The CAC Core Group created the Telling Your Story Template to support self-advocates, family members, and community partners in sharing their experiences clearly and effectively. This fill-in template walks you step-by-step through introducing yourself, describing a challenge or barrier, sharing a personal example, offering a solution, and asking for a clear commitment or action. It’s designed to help people tell their stories with confidence when speaking with policymakers, service providers, or community leaders, and can be used for written advocacy, meetings, or presentations.

The CAC also maintains a shared Google Drive where people can collect stories, read others’ experiences, and share their own. This space is meant to support learning, connection, and advocacy by centering lived experiences from across Washington. If you’d like to contribute, we invite you to upload your story using the link below. Your story can help inform advocacy efforts and strengthen our collective voice.