About UOAA Advocacy

With the Latin root “voc” or voice, advocacy can be defined as “giving a voice to.” UOAA functions in two ways with respect to this voice.

First, we listen to the concerns of our constituents about their needs and about the issues that affect their daily lives. We listen in a variety of ways: at meetings and conference, when you post to the Discussion Board, and when you write, call or email the leadership. We also listen to stoma nurses who discuss with us their patients needs, and we listen to manufacturers and distributors who maintain contact with their customers and understand the problems they face.

After listening and collating what we have heard, we are able to speak on behalf of our membership, and in line with advocacy objectives developed by the Advocacy Committee and approved by the UOAA Board.

To whom do we speak? We speak to many levels of the public policy establishment: to Congress through their individual members and the committees; to agencies such as the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services , the Transportation Security Administration and the General Accounting Office; and to other voluntary health interest groups and coalitions who can help us achieve our goals. These include the Home Care Coalition, One Voice Against Cancer and the Digestive Disease National Coalition.

Second, we encourage and facilitate the individual voices of yourself and all UOAA’s members. As we were reminded by the late Congressman Tip O’Neill (himself an ostomate), “all politics is local” in our constitutional democracy. Individual citizens must communicate their needs and concerns to their own members of Congress. We inform you and others about the issues on which we are focusing, and ask that you in turn inform your elected officials at the appropriate level. Through this “grassroots advocacy” we are able to capture the attention of many public policy makers.

The “Web Sticker” above is linked to our Capwiz site, built on the sophisticated content of Capitol Advantage. Web Stickers of this sort can be displayed remotely on any website—find out how to add a UOAA Web Sticker to Your site!

Our Capwiz site is designed to help with respect to both of the functions of UOAA’s advocacy efforts: First, it helps connect you more directly and immediately to the organization, with an opportunity to share your concerns online and in turn to be informed about the latest advocacy-related issues.

Second, it provides a very direct way for you to inform your US Representatives and Senators. Linked to most items under the Issues & Legislation tab, you will find some facts and points that can be sent to your elected officials. WE URGE YOU to add your personal experience to these points prior to sending your message. You can either email your message directly from the site, or print it out and fax or mail it as a regular letter. PLEASE NOTE that although clicking on the “send” button is certainly easier and faster, we know that your message will get more attention if you take the time to “cut and paste” both your experience and our points onto your own letterhead – or even hand write it!

The site also offers you the chance to receive regular updates on UOA advocacy activities. If you add your name to the Action E-List, we will know you are interested in these updates. We will also know that you are willing to contact your Congressmen when we need you to do so.

Another important contact this site supports is the Media Guide. With this feature you can connect with the appropriate writers and reporters at local newspapers and media outlets. Just enter your zip code - you’ll see media outlets we bet you didn’t know existed! (They reach people that you and your support group need to reach, even if it isn’t related to advocacy.)

So take a tour of this extension of the UOAA site, read through the issue material, send messages to your own Congressional members, sign up to receive updates, and check back often. We are glad to have you with us!

Linda Aukett, UOAA Advocacy Chair
advocacy[at]uoaa.org