Flip the Script for Advocacy

VisionServe Alliance Announces its 2025 Annual Award Recipients! VisionServe Alliance is honored to recognize exceptional leaders in the blindness and low vision field who distinguish themselves through their creativity, commitment, and dedication to improving the lives of the people with blindness and low vision.

Help “Flip the Script” on Services for Older People
Living with Blindness and Low Vision

In conjunction with Vision Rehabilitation Week, June 9-15, we are holding a “Flipping the Script Advocacy Week” to educate Congress about the dire need for Champions for Teddie-Joy’s Law, which will strengthen and improve the Older Americans Act, modernize the OIB, and streamline the federal role as it supports states to better serve older people  through the  Independent Living Services for Older People Who are Blind program (OIB).

“Flipping the Script Advocacy Week” is all about taking action—through in-person meetings, virtual calls, or phone outreach—to push for change that benefits older adults living with vision loss. We’ve even created a one-pager on Teddie-Joy’s Law as well as talking points to help guide your advocacy efforts.

What Should You Do?

  • Find the telephone contact information for the district offices for your Congressmen and Senators:

Find Your Representative | house.gov

U.S. Senate: Contacting U.S. Senators

  • Place a call to Congressional district offices during the week of May 19-23. Identify yourself as a constituent.
  • Ask to speak with the staff member who handles health, disability, or aging services programs, and be ready to leave a voice mail message.
  • Your voice mail should include your name, city and state. Indicate you are a constituent, leave a return phone number, and state that you would like to speak with the staff about the office’s sponsorship of legislation “helping older Americans living with vision loss.”
  • Message: We would like Senator/Rep X to introduce our coalition’s comprehensive legislation “to help states to better meet the urgent needs of older Americans living with vision loss.” Then share a personal story as a consumer, loved one, professional, or advocate. Ask the staff member for their email address so that you can email the TJL one-pager. It is critical to get an email so you will have a continued form of contact.
  • If the staffer shows interest, try to schedule a follow-up call to discuss at more length/depth.
  • Please email the feedback you receive (positive or negative) to:  AVLNC@visionservealliance.org

Why do this now?

Why not? Now more than ever we need to start cultivating Congressional support and educating them. Let’s flip the script together!