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

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

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:
Website: 

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: 
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

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

WebSite: 

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

Website:    

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:

208 Cannon House Office Bldg
Washington, DC 20515-0107
DC Phone:  202-225-2665

Email: 
Website: 

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