If you have any problems during your state's 2016 Primary Elections, please click on the following link for information on how to reach someone to assist you.   2016 Primary Hotline Schedule link

Dear State Self Advocacy Organization:

Self Advocates Becoming Empowered (SABE) hopes all is well with you and your organization.  We hope the movement is contagious in your state and that your voices are being heard.

We are unable to do a national conference for 2016.  However, we are encouraging states in each of the SABE 9 regions to have regional meetings.  These meetings can boost the self advocacy movement in your region by getting to know each other better.

What can you do at region conferences or meetings?

This is an opportunity for you to strengthen your state’s base on self advocacy.

• You can ask your regional representative to speak at your meeting
• They can share about SABE, and, what we are doing as a nation on self advocacy

SABE 2018

The national conference will be back on track for 2018!  We look forward to the 2018 National Self Advocacy Conference! We also look forward to hearing all about your regional meeting!

SABE Executive Committee & Advisors

PRESS RELEASE

A new study shows that having a disability is not the problem with voting, it is having the accessible equipment, accessible locations and respect to do so.

Cincinnati, Ohio November 30, 2015 – As the country prepares for the 2016 Presidential Election, how prepared are Election Officials to meet the voting needs of people with disabilities?  A survey conducted by Self Advocates Becoming Empowered (SABE), a national organization lead by people with disabilities for people with disabilities, on the accessibility of the 2014 Election found:

• 27% of voters, who used wheelchairs, had problems moving around the voting area
• 11% of the voters reported poll workers treated them like they were NOT able to vote
• 17% of the voters said the accessible voting machines were not up and running when they arrived at the polling location
• 11% of the voters self-reported they did not know how to operate the accessible equipment
• 21% of the poll workers did not provide clear instructions on how to use the accessible voting equipment
• 19% of voters, who used Absentee Ballots, did so because they felt they could not vote privately at the polling location

The Help America Vote Act (HAVA) passed in 2000 outlines specific regulations that all Elections must follow:

• be held in accessible locations
• use ballots that encourage people to vote rather than discourage
• allow voters to cast their ballot privately and independently

This study finds the greatest barrier to voting for people with disabilities is the lack of knowledge of poll workers.

Click the link to read the 2014 Election Report link

I want to share how my relationship with technology began?  I was so afraid of it; my first couple of computers were given to me when someone was getting a new one. I was told how to turn it on and about some programs or games on it.

I wish we could all learn from a friend who had hundreds of hours to give to us but that is hard to come by.  Next best thing is a book that you can look at that doesn’t rush you. Or expect you to remember but, The My Technology Handbook will ask you make notes to help you remember.

Most of us are not satisfied with a phone that just makes phone calls or a computer that types letters anymore.  We want computers or phones to help us build on personal goals or group goals.  Before you can decide what you want the technology to help you with, you might like to understand how things work and what is possible. The My Technology Handbook will help you understand the very basic words or terms to prepare you for the discussion about what you need.

After reading this I hope you have an experience like I did. Understanding technology and how to use the tools like social media safely to connect with your friends in self advocacy and grow your organization’s partnerships.

The SABE My Technology Handbook answers questions that most of us who are new or just learning about technology ask.  This Handbook uses easy to understand directions and step by step pictures to teach these skills. Remember it was written by people with disabilities for people with disabilities.

You can learn how to find the right computer, tablet, smart phone, apps and programs that will work best for you. Also, you can learn how to stay safe when using the computer, security options and how to use the internet.  Then we have social media (Facebook, Twitter, and Skype) Blogging, Vlogging, Conference Calls, GoToMeeting and Webinars.

Just CLICK on the title, My Technology Handbook, to begin your journey in the world of technology!

   

This version allows for screen readers to be used.

Click here for the user-friendly version with "graphics" of the SABE My Technology Handbook

UPDATE

The next OCSS webinars:

How Can Our Partners Help to Sustain Our Peer to Peer Efforts?  will be Thursday, March 17, 2016 at 3:30 pm EDT

Leadership Training Curriculum will be Thursday, April 21, 2016 at 3:30 pm EDT

If you are interested in finding out more information, please contact Juliana Huerena (prinzjana@aol.com, 602-502-7426).

Click here to see the videos. Learn about the issues that are important to people with disabilities, powerful words of leadership.