So you want to be an advocate but have no idea how to do it. You want to educate our nation’s decision makers about an issue that affects your life but don’t know what to say. The prospect of rolling into an elected official’s office and being expected to know the intricacies of what you’re talking about is freaking you out.

You only need to do two simple things to be an effective advocate: relax and be yourself.

Whether you are visiting a senator in Washington, D.C., a representative in your state capitol or a city or county official, you are there to get someone to take action that you believe will help you and others. The best way to do that is to tell your story. Make them walk — er, roll — in your shoes/wheels, help them understand why you need the action you are asking them to take. Don’t be surprised if policymakers simply don’t understand or have never considered the issues and realities you present to them. That’s why you are there.

Let’s say you are advocating for your representative to support recognizing complex rehab technology separately under Medicare. How do you get them to understand how important it is to you?

1. Share your personal story. How has getting the wrong (or right) equipment affected you?
• Simply show off your wheels to whoever you are meeting with. Do you have tilt and recline? Show them how it works and explain how you benefit (less swelling, decreased pressure sore risk).
• Try to explain, in simple language, how your chair meets your needs, or doesn’t. For example, not having tilt could lead to pressure sores, or a poorly fitted backrest could cause scoliosis.
• Take it a step further. How does the right equipment benefit you? Does a lighter-weight chair cause less wear and tear on your upper extremities? Do you use a cushion with some additional features to prevent pressure sores?

2. Request action. Politely and confidently state what you are asking for. For CRT, you are asking for the legislator’s support for the House and Senate bills.

3. Quantify the impact. Make your “ask” make sense in terms of money. If there is an obvious upfront cost but a not-so-obvious extended benefit, help them see it. For example, there are studies that show the cost of medical care for pressure sores per incident can be upwards of $80,000. That money could be saved by providing the right chair and cushion.

4. Give the big picture. In the long run, paying more upfront for the right equipment potentially leads to more active, healthier users of CRT who can become employed and pay taxes. So, more up front, but less in insurance costs, less pressure on Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid and more revenue for the good ol’ USA.

5. Listen. Chances are whoever you are meeting with won’t sign on or agree to what you are asking right away. Listen to what they say: their reservations, information that might sway them, suggestions they have. Progress takes time and what you learn could be the key to the next steps forward.

That’s five simple steps. You can use them for any issue you are advocating for: Medicare, Medicaid, access issues, research funding — it doesn’t matter. And remember — just relax and be yourself. Whoever you are meeting with is there to meet with you, and your experience is as valid as anyone’s: You are the expert on your own life.

If you’re still nervous, remember that you are talking to elected officials (or their proxies) who are there to represent you and the other people in their district. They don’t have to agree with you or do what you ask, but don’t let them enjoy the excuse, “I didn’t understand.” Make them understand and make them take a stand.  Hopefully they will see the light and support your cause. If they don’t, you have a reason to vote against them and elect someone who does support you. However, always be respectful because even if they may not support you on one issue, they may support you on something else that you may want to talk to them about. Also, if they ask you questions that you don’t know how to answer, you can always tell them you’ll get back to them with the appropriate information.