TENNESSEE DISABILITY COALITION
Sharing Your Tennessee Story
Quick-Reference Guide  á  2026 Public Policy Retreat & Membership Meeting
Legislators and reporters are as overwhelmed by noise as the rest of us. What breaks through isn't another fact or statistic Ñ it's your story. This guide is a take-home version of today's session: the core tactics, in one place, for the next time you have five minutes with a legislator, an editor, or your own social feed.
ÒFacts and data donÕt move people. Stories do.Ó
Ñ TN State Sen. Bo Watson, R-Hixson
Stanford research shows people remember stories 22 times more than facts alone. Your story is one no one else can tell Ñ and no one can argue with your lived experience.
WORDS THAT WORK
Tennessee focus groups found that some once-neutral terms could carry political baggage. Consider these swaps when describing your work.
Instead of...
Try...
Nonprofit
Community benefit organization / community service provider
Equity
Opportunity / equal access
Diversity / DEI
Belonging / culture
Advocacy
Education / community engagement / civic involvement
Underserved
Vulnerable
WHAT RESONATES IN YOUR REGION
Tennessee isn't a monolith Ñ messaging that lands in Memphis won't land the same way in Mountain City. Focus groups of nonprofit leaders across the state identified what resonates locally.
Region
What Resonates
West TN
Emphasize credibility and trust. Engage faith-based networks. Hyper-local voices are most persuasive here.
Middle TN
Emphasize professionalism, strategic partnerships, and measurable impact.
Northeast TN
Address skepticism head-on with Òessential infrastructureÓ framing. Use real, local examples of people helped.
Southeast TN
Promote collective impact and cross-sector collaboration. Emphasize outcomes and impact.
Rural TN
Emphasize essential local services, neighborly trust, and faith/family values. Keep language plain Ñ avoid jargon.





THE 4 ELEMENTS OF A COMPELLING STORY
THE MOMENT
One specific, concrete experience Ñ not a general summary. A single moment beats a list.
THE STAKES
What's at risk? What does this policy mean for your daily life, your child's future, or your organization?
THE ASK
What do you want the listener to do? Be specific: co-sponsor this bill, vote yes, schedule a meeting.
THE CONNECTION
Show how your story connects to others Ñ you're not alone, and the issue affects many Tennesseans.
DRAFT YOUR STORY Ñ WORKSHEET
Use this space during the retreat to rough out your own story. Bring it to your next legislator meeting, letter to the editor, or social post.

The Moment:  One specific, concrete experience.
 
 

 
The Stakes:  What's at risk Ñ for you, your family, or the people your organization serves?
 
 

 
The Ask:  What do you want the listener to do?
 
 

 
The Connection:  How does this affect other Tennesseans, too?
 

 
 

MEETING WITH YOUR LEGISLATOR (IN-PERSON OR VIRTUAL)
You are the expert on your own life and experience Ñ that's exactly what they need to hear. Keep it brief; many meetings run 5 minutes or less.
BEFORE
? Find your legislator and their committee assignments at capitol.tn.gov.
? You can meet with legislators outside your own district, too Ñ it's about finding the right committee chair.
? Virtual meeting? Test camera/mic 10 minutes early, sit facing your light source, dress as you would in person, and keep a phone nearby as backup.
DURING
? Introduce yourself: Your name, your city, and one sentence on why you're here.
? Tell your story: One specific, real, human experience Ñ yours.
? Connect to policy: How a bill, policy, or budget decision affects people like you/your organization. 
? Make your ask: One clear, specific request Ñ vote yes, co-sponsor, schedule a follow-up.
? Say thank you: Thank the legislator and their staff Ñ staff brief the legislator before and after your meeting.
AFTER
? Follow your legislator on social media and engage when they post on relevant topics.
? Relationships are built over time, not in a single meeting.

THE #1 TACTIC: A PHOTO + A HANDWRITTEN NOTE
Mail a printed photo from your visit with a one- or two-sentence handwritten note, ideally within 48 hours. It's rare, human, and hard to forget Ñ staff genuinely appreciate these, and they often end up on office walls. Do this every time. (Email is fine if that's truly your only option Ñ but it's a distant second.)

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Among the most-read sections of any newspaper Ñ and legislators pay close attention to them as a direct signal of constituent opinion.
? Keep it under 250 words: Editors enforce it strictly.
? Lead with your most important point: Get to the point immediately.
? Use your real name and city: Anonymous letters carry less weight and are rarely printed.
? Reference a recent story, bill, or vote: Increases your odds of publication.
? Submit promptly: Check each paper's guidelines and submit online.
? Coordinate for impact: One letter is good; ten on the same topic in the same week is a movement. Coordinate with families, advocates, and partner orgs Ñ and vary the writers and angles so it doesn't read as copy-paste.






SOCIAL MEDIA CHEAT SHEET
Facebook
Families, community groups, local news pages. Best for longer posts and photo albums. Tag your legislator Ñ pages are public.
X (Twitter)
Quick reactions to legislative news. Tag @TNSenate, @TNHouseGOP, or your legislator. Use #TNLeg.
Instagram
Photo + 3Ð5 sentence caption. A strong photo can reach far beyond your followers via shares and hashtags.
TikTok
Short, personal, authentic video. Production value isn't the point Ñ authenticity is.

DO
? Start with a human moment, not a statistic
? Use a photo every time you can
? Be specific: names, places, dates
? End with a clear ask (and say thank you)
? Tag your legislator's official account
? Use 2Ð3 relevant hashtags (#TNLeg)
DON'T
? Open with jargon or acronyms
? Post an image with no explanation, or an explanation with no image
? Use vague statements without a concrete ask
? Post once and move on
? Argue in the comments Ñ redirect to a private message
Small, consistent connections build the relationships that change policy.
Tennessee Disability Coalition  á  955 Woodland Street, Nashville, TN 37206  á  615-383-9442  á  coalition@tndisability.org