The fact that you are using this toolkit means that you already know the importance of Included. Supported. Empowered. In the same way, your online audiences—whether they’re friends and family members on Facebook or subscribers, members or followers of your organization—are the exact people who are likely to understand the importance of this vital initiative. Therefore, to make it easy for you to spread the word about Included. Supported. Empowered., this section includes content that you can copy, paste and customize for your social media channels, emails and newsletters, and websites.
No matter which platforms you use the most, social media is a great way to showcase your support for and participation in Included. Supported. Empowered. In this section, you will find three short posts (ideal for short-form platforms like Twitter) and three longer posts (ideal for longer-form platforms like Facebook). You are welcome to publish this content as-is or adapt however you see fit. However, we encourage you to keep the campaign’s social media handle (@WeHaveAStake) and hashtag (#WeHaveAStake) in your posts so we can track the growth of the campaign’s social media presence over time.
Each of these posts can be supplemented by including one or more of the shareable images found in the Dropbox folder linked in the “Related Resources” section of this tool.
Short-Form Content
[organization name] is thrilled to be part of Included. Supported. Empowered. (@WeHaveAStake)—a bold new movement to celebrate the success of people with #disabilities and the providers who make success possible. Join us today at wehaveastake.org/join. #WeHaveAStake
People w/ #disabilities enrich and enhance our communities, which is why we all have a stake in ensuring they are included, supported & empowered where we live, work and play. Join @WeHaveAStake’s growing movement today at wehaveastake.org/join. #WeHaveAStake
[name of community] is stronger when it includes people of ALL abilities. [organization name] is thrilled to support @WeHaveAStake, a 3-yr initiative to celebrate the successes of ppl w/ #disabilities & the #pros who make it possible. Join today @ wehaveastake.org/join. #WeHaveAStake
Long-Form Content
At [organization name], we believe that our communities are stronger when people of all abilities are included. That’s why we’re excited to be a champion for Included. Supported. Empowered. (@WeHaveAStake), a bold new initiative designed to tell stories of the successes of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and to highlight the important role providers like us play in making success possible. Browse stories, share your own and get involved today! wehaveastake.org
People with intellectual & developmental disabilities make our communities stronger. But too often, their contributions—and their support networks—go unrecognized. I believe that we should raise up the successes of people of all abilities and recognize the role that their support networks play in making success possible, which is why I joined Included. Supported. Empowered. Join me today in supporting this important storytelling initiative by visiting wehaveastake.org. #WeHaveAStake #included #supported #empowered
Whether or not you or someone you love are among the 4.6 million people in this country with an intellectual or developmental disability, we ALL have a stake in ensuring that those with disabilities are included in our communities. Born of this recognition, Included. Supported. Empowered. (@WeHaveAStake) is a bold new storytelling initiative designed to showcase the successes of people with disabilities and to celebrate the important (and often overlooked) role their support networks play in making success possible. If you’re like [organization name] and believe #WeHaveAStake, join the movement today at wehaveastake.org/join.
If your organization sends regular email communications to its audiences, such as in the form of a monthly newsletter, a weekly member update or other email marketing appeals, you can use the copy below as-is, or adapt it to fit your needs.
[organization name] was founded on a core belief: that people with intellectual and developmental disabilities should have the same chances as everyone else to be included in the community. That people of all abilities contribute to our community in rich and meaningful ways. And that we all have a stake in ensuring people with disabilities are empowered to live, work and participate in all facets of community life.
It is this same set of beliefs that make us proud to be among the champions of Included. Supported. Empowered., a bold new storytelling initiative designed to show the world what it truly means for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities to be a valued part of the community.
All too often, we see the successes of people with I/DD and the contributions they make to our communities go overlooked. In part, that’s because their support systems are often invisible to the outside world. The role that providers like [organization name] play in helping people with I/DD thrive—and thus the full potential of people with I/DD—often goes unrealized.
Included. Supported. Empowered. seeks to change that by bringing stories of success out of the shadows, and we’d love to have your support along the way. There are a range of low-effort, high-impact ways that you can support this important initiative today. Step 1? Sign up to receive updates at wehaveastake.org/join. By signing up, the top stories will be delivered to your inbox each month, along with easy ways you can lend your support.
The work to ensure that people of all abilities are valued, included part of our communities is massive, and we can’t do it alone. Thank you for joining us in this journey.
If you have a blog on your website, or if you have other platforms on which you can publish longer-form content (e.g., your CEO pens a weekly column for the local paper, your organization maintains a publication on Medium, etc.), focusing one of your articles on the Included. Supported. Empowered. campaign and the value proposition its working to articulate is a great way of helping spread the word. Below are a handful of tips for how to write a compelling article that encourages others to advance the Included. Supported. Empowered. mission.
Get in touch! Reach out today by emailing info@wehaveastake.org or by calling 703.535.7850, ext. 100.
This website houses an array of compelling stories and helpful resources from the Included. Supported. Empowered. initiative, which wrapped up in 2020. This website will no longer be regularly updated, so we invite you to explore what’s here and connect with ANCOR for more. Visit ancor.org and follow us using @TheRealANCOR.