The 2026 Legislative Session starts next week, Tuesday, January 13, and The Arc of Florida is gearing up! As part of our monthly Advocacy Meetings, we have recently shared more about The Four Seasons of Advocacy 2.0 which is a great guide for parents, caregivers, and self-advocates to organize their efforts and truly engage in Year-Round Advocacy. To see more details on being prepared for successful meetings when visiting The Capitol and staying engaged throughout the Legislative Session, take a look here.

Here are a few tips to get you started! 

• Research legislators ahead of time. Florida House and Florida Senate
• Meet with legislators. You are a constituent from their district and they represent you!
• Developing relationships are key. They should come to you as experts on disability issues.
• Schedule one week ahead of time during Session. Meeting with aides is just as important!
• Be on time and leave time between meetings. Schedules change so be flexible.

Join us for our January Lunch-n-Learn on Wednesday, January 21, and learn about Florida’s Disability Savings Program – ABLE United.

The Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) Act allows individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities to save money tax-free for a wide variety of future expenses—including transportation, housing, and education— while maintaining benefits, such as SSI and Medicaid. ABLE United provides new opportunities for people with disabilities and can change the way they plan for short-term expenditures and establish long-term savings. Register here. 

Thank you for your advocacy! If you want additional information regarding these issues, please contact us at info@arcflorida.org