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Developmental Disabilities Awareness Day in Tallahassee

Developmental Disabilities Awareness Day

On Tuesday, March 11, 2025, the Florida State House will host its annual Developmental Disabilities Awareness Day, providing a platform for the disability community to raise awareness about the challenges faced by our families and advocate for meaningful change. This day serves as a crucial opportunity for the disability community to unite, share their stories, and collectively advocate for legislative reforms aimed at enhancing the lives of individuals with developmental disabilities. It’s not just a day on the calendar; it’s a call to action for everyone who cares about creating a more inclusive and supportive society. The strength of advocacy lies in numbers. The more visible we become and the louder our collective voice resonates, the more likely it is that legislators will recognize the faces behind the statistics—the caregivers, families, and individuals whose lives are directly affected. When we stand together, transformative change becomes a tangible possibility

We strongly encourage you to join Advancing Families and Individuals Needing Services (AFINS) and Celebrate Differences in an effort to demonstrate the significance of advocating for meaningful change for those with developmental disabilities. Celebrate Differences is providing transportation from The Villages for those wishing to attend this pivotal event in a group setting. All you need do is sign up for the bus. However, space is limited, so please ensure you reserve your seat well in advance.

If you are coordinating your plans to attend this important day with Florida Developmental Disabilities Council (FDDC) and/or Partners in Policymaking (PIP), they have compiled suggestions for lodging options, visiting exhibitors in the Capital Building, meeting with legislators, and attending committee hearings. They will collaborate with your group to ensure you have everything you need to schedule appointments with legislators in your region and provide training as required. PIP Alumni participating in DD Day 2025 will be responsible for making arrangements, covering their own hotel, transportation, personal care (if applicable), meals, and legislative appointments with other Alumni in their region.

The Place

State Capitol Building: 400 S Monroe St, Tallahassee, FL 32399

Lodging

Here’s a list of many hotels near the Capitol Building. The rates listed are approximate and are standard rates. There’s no room block; the hotel rates will be the regular public rates. Please note that rooms near the Capitol tend to fill up quickly, especially accessible rooms, which are in limited quantity at most hotels. Other factors to consider include the walking distance from the Capitol Building and the hotel’s parking options. Parking at the Capitol can be very challenging, so consider using a ride-share service from the nearby Republic Parking Garage.

Setting Up Legislative Visits

On February 11th the FDDC held training in preparation for this event. If you missed it, you can watch the Our Work Matters podcast titled “The FDDC’s 2025 Legislative Platform: Advocating for Individuals with I/DD”.

FDDC will provide physical copies of the podcast and “Our Care Matters” cards to be given to legislators. You can pick them up at the FDDC table in the Capitol Building 2nd Floor Rotunda. On or around March 10, the FDDC will email you a link to Legislative Debrief sheets. We kindly request that you complete them and share your experiences with us. This will help us follow up with legislators who had questions or needed more information.

During Developmental Disabilities Awareness Day in Tallahassee 2025, PIP Alumni can join the current PIP class for a tour of the Capitol at 9:00 am. They can also meet with state legislators from their region, attend committee hearings of interest, and potentially present their testimony. Additionally, they can visit exhibitors in the Capitol Building’s 2nd Floor Rotunda, take photos around the Capitol with fellow PIP Alumni and legislators, and share them via email to kristinv@fddc.org. The FDDC will then showcase these photos on their social media pages, newsletters, website, and other platforms.

Setting up Your Legislative Visits

FDDC staff and the PIP Coordinator will put you in a regional group with other Alumni in your area that are also attending Developmental Disabilities Awareness Day. They will coordinate with your group to make sure that appointments with your legislators are properly scheduled.

Timeframe and Logistics: Generally, appointments are made two weeks in advance of these type of events. It is best to start making your appointments starting February 25, 2025 as most legislative offices will not make appointments any earlier. It is recommended that you make your appointment by phone rather than email as past experiences from advocates have had much more successful response. If you are unable to get an appointment with your legislator’s office, you can still drop by while at the event to see if their aide has a few minutes to chat or drop of materials.

To help you find your area legislator and interested committees click on the appropriate Florida House of Representatives or Florida Senate link to begin your search:

Meeting Tips

  • Preparation: If you missed the FDDC February 11th training session, you can watch the Our Work Matters podcast titled “The FDDC’s 2025 Legislative Platform: Advocating for Individuals with I/DD” and review the 2025 Legislative Platform here. You can also download and print the 2025 Legislative Platform in English and Spanish. The Our Care Matters video stories from individuals and families impacted by an intellectual/developmental disability offer wonderful examples of effective ways for you to tell your story succinctly and pointedly.
  • Reminders: It is recommended that you give yourself reminders of meetings you have scheduled – to include meeting date and time, room number, legislator names and staff names. These can be written notes or electronically entered on your mobile phone or tablet Calendar or Reminder app. Always arrive early to your scheduled meeting.
  • Introductions: When introducing yourself include your name and your role. And, if you live in the legislator’s district, state that you are a their constituent.
  • Presentation:
    • Keep to your main topic.
    • Keep an eye on your time during the meeting and respect the total time the legislator and staff.
    • Don’t answer questions you don’t know the answer to. Instead, acknowledge their question and let them know you’ll follow up with the correct answer.
    • Never interrupt or argue with a legislator or staff.
    • Smile, maintain a positive attitude, and let go of any nerves. Remember, they’re just a person too, and you have a valuable message to convey.
  • Closing: Always thank the legislator and staff for their time, and be sure you leave a copy of the 2025 Legislative Platform with them.
  • Post Meeting: Complete and submit the legislative visit debrief form, that was emailed to you, for each legislative visit you attended. FDDC will have paper copies and an electronic version of this form at our table in the Capital Building 2nd Floor Rotunda.

Scheduled Events

Public Workshop: Rule 59G-4.002, F.A.C, Provider Reimbursement Schedules and Billing Codes

🕙 10:00 – 10:30 a.m.
📍 Agency for Health Care Administration, 2727 Mahan Drive, Building 3, Tallahassee
📄 View Rule

A virtual option or call-in number will not be available for this meeting.