Disability Action Center Northwest is hosting a free letter writing event to help people with disabilities tell their stories to state legislators.

The event will be held at 1 p.m. Feb. 4 at 330 Fifth St. in Lewiston. All supplies and free refreshments will be available. It is open to all Idahoans with a disability who use home- and community-based workers and direct care workers.

According to the agency, people with disabilities have trouble getting to their state capitol to have their voices heard. The letters will be hand-delivered to legislators by agency representatives.

Several things have changed in recent years that make it harder for a person with a disability to remain in their home, the agency said. Decreased hours of care allowed, changing the rate of pay for individual services, and lagging in caregiver pay compared to other states have made the process more cumbersome and expensive. This has resulted in some people with disabilities in our community being institutionalized.

Anyone seeking more information may contact Vicki Leeper, outreach coordinator, at vicki@dacnw.orgor (208) 883-0523.