Abstract
Despite the damage caused by the federal budget cuts of 1981, the worst is yet to come—unless blind people and the professionals who work with them can fight back effectively. To influence legislators successfully, opponents of proposed legislative changes must (1) have access to timely and authoritative information, (2) refine their working knowledge of the legislative process, (3) understand the nature and value of coalitions, and (4) be able to make legislators and their supporters understand how proposed changes in law will affect blind people. Mr. Dinsmore points out that the authors of the 1981 budget legislation were successful precisely because they had mastered the combination of these four elements. Thus those who oppose them must be equally well equipped. He discusses each element in detail to provide an effective model for action.
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