Communication Using the Latest Technology

Fast, effective communication is key to ensuring successful advocacy, self determination, coordination and partnership with others. In the past, communication was a leisurely art, long handwritten letters that made their way by snail mail (the postal service). Then we moved on to typewriters, making the need for rewriting messy pages less of a problem and producing more legible results, but we still had to rely on a slow mail system to deliver our messages. The quicker way was by telephone, but for a while we dealt with party lines, where others you didn’t know got to hear your every word. You were also tied to a landline, whether in your home, your office or standing in the rain at a pay phone.

Then came the day of computers – typing letters became so much easier because when you made a mistake you just hit the backspace button and presto, the mistake was erased and you went on with no mess. Soon after came the internet and along with it email. No need to wait for snail mail, we got to send our thoughts instantly to many people at once (plus you didn’t have to find a stamp).

Drive frantically trying to find a pay phone when you were on the road and needed to get information to someone? The miracle of cell phones came along and suddenly you are no longer tied down. Before long those cell phones carried your life – your address book is in it, you check your email or maybe schedule something on your calendar. Landlines in your home are starting to become a thing of the past.

Now the internet age has moved farther forward. To be really effective we create Facebook pages, Twitter accounts and blogs providing instant access to our thoughts and concerns. As difficult as it is for some who needs to be drug kicking and screaming into this digital age, these tools can prove to be extremely important to people advocating for the rights of individuals with developmental disabilities and who are committed to protecting the services and supports they need.

Facebook pages offer individuals a way to connect with many others and can be as private or public as you want it to be. You can share thoughts, information, pictures and many other things with your “friends”, people who have requested to be in your circle that you approve. Facebook also has group pages you create to share information about your organization, start discussion conversations on specific topics, and organize and advertise events. Send it to your friends, they send it to their friends…

Twitter can be useful for getting quick messages out, especially when action is needed right away. If you are sitting in a legislative hearing and a legislator says something that shows they are misinformed on an issue, send a “tweet” out to those following you letting them know calls and emails are needed to that legislator right away. Most legislators have their computers with them during hearings and many of them check their email, Facebook and Twitter accounts throughout that time. By sending out a tweet to get the info corrected, that legislator may get phone and email responses before the hearing is even over.

A blog is a place where you can write short articles that help provide better insight into a specific topic, such as you are reading now. It is a tool that can be used to positively impact the public’s perception and understanding of issues surrounding developmental disabilities. E-book readers, such as the Kindle, are another electronic tool that can be useful for those on the run. You can load thousands of books, documents and photos on a device that is the size of a half sheet of paper and only about as thick as a pencil. No need to haul heavy notebooks with you.

It may feel confusing, you may think this digital revolution is moving faster than you can keep up, but there are plenty of people willing to help you understand it and lots of information available on the internet. Most of these applications are very easy to set up, usually requiring just your name, email address and a password, they are also free. There’s no reason not to take advantage of the technology out there and make sure your voice is heard, your organization is growing and you don’t get left behind.

See you on the net-
Diana Stadden