Letter from Leadership: Advocacy is About Being Yourself

My name is Martha, and I have a pretty amazing job. I am the first young woman with Down syndrome to work at the Georgia state capitol. Yes, you read that right. The first. And honestly? That is not just a fact. It is a gift.

So what do I actually do all day? Well, for starters, I deliver donuts. To the Governor. To the Lieutenant Governor. I mean, come on. Who gets to do that?! I also help get the House and Senate readers ready, pick up the bills, and even take photographs of the Senate floor for the paperwork crew. Every single task feels like a privilege.

I used to attend Advocacy Days with the Georgia Council on Developmental Disabilities. We'd come to the Capitol to meet our senators and representatives and speak up for the things our community really needs. I always loved going because I had a chance to meet my senators and representatives to let them know about all the big things that the disability community needs help with.

Some of the issues we covered were Medicaid expansion, employment, housing, transportation, education, home and community-based services, direct support professionals, and having support staff for them. We made it clear that these are important services and are something that they could not ignore.

Being a part of Advocacy Days made me realize I wanted to be more involved. I wanted to do something within the Capitol all the time.

My absolute favorite part of the job? Getting the House and Senate readers and going through the bills. I have to keep my opinions to myself. That's just being professional! I take that seriously. And what about being that close to real decisions being made? I love it!

I've gotten to know all 50 Georgia senators personally. My biggest piece of advice when you meet them: just be yourself. Treat them like any other person. And use your leadership skills. That's exactly what I do, and it works every time.

It's not about being famous! For me, I just want to be me.

Because I belong here. And so do you.

Martha Haythorn is a self-advocate and Capitol staffer with the Georgia Senate office. She is also a member of the Georgia Council on Developmental Disabilities.