2:54 p.m., Feb. 12, 2008--Persons with disabilities and their families are invited to participate in Legislative Disability Awareness Day on March 19, in Dover, Del.

The day begins with an optional training session on how to contact your legislators and advocate for yourself or a family member with a disability, followed by visits to state legislators.

Training, which begins at 9 a.m. at Delaware Public Archives, 121 Duke of York St., Dover, includes lunch and is limited to 25 people but there is no restriction on the number of persons who can visit legislators.

The registration deadline for training, lunch and to arrange for special accommodations is Tuesday, Feb. 19. For a registration form, call Linda Bates at (302) 739-3621, TTY (302) 739-3369, fax (302) 739-6704 or send e-mail to [Linda.Bates@state.de.us].

Participants will spend the afternoon at Legislative Hall speaking with legislators about policy issues, including community supports, employment and assurances that school districts throughout Delaware employ qualified speech and language pathologists.

Legislative Disability Awareness Day is sponsored by the Arc of Delaware, UD's Center for Disabilities Studies, DelARF, Developmental Disabilities Council, Disabilities Law Program, Governor's Advisory Council for Exceptional Citizens, and the State Council for Persons with Disabilities.

For more information, call Kyle Hodges (302) 739-3620 or contact Bates at [Linda.Bates@state.de.us], (302) 739-3621, fax (302) 739-6704 or TTY (302) 739-3369.