Advocacy 101

As an APTA member, you have access to many helpful resources. In addition, APTA passes along updates and directs you to take action on a grassroots level to advocate for the physical therapy profession. Here are some easy ways to stay updated and help APTA 's government affairs.

The site found here: www.thomas.gov , is a valuable tool if you'd like to track legislation. Here, by typing in the bill number provided on the Resource Center pages for each issue, you have access to the text of the legislation, the amount and names of cosponsors, and what actions are being taken on that particular piece of legislation. Through APTA, you will be notified on any major actions, such as votes or outcomes of the legislation we are tracking.

To get more information on APTA 's positions on pertinent legislation, make sure to visit the Resource Center, found under the "Legislative Issues" tab on the left toolbar. Here you will find all of the major issues, with the resource centers giving you information on updates, resources pertaining to the issue, and APTA official statements. This is a good place to find everything APTA is doing for physical therapy legislation. You can find these issues below.

Another way to find out the most up to date information on physical therapy legislation is to join the PTeam online. After joining, you will receive newsletters and Action Alerts when important legislation is in need of grassroots assistance. Join the PTeam Today!.

Many of these alerts will ask for action to be taken by contacting your United States legislators. The Legislative Action Center is another tool that is very helpful for this purpose. It does all the work for you in order to find your legislator, know what to say when contacting them, and even send the information, all in one place!

By entering the site and using your zip code on the right side-bar, you can see who the legislators are for your area. By using the "Contact" button, you'll find a form to choose an issue you want to address and the suggested format APTA uses to contact legislators. By filling out all of the information, the Legislative Action Center will send your information immediately online to your legislator.

The legislative process can take time, and with each new Congress, new legislation must be introduced and the process of obtaining cosponsors starts all over again. Grassroots advocacy is a great way to speed the process along by making constituent voices heard by government officials. Take a look at the Legislative Issues below to find all of APTA 's information at your fingertips.