This presentation was provided by Andrew Gerbitz and Joshua Ryf at the 2014 Wisconsin Employment First Conference on April 3, 2014. Session description from the conference program: Learn about BPDD’s Take Your Legislator to Work Campaign and how you can get involved in 2014! If you have a job in the community, if you employ a person with a disability, or if you just know someone who is working in the community, this session is for you! During the Take Your Legislator to Work Campaign, legislators visit people with disabilities who have community-integrated jobs. During the visit, the legislator gets to experience first-hand how everyone wins when people with disabilities work in the community. 2014 will be the fourth year of the campaign and it is already spreading like wildfire throughout the state. After learning about this campaign, other states have even starting conducting campaigns of their own. Come to this session and learn how you can be part of this campaign that is working to raise awareness about Employment First in Wisconsin!

2. TAKE YOUR LEGISLATOR TO WORK!
Presentation by
Andrew Gerbitz & Joshua Ryf
Wisconsin Employment First Conference
April 3, 2014

3. Today we’ll talk about:
• What it is and why we do it
• How it works
• Results in Wisconsin
• Testimonial: Andrew Gerbitz
• How you can get involved
• Your ideas

4. What is the ?

5. What is Take Your Legislator to Work?
A campaign to raise awareness that every
adult with a disability can participate in
gainful employment and have a meaningful
job in the community.

6. Who benefits from the campaign?
• Legislators

7. Who benefits from the campaign?
• Legislators
• Employers

8. Who benefits from the campaign?
• Legislators
• Employers
• General public

9. Who benefits from the campaign?
• Legislators
• Employers
• General public
• Participants

10. A visit

11. Meet & greet your legislator1

12. Meet & greet your legislator1
Introduce your boss & co-workers2

13. Meet & greet your legislator1
Introduce your boss & co-workers2
Give a tour of the workplace3

14. Meet & greet your legislator1
Introduce your boss & co-workers2
Give a tour of the workplace3
Show what you do everyday4

15. Meet & greet your legislator1
Introduce your boss & co-workers2
Give a tour of the workplace3
Show what you do everyday4
Talk about how you got your job5

16. Meet & greet your legislator1
Introduce your boss & co-workers2
Give a tour of the workplace3
Show what you do everyday4
Talk about how you got your job5
Talk about how important your job is6

17. How the works

18. Get approval from employer1

19. Get approval from employer1
Apply2

20. Get approval from employer1
Apply2
Schedule your visit3

21. Get approval from employer1
Apply2
Schedule your visit3
Notify employer & co-workers4

22. Get approval from employer1
Apply2
Schedule your visit3
Notify employer & co-workers4
Have your visit!5

23. Get approval from employer1
Apply2
Schedule your visit3
Notify employer & co-workers4
Have your visit!5
Thank your legislator6

24. results

30. Participant Quotes
“I really felt that my representative listened
to what I had to say…It was a great
experience for me.”
“The visit went very well and it was nice
to…inform her about the importance of
community employment.”
“I got to talk to my legislator about the
issues that affect my group and myself.”

32. Legislator Quotes
“It was great to see the examples of
workplace supports in person.”
“…I am very impressed with the business
relationships between people with
disabilities and business.”
“It made a great impact on me. My support
for programs like DVR has grown
tremendously.”

33. A real visit

34. Andrew Gerbitz
2011 with
Gov. Walker
2013 with
Rep. Kleefisch

35. Media Coverage

36. Questions for Andrew?

37. Get involved:
We need your help!

38. Participate yourself1
Tell your family & friends2
Encourage employees3
Sign up right now!4
Any other ideas?5

39. For more information…
Go to www.wi-bpdd.org, or
contact Joshua Ryf at (608) 261-7829 or
joshua.ryf@wisconsin.gov.