| Project Leadership
By James Meadours, Chairperson
This is a very historic moment in our self-advocacy movement because up until
now, parents and self-advocates did not work together except through Partners
in Policymaking or sometimes in state legislative advocacy. Now we want to
build our allies so that we support each other. Not to take control, just
to give real support for what we want in our lives.
I am very excited about Project Leadership, which has been funded by the
Administration on Developmental Disabilities to help self-advocates and family
members to understand what is going on in Washington, D.C. Historically,
only professionals and their organizations did the talking for us and our
family members. Lately, the Voice of the Retarded (VOR) has been effective
in telling members of Congress how they feel about the needs of their sons
and daughters. But this organization doesn't speak for us. They do not agree
with what we want - the freedom to live in the community, authority to make
decisions for ourselves and to spend money the way we want, the support we
need to be successful, and the responsibility to give back to our communities,
help others learn to speak-up for themselves so they will become self-determined
individuals. Project Leadership will help you to tell the federal government
your hopes and dreams for yourself and your family members. It will also
help you to gain confidence in yourself and to realize that you can make
a difference, not just for yourself but for other people. It will do
this by training you in three week-long sessions in Washington, D.C. The
training will give you confidence that what you have to say, no matter how
you may communicate, is important and that it can affect many lives.
It will teach you to communicate effectively about your ideas, so that you
can be heard at the local, state and national levels. It completes the circle
that started when you got involved in a self- advocacy or family group.
The great thing about Project Leadership is that Self Advocates Becoming
Empowered are partnering with Community Options, the National Parent Network
on Disabilities, and the National Program Office on Self-Determination. This
is a real partnership, not just in name only. We work together on all aspects
of the project, and each of the partners also has their own activities and
tasks to complete. We are all very committed to making this work. We would
like to see a nationwide group of trained leaders, self-advocates and family
members together. We would like to help new leaders to emerge, and we would
like to see them learn how to work with each other to make change happen
at the national level. We have listed some of the things Self Advocates Becoming
Empowered has done so far on this project (which began in October, 1999).
Please join us!
SABE Accomplishments in Project Leadership:
Self Advocates Becoming Empowered identified and provided information on
six self-advocates to serve on the Policy Board for Project Leadership. These
individuals were: Tia Nelis, Cherie Tessier, Edward Sewell, Nancy Ward, David
Young, Joe Wrinkle.
Background information was provided in the following areas, state of residence,
ethnic origin, disability, leadership experience in the self advocacy movement,
experience and knowledge of self determination and leadership training
experiences.
SABE Project Leadership Coordinator, Self Advocate Liaison, and Chairperson
participated in two conference calls, 10/8/99, 12/22/99 and in one meeting
in Washington D.C. 10/21/99 with other project management staff. SABE Chairperson
James Meadours attended a meeting on 2/9/00 with Project Leadership partners.
On 2/10/00 he, along with the other partners, met with Administration on
Developmental Disabilities Commissioner Sue Swenson and Executive Directors
of the National Association of Developmental Disabilities Councils and American
Association of University Affiliated Programs.
SABE selected Chester Finn from New York as the Self Advocate Liaison
for the project with James Meadours, SABE Chairperson as backup. Vicki
Hicks Turnage was chosen by SABE as Project Leadership Coordinator.
SABE drafted an application for people who would like to be participants
in the training sessions which was adopted by the project partners for
distribution. SABE sent out the application in their Newsletter and posted
it on their web page.
A conference call was held with Tom Nerney, National Office on
Self-Determination, Chester Finn, Tia Nelis, James Meadours, Bonnie Shoultz,
Mary Hayden, Jean Bowen and Vicki Turnage to develop a tentative outline
for the self-determination training. This was done as we had a deadline for
our first draft of January 15. SABE completed the outline and chose the materials
to be used at our Board Meeting in Baton Rouge.
SABE sent out requests to self advocacy organizations and other organizations
for information on areas of training to be used in modules for the sessions
in Washington. Specific requests were made for self-determination materials
developed with the input of self-advocates. We received responses from 13
different groups. SABE is in process of developing resource listings for
the project, which will include materials, on-line resources, and speakers
for training events.
SABE Public Relations committee has developed a plan for coordination with
other partners. This includes linking our web site to Advocate Central a
discussion board located at www.self-determination.org. Self-advocates and
parents can now talk about self-determination and self-advocacy.
We have also reviewed all applications from self-advocates across the nation
and have made our recommendation on the selections of the participants.
Regional Reports:
Cherie Tessier and Katchen Helwig of Region 1 representing Alaska, Idaho,
Montana, Oregon, Washington. Cherie Tessier of Washington reports: “We
are one of the sponsors of the next International Self-Determination Conference
that will be held in Seattle the end of July 2000. We are continuing our
inclusion training, ‘Mixed Voices’, in three communities with a
grant from the DDC. Reaching My Own Greatness continues to grow - this is
our self-determination training. We are going to begin our next training
class in July.” Katchen Helwig of Alaska reports: We had a retreat to
go back to the beginning of what is People First goals and purpose because
after the [International] Conference we had, all we did was have our board
meetings and didn’t do much of anything. We basically had a retreat
to get us back on track and get back on the ball. Some topics were membership,
give people a reason to join People First, and how to go more public and
let Anchorage know who we are and what our purpose is. There were other themes
and topics we agreed on doing. Each of us have a job to do now. We just have
to follow through with what we were assigned.
Teresa Moore and Joseph Buchroeder of Region 2 representing Hawaii,
California, Arizona, and Nevada. Teresa Moore reports: Arizona is doing
a Collaborative Self Advocacy Conference with our Arc Oasis and People First
groups. Self Advocates will do the workshops. Arizona is working with our
Division on the continuation of our Self Determination Project, ‘This
Is My Live” and establishing an office of Advocacy, Self Determination.
In-Kind Supports are in place for copies and mailing. People First of Arizona
is becoming an independent state organization this year. Its new board is
working out the details of by-laws and getting a business structure together.
We have applied for our first national grant. Also developing our second
statewide strategic (long-term) goal plan. Major issue is having legal support
for group members with guardianship, parents with disability rights, and
hearings for health care.. Board members are traveling to our DD districts
and offering self-advocacy and leadership too. California says good-bye to
a dear friend and advisor, Bob Little who truly believed in supporting
self-advocates. Preparing for a California Conference in June. A major issue
in California is that many institutions are still open and also dealing with
a complex service system.
Beverly Stevens and Noel Rasband of Region 3 representing New Mexico,
Utah, Colorado and Wyoming. Colorado - Speaking For Ourselves developed
a questionnaire for the local chapters asking them about problems they
are having attending out-of-town meetings. Their “Close The
Doors” Committee is continuing to keep up with the status of remaining
folks who are living in institutions in Colorado. The State Legislature
has had to set back the year of complete closure because the state employees
union and a group of parents felt that the community services and community
resources could not take care of people in a safe manner. The Colorado Springs
group is working with the Housing Advocacy organization. They have taken
part in protests and spoken with civic leaders about the problems poor people
are having when there is a shortage of low income housing. The Denver group
is also involved with low income housing. They have attended coalition meetings
and city council meetings to testify for the needs of low income and homeless
people. New Mexico - From People First of Albuquerque 1. Marilyn Martinez
attended the Arc of the United States Annual Conventions in Nashville, Tennessee.
In one session Marilyn let everyone know that she did not like the words
“mentally retarded” and all her peers clapped for her. 2. Jon Peterson
attended and presented, with Arc staff Mike Allen and Doris Husted, at the
Western Regional Conference on Self-Determination. 3. Members testified at
an Albuquerque City Council Meeting in support of a bill to expand bussing
services. Their comments were well received by the counselors and the bill
passed with some changes. 4. Members Karl McKibben, Jon Peterson and Marilyn
Martinez were trained as interviewers for the Advocates Alliance Project.
6. With the help from the Arc, has applied for the grant from the Catholic
Campaign for Human Development. The goal is a self-determination pilot in
New Mexico. Self-Advocacy Leadership Institute will be held at the Arc of
New Mexico/SUN-TASH Annual Convention May 4-5,2000. The Institute is sponsored
by the New Mexico Department of Health, Long Term Services Division. The
planning committee is made up of PFA members Karl McKibben, Jon Peterson,
Julie Alger, Marilyn Martinez and Phylisha Martinez. Debby Allen, Mike
Allen’s daughter from Colorado, is serving as a consultant for the event.
Topics to be covered include Public Speaking, Rights and Responsibilities,
Community Organizing, The Criminal Justice System, and How to Serve on Boards.
Self-Advocates who attend the institute will receive a certificate. Self-Advocate
Statewide Conference is scheduled for Saturday, March 4, in Las Cruces. The
event is sponsored by the New Mexico Department of Health Long Term Services
Division. Guest Speaker is Tia Nellis. Freedom Day is an event where people
with disabilities meet at the State Capital in Santa Fe to let their voices
be heard. This year the event will happen on Tuesday, February 8. PFA members
are planning to attend. For more information call Mike Allen at the Arc.
Five members attended. The State Fair Commission is currently putting together
an advisory group to address issues concerning people with disabilities and
accessibility. Unfortunately, People First was not included on their list
of organizations. However, we will be writing a letter to the commission
demanding that Jon Peterson and/or Augie Gorman be included on the advisory
group. Utah - The Arc of Utah has been supporting self-advocacy group efforts
around the state. We have a number of groups who are doing different pieces
of self-advocacy, not always in a formal way. We have some consumer advisory
councils that are sponsored by the Division of Services for People with
Disabilities. We have some groups that are sponsored by private providers.
Some are sponsored by local chapters of the Arc. Still others are working
on their own. On Saturday, January 29, The Arc of Utah sponsored a self-advocacy
summit to try to better coordinate these efforts. It wasn't as well attended
as we had hoped, but everyone agreed that it is important we find out what
each other are doing so we will be trying to host more of these in the future.
The Arc of Utah also has a grant from the Division of Services for People
with Disabilities to help four self-advocacy groups get started during the
coming year. Under this grant the Arc and its self-advocate project coordinator,
Tom Brownlee, will train core self advocates (cabinet members) and their
friends or circles of support in self-advocacy skills. The following day
these individuals and their circles will train other self advocates and their
circles of support. These persons will then be encouraged to form self-advocacy
groups. The Arc will provide temporary mentors/advisors until the groups
either recruit their own advisors or state that they no longer need any support.
The self advocates at the summit voted on where they believe the Arc should
use its resources to start these groups. During the coming year the Arc will
work in Brigham City, Salt Lake City, Roosevelt and Cedar City to start
self-advocacy groups. There are already groups operating in Logan and St.
George. It was also agreed that the Arc will provide some ongoing help and
support for these groups. We are excited by the possibilities for
these groups and the other self-advocacy efforts that are taking place
around the state. Anyone who is interested in further information can
call Tom Brownlee at (801) 364-5060 or Noel Rasbund at (801) 463-3988.
Wyoming - People First of WY board meeting was held in Jackson, Wyoming
in November 1999. They set up rules for the board meeting, made plans
for the Wyoming People First Conference, voted Sarah Lorentz in as an advisor,
went over to Donya Lamb’s house and watched the video, “Direct
Action” and met with two Self-Advocates at Donya’s house to encourage
them to start Jackson People First chapter. Everything was done but
the updating of the by-laws. People First of Wyoming Conference will in Laramie
- June 2-4, 2000 with the theme being: “Who Is In Charge Of Your
Life?” Karl Williams will be the keynote speaker. Beverly Stevens,
Self-Advocates Specialist has set up training for 5 chapters. Still working
on setting up the other three chapters. The following training is PF
Presentation, Officers/Advisor Training , Grant Training and Self-Advocacy
- 4 Easy Steps Training.
Joe Wrinkle and Mark Samis of Region 4 representing Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska,
North Dakota and South Dakota : Mark Samis reports that they will be in need
of a support person in South Dakota. They are really struggling because the
state ARC is possibly going to close. They are still working on having
more people come to meetings. Joe Wrinkle reports that Missouri is getting
ready for another year of Vista for People First. They have a website,
www.MissouriPeopleFirst.org.
In North Dakota, they are planning a conference that self-advocates can attend,
and they will soon be working on putting together a statewide organization.
They are working on issues like transportation. There is a sense in
the region that other organizations are trying to control the self-advocacy
groups.
Tia Nelis and Gloria Steinbring of Region 5 representing Minnesota, Iowa,
Illinois, Michigan, Indiana, and Ohio reports: Gloria Steinbring reports:
“ACT in Minnesota did Self Advocacy Training in North Carolina on February
9-13. We did four workshops. We did Common Vision eight hours on February
10. We also did Community Organization, Freedom Quality and Justice for All,
and My Choice Your Discussion. Some of the members are doing a two day workshop
in St. Paul, Minnesota in February 2000. They are going to the Capitol.”
Tia Nelis reports: “Illinois is becoming more active in regions now.
They are getting ready for their board meeting with the new board. Had a
training that was great. People First of Washington helped out along with
Joe Meadours. Thank you to all of you for coming and speaking to our
group.”
Elouise Woods and Edward Sewell of Region 6 representing Alabama, Georgia,
Mississippi, Tennessee, Kentucky, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Florida:
“The Southeastern Conference on Self-Determination was held in
Winston/Salem, North Carolina, and had very good attendance - about 675 people
attended. There were thirteen people from Alabama and Leigh Boyce and Jimmy
Cordell attended from Tennessee. Many topics were discussed. The Southern
Collaborative, which includes Alabama, Georgia, and Tennessee made presentations
about how it used to be and how it can be now. Elouise Woods (Alabama) met
with representatives of Self Advocacy organizations in North Carolina, South
Carolina, Georgia, Tennessee, and Florida to discuss the possibilities of
having regional meetings in the future. We also took this opportunity to
distribute about 150 Project Leadership applications. North Carolina Self
Advocacy Association planned and presented. Georgia People First also helped
organize the conference. Gail Bottoms made several wonderful speeches about
self determination and spoke about the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and
some of its history. South Carolina had several representatives from Columbia
Self Advocacy Chapter. Jimmy Cordell (President - People First of Tennessee)
assisted with many of the presentations at the conference, and also told
his story. Peter Jones (Alabama) told his story about the long road to getting
his own place - he’s not there yet, but people are finally listening
and it should happen for him soon. His main message is “DON’T GIVE
UP!” Lisa Jenkins (Alabama) also told the group about the process of
buying her own three bedroom condominium. In other news, Alabama has finally
settled in the Wyatt Court Case. We are ashamed to say that it was the longest
standing case of its kind in the country, but we’re proud to say that
it will result in the release of 600 people from institutions around the
state. Three hundred will be placed from mental illness facilities, and 300
will be released from mental retardation facilities over the next three years.
All that’s left now is or the judge to accept the terms of the settlement.
The Wyatt settlement does not actually require the closure of institutions
though, so People First of Alabama met to talk about the March for Freedom
planned for April, 2000. Tennessee is planning a March for Freedom around
the capitol building in Nashville in April also. Tennessee held a “Lest
We Forget” board retreat. People First members from all around the state
of Alabama had their annual conference in December at Camp McDowell. Some
of the topics discussed were dating, marriage, home ownership, transportation,
and jobs. A married couple spoke to the group about their new life together.
We elected new officers and set the date of the next statewide People
Fist Conference, which will coincide with the State Arc conference in
Birmingham. People First of Tennessee had a memorial service for Bonita
Scott - she was well-loved and will be missed.”
David Young of Region 7 representing West Virginia, Maryland and
Virginia “We had many Self Advocates who attended the Rally in Richmond
Virginia’s Legislative Hearings on Virginia’s State Budget. Darren
Dixon who is our local People First President of Northern Virginia attended
the Southern Regional Conference on Self Determination in Winston/Salem in
North Carolina. My name is David Young. I am the State Rep. for the Advisory
Committee on Self Determination Grant Project for Virginia.”
Mary Varney and Keira Williams of Region 8 representing Maine, New Hampshire,
Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut and New York: Keira
Williams reports: “People First of Connecticut is going to
be attending a Self Advocacy forum which will give us the chance to
speak to our state legislators - to speak and educate our legislators
on issues concerning people with developmental disabilities. People
First of Connecticut took the holidays off and are now back to work
and have planned our first board of director’s meeting and statewide
meeting of the new millennium. Rhode Island is still really working hard
towards Ride the Wave! Call for Presenters is on course. Advocates In Action
hosted some self advocates who visited from Ohio in January. They visited
to find out some different ways they have managed to work together with family
advocacy organizations, the Division of Developmental Disabilities and other
to support the Self Advocacy Movement. New Hampshire is getting ready for
their Freedom March on April 18, the same day a bill will be heard before
the legislature for keeping institutions closed in NH. Region 8 met again
in the beginning of April in NH. All of the states within the region were
represented for this 2 day event. The meeting was an opportunity to share
the happenings in each state and talk about the region’s relationship
with SABE.
FREEDOM MARCHES across the U.S.A. We are pleased to see that so many
states organized around the closing of institutions and marched at their
capitols. At press time, we knew of the following states who participated
in the Freedom Marches: New Hampshire, Massachusetts, New York, Connecticut,
Ohio, Alabama, Pennsylvania. |
