary therapies. The language we like to use is "There are 49 states with autism mandates. Only 3 states' mandates are inclusive of all disabilities. We simply want to expand our autism mandate to cover all disabilities." 

All of this can be happening at the same time and doing it in the summer and fall before most states begin their legislative session is the best time to get started!