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Sample Letter The Honorable Rod Blagojevich 207 State House Springfield, Illinois 62706 Date Dear Governor Blagojevich ( or Representative, or Senator), State what action you would like the legislator to take. Example: As you consider your budget for Fiscal Year 2008, please remember the thousands of people with developmental disabilities that are struggling to survive without desperately supports and services. I am writing today to ask you to include $52,000,000 dollars in next year’s budget. This would provide enough funding for approximately 2,800 who are not currently receiving to begin receiving services. Tell your personal story. Paint a word picture of your family. How does the above situation affect your family or people you know and love? Give specifics of what is happening in your family. Be specific and stick to only those things that apply directly to the issue at hand. Don't make stuff up. Do share your nightmare. Do share your dream. If the legislator does what you are asking, how will that affect your family? If not, how will that affect your family? And how the program does or could assist you, your child, and your family. Right now, we live a tight rope of life being okay. But, we live with this fear. That we will not be able to keep him at home. We don't discuss it very often. We keep it buried. Ten years old seems to be the breaking point for many families. That is when their children physically outgrow their parents capability to both care for them or control them. If we were able to use this program, we would use the funding for respite hours, diapers, and therapies. We could modify our home so that Tommy could live at home. We never want to be faced with making the decision to let Tommy live away from us. With help from the Home Based Program, we may never have to make that choice that is horrible for us and expensive for the state. Sum up what you are asking for. In 2 or 3 sentences, clearly, concisely, and passionately restate the issue, the action you are requesting, and why. We need programs and services that will help families before they fail, not fix them after they are broken. Please help. Conclusion. Offer to provide more information if needed. Example: Please consider me a source. I will be happy to help in any way I can. If you would like to meet more parents, call me. I will bring them to you. Thank you for your attention and your support. Sincerely, Your Signature Your Name Your Address Your Phone Email address
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