QMA’s public policy team takes a direct, personal role in advocacy at the local, state and federal levels. Our objectives include:

• Establishing awareness among elected officials about the ways that people with intellectual and developmental disabilities contribute to their communities;
• Raising and helping to address major issues faced by people with intellectual and developmental disabilities in their daily lives, especially those living in the community;
• Providing elected officials and other authorities with information on the strengths and weaknesses of the intellectual/developmental disability (I/DD) system, and suggesting methods by which structural problems can be addressed;
• Advocating for increased allocation of resources to the I/DD system to improve the outcomes for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities;
• Answering questions from elected officials concerning issues that affect people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and advising on potential legislation addressing those issues.

Become Involved
QMA’s public policy team encourages every person we serve and their support system to engage in public policy advocacy. This can be done by:

• Staying informed on current issues and legislation;
• Building relationships with legislators and policy makers;
• Making contact.

To obtain your national, state and local representatives’ contact information, you may use this link. To visit QMA’s trade organization, which also engages in advocacy work on behalf of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, click here.