Advocacy Day

View pictures of the 2009 & 2010 Advocacy Day/Independent Living Day Rally.

What to expect

Advocacy Day begins at 10 a.m. Wednesdays during the legislative session.  We start the day with an hour briefing on current issues and end with an afternoon of advocacy (about 3:00 p.m.).  While we feature a highlighted topic each week, the morning briefing will also cover late breaking news on budget items and bills of interest relating to individuals with developmental disabilities.

If this is your first visit and you need a guide for the day, please let us know when you register.  To register, please call: 1-888-754-8798, ext. 105, or e-mail: bean@arcwa.org

Location for Advocacy Days - Please Note: Exceptions listed below

The United Churches
110 Eleventh Avenue SE
Olympia, WA 98501

Limited reimbursements for travel and interpreter service are available on a one time, first-come first-served basis. 

Please make legislative appointments at least two weeks in advance.  If you need assistance, call 1.888.754.8798, ext. 105.

Dates and highlighted topics

Updated on 10/3/11

• January 9: First Day of Session
• January 18: Briefing/Reception
• January 25: Self Advocates - Overview
• February 1: Medicaid Services
• February 8: Employment Day
• February 15: Autism Day

• February 22: Independent Living Day Rally

• February 29: Legislative Budgets (Location: First Christian Church at 701 Franklin Street SE, Olympia, WA)
• March 7: Session Wrap-up
• March 8: Last Day of Session

The Independent Living Day Rally will begin at 11:00 am on the steps of the Capitol. Be sure to dress warm and wear your blue scarf to show legislators our numbers in unison. Since rain is likely, bring an umbrella or wear a waterproof poncho.

Prior to the rally we will gather inside the Capitol Dome building on the first floor in the Columbia Room for a briefing on the newly released House Supplemental Operating Budget proposal. Learn what services are being proposed for cuts or elimination, then join others for the rally outside. After the rally, be sure to go see your legislators and let them know what services are important to you!

 

Map, directions and parking information

Map

Capitol Campus Map (includes parking sites and buildings surrounding the Capitol Campus).

Directions to Both Advocacy Day Locations

For the United Churches:

Coming I-5 “Northbound”:

• Take Exit 105 (State Capitol/City Center)
• Turn Right onto Jefferson (First Light, DO NOT Go through tunnel)
• First street to the left turn Left onto Eleventh Street (11th)
• At first light (which is the corner of Washington & 11th); the church is on the Right; for visitor parking turn Left into DNR’s visitor parking.  Self-meter parking @ $.50/hr.

Coming I-5 “ Southbound”:

• Take Exit 105-A (State Capitol/City Center)
• Turn Right onto Jefferson
• First Left onto Eleventh Street (11th)
• At first light (which is the corner of Washington & 11th); the church is on the Right; for visitor parking turn Left into DNR’s visitor parking. Self-meter parking @ $.50/hr.

For a map and directions to the First Christian Church, click here.

Parking

United Churches - Limited parking is available at the church.  General Administration provides information regarding available satellite parking locations and the latest updates on closures or changes. E-mail bean@arcwa.org for a map or more information.

First Christian Church (For Advocacy Days on January 25th and February 29th ONLY) - There is no parking on site; there will be some self-metered parking on the streets where available. You can also park elsewhwere and take the Dash bus.