Dystonia Support Group

BEING AN ADVOCATE MEANS STARTING AT HOME:

Motivate your family, friends, business associates, church groups, civic clubs & other groups in our advocacy efforts. I find it’s easier to do something if I’m going to ask someone else to act, too.

One of the best ways to use your voice for change or action is to encourage other people to support you. Taken individually, each action may not seem like a lot, but over time, you will discover that your efforts add up to a unified voice for change or specific action on pending action, especially that affecting your health.

We plead with you to use the tools at our disposal in doing grassroots ADVOCACY for issues involving health care and research to find a cause for Dystonia. Be alert to changes proposed by CMS (Medicare & Medicaid) even if you are not on those programs. Their action typically becomes a model for private insurers, HMO’s and other health-care providers to follow. ADVOCATE FOR INCREASED Natioal Institutes of Health (NIH) FUNDING FOR DYSTONIA & RELATED MOVEMENT DISORDERS.

From time to time, DSG and others with whom we are associated (DMRF, NSDA, NSTA, WEMOVE, etc) will provide sample letters, emails or phone messages for you to use, but the best ADVOCACY is the message you send from your heart.

CONTACTING YOUR SENATORS

Congressman always maintain “local offices”. When emailing or writing a letter, it’s advisable to send it to their local office with a “copy” to their Washington, DC, office. When phoning, you’ll probably get better attention to call the local office.

Senator Richard C. Shelby
United States Senate
110 Hart Senate Office Bldg
Washington, DC 20510-0103
DC phone: 202-224-5744

Email: http://shelby.senate.gov/resources/contact.htm
Website: http://shelby.senate.gov/

Birmingham Office:               Federal Building - Suite 321
Phone: 205-731-1384          1800 5^th Avenue No
                                             Birmingham, AL 35203-2171

Mobile Office:                        Federal Courthouse - Suite 445
Phone: 251-694-4164           113 Saint Joseph Street
                                              Mobile, AL 36602-3623

Huntsville Office:                 Huntsville Int’l Airport - Suite 10127
Phone: 256-772-0460         1000 Glenn Hearn Blvd
                                              Huntsville, AL 35284

Tuscaloosa Office:                Federal Building, Room 240
Phone: 205-759-5047          1118 Greensboro Avenue
                                              Tuscaloosa, AL 35401-2816

Montgomery Office:              Federal Courthouse, Room B-28
Phone: 334-223-7303         15 Lee Street
                                             Montgomery, AL 36104-4055

Senator Jeff Sessions
United States Senate
335 Russell Senate Office Bldg
Washington, DC 20510-0104
DC Phone: 202-224-4124

Email: http://sessions.senate.gov/email/contact/cfm
Website: http://sessions.senate.gov/

Huntsville Office:                  Regions Center - Suite 802
Phone: 256-533-0979         200 Clinton Avenue N.W.
                                             Huntsville, AL 35801-4932

Birmingham Office:              341 Vance Federal Building
Phone: 205-731-1500        1800 Fifth Avenue No
                                            Birmingham, AL 35203-2171

Mobile Office:                        41 West I-65 Service Road
Phone: 251-414-3083          Suite 2300-A
                                              Mobile, AL 36608-1291

Montgomery Office:             7550 Halcyon Summit Drive
Phone: 334-244-7017         Suite 150
                                             Montgomery, AL 36117

CONTACTING YOUR REPRESENTATIVE

1^ST District
Rep. Jo Bonner
422 Cannon HOB
Washington, DC 20515
Phone: 202-225-4931

Email: www.house.gov/bonner

2^nd District
Rep. Terry Everett
2312 Rayburn House Office Bldg
Washington, DC 20515-0102
DC Phone: 202-225-2901

Email: http://wwwc.house.gov/everett/contact/email.asp
Website: http://wwwc.house/gov/everett/

Opp Office: 101 No. Main Street
Phone: 334-493-9253 Opp, AL 36467

Montgomery Office: 3500 Eastern Blvd, Suite 250
Phone: 334-277-9113 Montgomery, AL 36116-1782

Dothan Office: 256 Honeysuckle Rd - Suite 15
Phone: 334-794-9680 Dothan, AL 36305

3^rd District
Rep. Mike Rogers
514 Cannon House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515-0103
DC Phone: 202-225-3261

Email: http://www.house.gov/mike-rogers/contact/index/shtml
Website: http://www.house.gov/mike-rogers/

Montgomery Office: 7550 Halycon Summit Drive
Phone: 334-277-4210 Montgomery, AL 36117

Opelika Office: 1819 Pepperell Parkway, Suite 203
Phone: 334-745-6221 Opelika, AL 36801

Anniston Office: 1129 Noble Street, Suite 104
Phone: 256-236-5655 Anniston, AL 36201

4^th District
Rep. Robert B. Aderholt
1433 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515-0104
DC Phone: 20o2-225-4876

Email: http://aderholt.house.gov/IQ_email.shtml
Website: http://aderholt.house.gov/

Cullman Office: 205 Fourth Ave NE - Suite 104
Phone: 256-734-6043 Cullman, AL 35055

Jasper Office:                       Carl Elliott Federal Bldg - Suite 247
Phone: 205-221-2310          1710 Alabama Avenue
                                              Jasper, AL 35501-5400

Gadsden Office:                    Federal Building - Suite 107
Phone: 256-546-0201          600 Broad Street
                                              Gadsden, AL 35901-3745

5^th District
Rep. Robert E. (Bud) Cramer
2368 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515-0105
DC Phone: 202-225-4801

Email: http://cramer.house.gov/NR/exeres/3AFBDAAF-1015-4C72-95FC-474743BC67C2.htm
WebSite: http://cramer.house.gov/NR/exeres/EF138332-33B5-4F6D-A432-76DFA33AC27C.htm

Tuscumbia Office: 1011 George Wallace Blvd
Phone: 256-381-3450 Tuscumbia, AL 35674

Decatur Office:                      Morgan County Courthouse
Phone: 256-355-9406          302 Lee Street
                                              Decatur, AL 35602

Huntsville Office: 626 Clinton Avenue West
Phone: 256-551-0190 Huntsville, AL 35801-4210

6^th District
Rep. Spencer Bachus
442 Cannon House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515-0106
DC Phone: 202-225-4921

Email: http://www.house.gov/writerep/
Website: http://bachus.house.gov/NR/exeres/537B8A60-5856-4086-9AC1-FED8E20C1245.htm

Birmingham Office: 1900 Int’l Park Drive - Suite 107
Phone: 205-969-2296 Birmingham, AL 35243

Clanton Office: 703 2^nd Avenue No or PO Box 502
Phone: 205-280-0704 Clanton, AL 35046

7^th District:
Rep. Arthur Davis
208 Cannon House Office Bldg
Washington, DC 20515-0107
DC Phone: 202-225-2665

Email: http://www.house.gov/arthurdavis/zipauth.html
Website: http://www.house.gov/arthurdavis/

Selma Office: 908 Alabama Avenue
Phone: 334-877-4414 Selma, AL 36701

Livington Office:                   205 N. Washington Street
Phone: 205-652-5834         UWA Station - 40 Webb Hall
                                             Livingston, AL 35470

Demopolis Office: 102 E. Washington Street - Suite F
Phone: 334-287-0860 Demopolis, AL 36733

Birmingham Office: 2 20^th Street - Suite 1130
Phone: 205-254-1960 Birmingham, AL 35203

Tuscaloosa Office:               Tuscaloosa County Federal Courthouse
Phone: 205-752-5380         1118 Greensboro Avenue - Suite 336
                                             Tuscaloosa, AL

Outside of Alabama, click here for your Senator's and Representative's contact information.

When constituents speak out, lawmakers listen. This is true across the board --- from improving highways, better public schools, to curing a disease; the voice of advocacy must be unified in order the the message to be heard loud & clear and often.

You should be passionate about find the cause and a cure for DYSTONIA --
Indeed it is your right …..no it is your obligation…..to become involved with your government who’s making decisions about YOUR HEALTH CARE cost’s and availability. If you can’t become passionate for yourself, then do so for your children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.

What do you expect your congressman to know about Dystonia when a lot of doctors don’t even know? Yet, they’re voting constantly on proposals put forth by other advocates that directly affects you, the kind of treatment you can obtain, the reimbursements allowed and, yes, the medications or surgical procedures THEY DECIDE IS BEST FOR DYSTONIA PATIENTS?

Being an advocate means letting your elected officials know who you are and that you suffer from Dystonia. Educate them on Dystonia, the available treatments, how their decisions affect your “quality of life”. Email, call, write and/or visit an elected officials offices to let them know. It is their job to listen to you, but first you have to speak up!

Here's how to find your elected officials' contact information:

State of Alabama Legislators - enter your ZIP code
National Legislators

LEGISLATIVE TOOL KIT from DMRF - packed with information on how you can support Dystonia Advocacy efforts through your legislators.

Dystonia Support Group - Alabama Contact Support@Dystonia-Alabama.org

Home What is Dystonia? Newsletters Upcoming Events - Birmingham Group Upcoming Events - Southeast AL Group Join Us Deep Brain Stimulation Information Page Health Care Referrals News Articles and Publications Links Contact Us		Proclamation Legislative Tool Kit Advocacy BEING AN ADVOCATE MEANS STARTING AT HOME: Motivate your family, friends, business associates, church groups, civic clubs & other groups in our advocacy efforts. I find it’s easier to do something if I’m going to ask someone else to act, too. One of the best ways to use your voice for change or action is to encourage other people to support you. Taken individually, each action may not seem like a lot, but over time, you will discover that your efforts add up to a unified voice for change or specific action on pending action, especially that affecting your health. We plead with you to use the tools at our disposal in doing grassroots ADVOCACY for issues involving health care and research to find a cause for Dystonia. Be alert to changes proposed by CMS (Medicare & Medicaid) even if you are not on those programs. Their action typically becomes a model for private insurers, HMO’s and other health-care providers to follow. ADVOCATE FOR INCREASED Natioal Institutes of Health (NIH) FUNDING FOR DYSTONIA & RELATED MOVEMENT DISORDERS. From time to time, DSG and others with whom we are associated (DMRF, NSDA, NSTA, WEMOVE, etc) will provide sample letters, emails or phone messages for you to use, but the best ADVOCACY is the message you send from your heart. CONTACTING YOUR SENATORS Congressman always maintain “local offices”. When emailing or writing a letter, it’s advisable to send it to their local office with a “copy” to their Washington, DC, office. When phoning, you’ll probably get better attention to call the local office. Senator Richard C. Shelby United States Senate 110 Hart Senate Office Bldg Washington, DC 20510-0103 DC phone: 202-224-5744 Email: http://shelby.senate.gov/resources/contact.htm Website: http://shelby.senate.gov/ Birmingham Office: Federal Building - Suite 321 Phone: 205-731-1384 1800 5^th Avenue No Birmingham, AL 35203-2171 Mobile Office: Federal Courthouse - Suite 445 Phone: 251-694-4164 113 Saint Joseph Street Mobile, AL 36602-3623 Huntsville Office: Huntsville Int’l Airport - Suite 10127 Phone: 256-772-0460 1000 Glenn Hearn Blvd Huntsville, AL 35284 Tuscaloosa Office: Federal Building, Room 240 Phone: 205-759-5047 1118 Greensboro Avenue Tuscaloosa, AL 35401-2816 Montgomery Office: Federal Courthouse, Room B-28 Phone: 334-223-7303 15 Lee Street Montgomery, AL 36104-4055 Senator Jeff Sessions United States Senate 335 Russell Senate Office Bldg Washington, DC 20510-0104 DC Phone: 202-224-4124 Email: http://sessions.senate.gov/email/contact/cfm Website: http://sessions.senate.gov/ Huntsville Office: Regions Center - Suite 802 Phone: 256-533-0979 200 Clinton Avenue N.W. Huntsville, AL 35801-4932 Birmingham Office: 341 Vance Federal Building Phone: 205-731-1500 1800 Fifth Avenue No Birmingham, AL 35203-2171 Mobile Office: 41 West I-65 Service Road Phone: 251-414-3083 Suite 2300-A Mobile, AL 36608-1291 Montgomery Office: 7550 Halcyon Summit Drive Phone: 334-244-7017 Suite 150 Montgomery, AL 36117 CONTACTING YOUR REPRESENTATIVE 1^ST District Rep. Jo Bonner 422 Cannon HOB Washington, DC 20515 Phone: 202-225-4931 Email: www.house.gov/bonner 2^nd District Rep. Terry Everett 2312 Rayburn House Office Bldg Washington, DC 20515-0102 DC Phone: 202-225-2901 Email: http://wwwc.house.gov/everett/contact/email.asp Website: http://wwwc.house/gov/everett/ Opp Office: 101 No. Main Street Phone: 334-493-9253 Opp, AL 36467 Montgomery Office: 3500 Eastern Blvd, Suite 250 Phone: 334-277-9113 Montgomery, AL 36116-1782 Dothan Office: 256 Honeysuckle Rd - Suite 15 Phone: 334-794-9680 Dothan, AL 36305 3^rd District Rep. Mike Rogers 514 Cannon House Office Building Washington, DC 20515-0103 DC Phone: 202-225-3261 Email: http://www.house.gov/mike-rogers/contact/index/shtml Website: http://www.house.gov/mike-rogers/ Montgomery Office: 7550 Halycon Summit Drive Phone: 334-277-4210 Montgomery, AL 36117 Opelika Office: 1819 Pepperell Parkway, Suite 203 Phone: 334-745-6221 Opelika, AL 36801 Anniston Office: 1129 Noble Street, Suite 104 Phone: 256-236-5655 Anniston, AL 36201 4^th District Rep. Robert B. Aderholt 1433 Longworth House Office Building Washington, DC 20515-0104 DC Phone: 20o2-225-4876 Email: http://aderholt.house.gov/IQ_email.shtml Website: http://aderholt.house.gov/ Cullman Office: 205 Fourth Ave NE - Suite 104 Phone: 256-734-6043 Cullman, AL 35055 Jasper Office: Carl Elliott Federal Bldg - Suite 247 Phone: 205-221-2310 1710 Alabama Avenue Jasper, AL 35501-5400 Gadsden Office: Federal Building - Suite 107 Phone: 256-546-0201 600 Broad Street Gadsden, AL 35901-3745 5^th District Rep. Robert E. (Bud) Cramer 2368 Rayburn House Office Building Washington, DC 20515-0105 DC Phone: 202-225-4801 Email: http://cramer.house.gov/NR/exeres/3AFBDAAF-1015-4C72-95FC-474743BC67C2.htm WebSite: http://cramer.house.gov/NR/exeres/EF138332-33B5-4F6D-A432-76DFA33AC27C.htm Tuscumbia Office: 1011 George Wallace Blvd Phone: 256-381-3450 Tuscumbia, AL 35674 Decatur Office: Morgan County Courthouse Phone: 256-355-9406 302 Lee Street Decatur, AL 35602 Huntsville Office: 626 Clinton Avenue West Phone: 256-551-0190 Huntsville, AL 35801-4210 6^th District Rep. Spencer Bachus 442 Cannon House Office Building Washington, DC 20515-0106 DC Phone: 202-225-4921 Email: http://www.house.gov/writerep/ Website: http://bachus.house.gov/NR/exeres/537B8A60-5856-4086-9AC1-FED8E20C1245.htm Birmingham Office: 1900 Int’l Park Drive - Suite 107 Phone: 205-969-2296 Birmingham, AL 35243 Clanton Office: 703 2^nd Avenue No or PO Box 502 Phone: 205-280-0704 Clanton, AL 35046 7^th District: Rep. Arthur Davis 208 Cannon House Office Bldg Washington, DC 20515-0107 DC Phone: 202-225-2665 Email: http://www.house.gov/arthurdavis/zipauth.html Website: http://www.house.gov/arthurdavis/ Selma Office: 908 Alabama Avenue Phone: 334-877-4414 Selma, AL 36701 Livington Office: 205 N. Washington Street Phone: 205-652-5834 UWA Station - 40 Webb Hall Livingston, AL 35470 Demopolis Office: 102 E. Washington Street - Suite F Phone: 334-287-0860 Demopolis, AL 36733 Birmingham Office: 2 20^th Street - Suite 1130 Phone: 205-254-1960 Birmingham, AL 35203 Tuscaloosa Office: Tuscaloosa County Federal Courthouse Phone: 205-752-5380 1118 Greensboro Avenue - Suite 336 Tuscaloosa, AL Outside of Alabama, click here for your Senator's and Representative's contact information. When constituents speak out, lawmakers listen. This is true across the board --- from improving highways, better public schools, to curing a disease; the voice of advocacy must be unified in order the the message to be heard loud & clear and often. You should be passionate about find the cause and a cure for DYSTONIA -- Indeed it is your right …..no it is your obligation…..to become involved with your government who’s making decisions about YOUR HEALTH CARE cost’s and availability. If you can’t become passionate for yourself, then do so for your children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. What do you expect your congressman to know about Dystonia when a lot of doctors don’t even know? Yet, they’re voting constantly on proposals put forth by other advocates that directly affects you, the kind of treatment you can obtain, the reimbursements allowed and, yes, the medications or surgical procedures THEY DECIDE IS BEST FOR DYSTONIA PATIENTS? Being an advocate means letting your elected officials know who you are and that you suffer from Dystonia. Educate them on Dystonia, the available treatments, how their decisions affect your “quality of life”. Email, call, write and/or visit an elected officials offices to let them know. It is their job to listen to you, but first you have to speak up! Here's how to find your elected officials' contact information: State of Alabama Legislators - enter your ZIP code National Legislators LEGISLATIVE TOOL KIT from DMRF - packed with information on how you can support Dystonia Advocacy efforts through your legislators.