Welcome to the SABE Website!
Self Advocates Becoming Empowered (SABE) is the self-advocacy organization of the United States. Founded in 1990, we have been working hard for the full inclusion of people with developmental disabilities in the community throughout the 50 states and the world for 20 years. Our non-profit advocacy organization is run by a board of self-advocates representing 9 regions of the country.
Current SABE News
The 2010 National SABE Conference will be held in Kansas City, MO September 23-26. You won't want to miss it!
Click here to visit the conference website and stay up to date on the latest details! Be sure to sign up for e-mail updates on the conference!
- Click here to read the SUMMER issue of Self Advocacy Nation!
Roland Johnson Award
.gif)
SABE is now accepting nominations for the 2010 Roland Johnson Award!
Roland Johnson was an outspoken person and leader in our national self-advocacy movement. SABE gives the Roland Johnson Award to honor a self-advocate for his or her hard work in the self-advocacy movement. To download the form to nominate someone for this award, click here. Fill out the form online here.
Nominations are due by August 31, 2010!
Current SABE Surveys
- Survey on Self Determination: Fill out SABE's latest survey on self determination in your state!
- Survey on Employment and People with Disabilities: Help us work to improve employment for people with disabilities.
Hot Topics
From Chester Finn, President of Self-Advocates Becoming Empowered
In honor of Craig Smith, self-advocate leader from Mass Advocates Standing Strong
I’ve know Craig for a long time. Way before SABE. I’ve known him from the days when Craig and I were on a self-advocacy committee for AAIDD. Well now they are called American Association for Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities. But back in those days they used the MR word. Craig and I tried to get them to change the name back in those days and get more self-advocates on their board. But back then they would not put people on the board they had that self-advocacy committee instead.
Craig and I used to talk about sports and different things than self-advocacy. He was a friend. But he loved his Boston team and that was fine with me as long they were beating the Yankees.
I remember one time I came to a MASS conference and Craig and Liz and Ann met me at the station and helped get to the hotel. They were very supportive.
Craig was a great leader. He wanted to make sure that the voice of self-advocates was heard on a national level as well as in the states. Craig was not afraid to speak up to authority and question what was going on. I don’t think Mass Advocates Standing Strong would be where they are today without Craig’s leadership. Craig was always telling a joke, lifting people’s spirits. We are going to miss him and miss his leadership.
On Behalf of SABE we want all self-advocates and their families to know we are sorry for your loss.