This video illustrates how personal testimony can connect lived experience with a public policy issue. What is personal testimony? Personal testimony is a first-person account of how a law, policy, program, budget decision, regulation, or other public action affects a person's life or community. Testimony may be given during: Legislative hearings City council or county commission meetings School board meetings Agency hearings Public-comment sessions Advisory-board meetings Community forums Other formal or informal decision-making processes Testimony may be delivered in person, virtually, by telephone, in writing, by recorded video, or through another format accepted by the decision-making body. Personal testimony can help decision-makers understand how a policy works in everyday life. It can also identify effects, barriers, or unintended consequences that may not be visible in administrative data or research alone. Why can personal testimony matter? Policies affect people differently depending on their circumstances. Personal testimony can add information that helps decision-makers understand: How a policy is experienced in practice What barriers or benefits it creates Which groups may be affected differently Whether implementation matches the policy's stated purpose What changes people directly affected believe would help Personal testimony is one form of evidence. It can demonstrate that a particular experience occurred and explain its human significance. By itself, one person's experience does not necessarily show how common the experience is or establish that a policy caused a broader population-level outcome. When appropriate, combine lived experience with research, public records, local data, or other evidence. How do you prepare personal testimony? Start with your experience Begin by identifying what the policy or proposed change means to you. Ask: What happened? How did the policy affect me? What changed in my daily life? What problem did I encounter? What benefit did I experience? What do I want decision-makers to understand? Writing freely for several minutes can help you identify the parts of your experience that are most relevant. At this stage, focus on getting your ideas down rather than producing polished language. Decide what action you are asking for Before writing the final testimony, identify the specific decision under consideration. You might be asking decision-makers to: Support or oppose a proposed policy Amend part of a proposal Preserve an existing program Increase or restore funding Correct an implementation problem Review an unintended consequence Gather additional information before acting Adopt another approach A clear request makes it easier for decision-makers to understand what you want them to consider. Understand the policy or proposal Review the current policy and the proposed change. Identify: What would change Who would be affected When the change would take effect Which agency or institution would implement it What decision the hearing body actually has authority to make Use current official information when possible. Avoid basing testimony on summaries or social-media claims when the original proposal, bill, regulation, budget, or policy document is available. Connect your experience to the policy Explain the connection directly. For example: Because the last evening bus leaves before my shift ends, I currently spend substantially more on transportation several nights each week. Extending Route 6 until 11 p.m. would allow me and other evening-shift workers to use the public transportation system we already rely on. Specific examples usually communicate more clearly than broad statements such as “this policy is terrible” or “this policy will help everyone.” Add evidence when it strengthens the testimony Relevant information may include: Local data Government reports Peer-reviewed research Program records Surveys Public records Other documented community experiences Use evidence to clarify the issue rather than overwhelm the testimony with numbers. If you include a statistic, make sure it is current, relevant, and accurately represented. Distinguish experience from broader claims It is appropriate to say: This is what happened to me. Be more cautious with claims such as: This policy affects everyone the same way. If you want to describe a broader pattern, support that claim with additional evidence when possible. Use other people's stories responsibly Do not share another person's identifiable experience without permission. If someone has agreed to let you describe their experience, make sure they understand: Where the testimony will be given Whether the meeting will be recorded or livestreamed Whether testimony will become part of the public record What personal information may become publicly searchable When possible, people directly affected should have the opportunity to tell their own stories if they want to do so. Protect your own privacy Public testimony may become permanently available through: Meeting recordings Government websites Meeting minutes Public-records requests News coverage Social media Decide in advance how much personal information you are comfortable sharing. You generally do not need to disclose every detail of your: Health Disability Immigration status Finances Family circumstances Employment Housing situation Share only what is relevant and what you are comfortable making public. Organize your testimony A simple structure is: Identify yourself and your relevant connection to the issue. State the policy or decision you are addressing. Explain briefly how it affects you or your community. Provide one or two specific examples or supporting facts. State clearly what action you want the decision-making body to take. Thank the body for considering your testimony. Example Good evening. My name is Jordan Lee, and I live in Ward 4. I am asking the council to support the proposed evening transit pilot. I work until 10 p.m., but the last bus near my workplace leaves before my shift ends. When I cannot get a ride, I have to pay substantially more for another form of transportation. The city's own ridership report shows that several major employers on this corridor operate evening shifts. Extending service on a trial basis would allow the city to determine whether later service improves access for workers. Please support the pilot and include evening riders in its evaluation. Thank you for the opportunity to comment. Know the hearing rules Public-comment procedures vary widely. Before the meeting, check: Whether advance registration is required Whether speakers sign up online or at the meeting The speaking time limit Whether written testimony may also be submitted Whether virtual or telephone participation is available Whether exhibits, photographs, slides, or handouts are permitted Whether the meeting will be recorded Whether accessibility accommodations are available Whether interpretation or language access can be requested Do not assume that testimony will always be limited to two or three minutes. Use the actual time limit provided by the decision-making body. Practice before you speak Practice can help you determine whether the testimony: Fits the time limit Has a clear main point Explains the connection between your experience and the policy Makes a specific request Uses understandable language You may practice by: Reading aloud Recording yourself Practicing with another person Timing the testimony Reviewing a written outline You do not need to memorize the testimony. Reading from notes or prepared remarks may be the best option for some speakers, especially when accuracy, accessibility, anxiety, language, or a strict time limit is a concern. Know your audience without manipulating it It can help to understand: Which body is making the decision What authority it has What questions members have already raised What evidence has already been presented What legal or budget constraints apply Do not build testimony around stereotypes about the political, religious, racial, economic, or cultural identity of the audience. For example, knowing that a district is politically conservative or progressive does not tell you how every resident or official will understand a particular policy. Present the strongest relevant evidence and explain your values transparently rather than searching for an audience's supposed “weak link.” Emotion and personal testimony Personal testimony may naturally involve strong emotion. You do not need to remove emotion from your story in order to be credible. At the same time, the goal should not be to deliberately intensify the audience's emotions or use graphic material primarily for shock value. Photographs, documents, or other exhibits may be appropriate when they provide relevant evidence and the hearing rules allow them. Use them because they help establish or explain the issue, not simply because they are emotionally powerful. What do you do at a hearing? Arrive or log in early Give yourself enough time to: Complete registration Find the meeting room Test virtual meeting technology Request any available accommodations Review the agenda and public-comment rules Listen to other speakers Listen respectfully to people who support, oppose, or approach the issue differently. If another speaker already made the same point, you may briefly reinforce it and use your remaining time to add something new. Follow the meeting's procedure When recognized: State your name if required Provide any required residency or organizational information Address the body according to its rules Speak into the microphone or remain unmuted when instructed Stay within the allotted time You do not need to make eye contact with every member of the body or direct all remarks to the person seated in the center. Focus on communicating clearly in whatever way is comfortable and accessible to you. Tell your story clearly Explain: Your connection to the issue What happened or what you expect to happen How the policy affects you Why that effect matters What action you are requesting Do not feel obligated to perform emotion Some people speak emotionally. Others speak calmly, read prepared remarks, use an interpreter, communicate through an assistive device, or provide written testimony. None of these approaches makes the person's experience inherently more or less legitimate. Stay respectful without minimizing disagreement Strong disagreement is appropriate. Focus on: The policy The decision The evidence The effects The requested change Avoid personal attacks on other speakers or decision-makers. End with the request Before your time ends, state clearly what you want the body to do. Then thank the members for considering your testimony. Written testimony Some hearings allow or require written testimony. Written testimony can be useful when: Speaking time is very short You need to include detailed evidence You cannot attend the hearing Speaking publicly is difficult or inaccessible You want the complete argument included in the record A written submission may be longer than oral testimony if the hearing rules allow it. Put the main request near the beginning and organize supporting information clearly. Virtual testimony When testimony is given online or by telephone: Test the technology in advance Use the name required by the meeting platform Keep your notes easily visible Mute yourself until recognized Have a backup plan if the connection fails Submit written testimony as well if the process permits it After the hearing Depending on the issue, you may: Submit requested documentation Send written testimony for the record Follow the decision or vote Thank staff who helped with the process Correct an important factual error if the procedure allows it Continue participating in later hearings or implementation processes Keep a copy of your testimony and any supporting evidence. In Summary Personal testimony gives people directly affected by public decisions an opportunity to explain how those decisions operate in everyday life. Begin with your own experience and identify the specific policy or decision you are addressing. Explain clearly how the policy affects you and what action you want decision-makers to take. Use relevant evidence when it strengthens or clarifies your account. Personal experience can demonstrate what happened to one person; additional evidence may be needed to establish how widespread a problem is. Protect your privacy and obtain permission before sharing another person's identifiable story. Check the hearing's current rules, including registration, time limits, submission procedures, accessibility, interpretation, and virtual-participation options. Practice enough to communicate the main point within the available time, but do not feel that you must memorize your remarks. Understand the decision-making body and the policy context without relying on stereotypes about the audience or trying to exploit supposed political weaknesses. Emotion may naturally be part of testimony, but it should not be manufactured for effect. Speak, read, sign, use an interpreter, communicate through assistive technology, or submit written testimony in whatever accepted format allows you to participate effectively. Listen respectfully to other participants and focus disagreement on policies, evidence, and consequences rather than personal attacks. Finally, end with a clear request. The purpose of personal testimony is not simply to persuade through emotion or show decision-makers how “average Americans” feel. It is to bring lived experience into public decision-making so that policies can be evaluated with a fuller understanding of how they affect the people and communities involved. Resources Online Resources Storytelling, from Frameworks Institute, is designed to help advocates distinguish between more and less effective ways of establishing a narrative that sets up policy thinking. Testifying Before Lawmakers provides a variety of resources including information on preparing your testimony, delivering your testimony, and distributing your testimony. Video: How words change minds: The science of storytelling In his talk, Nat Kendall-Taylor, PhD, breaks down the science of framing for philanthropy and nonprofit communications. He explores how people think about social issues and how advocates, experts, and strategic communications professionals can use an understanding of culture, storytelling, and science to communicate about social and scientific issues, shape policy, and lead change. Video: The power of the personal voice in media advocacy, from the Berkeley Media Studies Group, shares three steps that advocates can take to get better at articulating the problems in their communities and what can be done to address them. What is advocacy? is from the National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship Print Resources Seekins, T., & Fawcett., S. (no date) A guide for personal testimony: The art of using your personal experiences to influence policy decisions [Brochure]. Research and Training Center on Independent Living. Lawrence, KS.
