| Dear Everyone,
I'm going to do a tribute about Justin Dart. He was the father of the ADA.
Back in the early '90's, SABE had a meeting together at Wingspread to strategize
what issues to work on. Justin was present for that meeting. It wasn't until
last December that I heard Justin's reaction to that meeting when Janet
Hunt-Hawkins and I had dinner with Justin in DC. He talked about that particular
meeting at Wingspread. He said he had doubts about that first meeting. He
said it blew his mind about people with disabilities. It really opened his
heart to see people with cognitive disabilities run the meeting and talk
about important issues having impact on our lives. And also to prioritize
what issues to work on. It really helped him realize that he had to change
his expectations and attitude about people with cognitive disabilities. He
could see Nancy Ward and Tia Nelis lead the discussion with SABE and talk
about the national movement with self-advocates.
At dinner with Justin, we also talked about the ADA and how he went about
state by state to get the ADA passed and educate people to get it passed.
We had opportunity to visit his home - it's like a museum. All over his walls
are pictures of people: people with and without disabilities and people with
politicians—all kind of leaders all over the country and world.
One of the things that is very touching for me is that I got to get to know
him better. We had the opportunity to be with Justin and learn from him what
he sees in the future of the self-advocacy movement. We need to encourage
people to move on. We need to encourage people to speak up for themselves
and believe in themselves. Lead on.
I received a letter from Justin's wife, Yoshiko Dart, since Justin died.
She wrote: "Dear James...Enclosed is a copy of the "Toward the Individualized
Empowerment for All" which Justin wanted to dedicate to you. He worked on
this document from his bed every day—until his last days. In this document,
Justin calls for solidarity among all who love justice, all who love life,
to create a revolution that will empower every single human being to govern
his or her life, to govern the society and to be fully productive of life
quality for self and for all. I hope you will join his final actions thunder
of love, solidarity, protest—of empowerment…."
In closing, we need our new leaders and we need to lead on and speak for
ourselves. I have decided not to run for my second term for Chair of SABE.
I've decided to let someone else have opportunity to run for Chair because
I believe we need to share the power. In Justin's message, we need to have
other leaders to lead on. We have other good leaders around the country to
lead self-advocates, to let go of the power and to do the next steps for
the self-advocacy movement.
James Meadours Chair, SABE Region Reports:
Region 1 – Katchen Helwig announced that she no longer attends
the regional meetings because she has other commitments. She is not sure
whether they are still meeting or not, the attendance has been very low.
Teresa Moore has received a request for information from the people in Alaska,
maybe they are trying to re-organize. Donna Lowary reported that Mike Rogers
is working to build the connection between Washington State and Idaho. Teresa
reported that Oregon has a thriving self-advocacy group "Self-Advocates as
Leaders" and they are using the My Voice, My Choice curriculum and also working
on self-determination initiatives. Katchen stated that she will be reporting
to the Self-Advocates in Alaska about the SABE meetings. Katchen also announced
that she will only be coming to two SABE meetings per year instead of four.
Region 2 – Joseph Buchroeder reported that the regional centers
are working on a "Butterfly" project which is helping individuals move out
of institutions and have also received a continuation of the self-determination
project. Progress is slow. People First of California just received a grant
to expand self-advocacy groups and to conduct trainings. Teresa Moore stated
that she is working with People First of Northern California doing some board
training. She will also be working with People First of Southern California
and will be presenting at their conference on patriotism. People First of
Arizona is writing a grant proposal to do outreach and leadership development.
They are hoping to have 12 VISTA volunteers to assist with this.
Region 3 – Beverly Stevens reported that Wyoming finally has
a Partners in Policymaking program! Beverly is assisting with it and everyone
is very excited about it. People First of Wyoming are working together, setting
up committees and are communicating with each other more. In Utah, Jason
Jones is getting married, he is a well known self-advocate. He has said that
he wants to help Wyoming get started using the My Voice, My Choice training.
Ben Borroel announced that in New Mexico they have 8 local self-advocacy
groups. They also have 35 people coming to the National Conference in Buffalo.
They will be holding a protest against Greyhound bus lines in Denver because
of lack of accessibility. He also announced that there is a new People First
Chapter in Provo, Utah sponsored by the Arc.
Western Regional Meeting - Beverly reported that in November 2001 there was
a meeting held in conjunction with the NADDC, National Association of
Developmental Disabilities Councils. There were 43 self-advocates in attendance;
the majority of the people were from California, also some from Idaho, Arizona,
Washington State, Wyoming, Colorado and Utah. One activity was to talk about
people's strengths. Each person was asked what his or her states' were doing
about self-determination. The DD Council is sponsoring a Youth Leadership
Forum in Wyoming and they are using self-advocates as trainers and mentors.
Region 4 - No report.
Region 5 - Betty Williams reported that the Self-Advocates in Indiana
are training other self-advocates on board participation. They are participating
in an institution closing initiative as well.
Region 6 – Elouise Woods reported that Alabama People First is
re-organizing and working on voter registration and working on a grant from
the Kennedy Foundation. Alabama received a grant to help organize the local
chapters; they will pay for someone to work with People First. There will
be a small People First state conference in December. The Southern Collaborative
is scheduling a meeting in Louisiana. Edward reported that there was a Kentucky
meeting about self-determination and micro-boards. Edward Sewell is on the
Micro-board Advisory board. Mississippi is sending someone to Project Leadership
to represent the statewide self-advocacy organization. South Carolina does
not have any self-advocacy organizations. North Carolina has several local
chapters.
Region 7 – Bill Byrne passed out their regional newsletter. They
hosted a regional meeting and they are trying to get other states to host
them in the future. The state of Maryland self-advocacy group is planning
a conference for June.
Region 8 – Sandy Houghton reported that Connecticut continues
to put pressure on the state to close Southbury. Maine self-advocates were
denied the right to vote so they got together and took this issue to court
and won the case. Bob Kafka from ADAPT is coming to meet with the Green Mountain
Self-Advocates to conduct a training on self-advocacy and how to talk to
Senators. New York is working on the issue of institutionalization of young
children. New Hampshire had a board retreat and came up with a plan to reach
their dreams. Massachusetts has held Olmstead hearings around the state and
hope to have a plan to present to the Governor in July. Rhode Island is working
on a training packet for self-advocates. Region 8 produced a video at the
regional meeting to talk directly with the SABE board about their regional
issues. Carol and Sandy showed the video.
Region 9 - Julie Petty reported that in Arkansas they have developed
a training called "Planting Your Roots" about starting self-advocacy chapters.
They are also raising money for people to go to the National Conference in
Buffalo. Arkansas People First has been asked to train Legislators about
self-advocacy. James reported that the Louisiana state organization is now
5 months old. Some people in Texas are interested in self-advocacy. Oklahoma
is working with the state Legislature.
Committee Reports:
By-Laws Committee
The By-Laws Committee has been busy at work with revising several parts of
the document to make it more understandable for everyone, such as information
about the expectations and selection of advisors, the alternates, and duties
of representatives.
Finance Committee
The finance committee has a challenging job of keeping our budget in balance
and has been trying to come up with ways to fund SABE's activities through
grant writing and other projects.
Grassroots Committee
The Grassroots committee conducted a survey last winter across the United
States to find out self-advocate's priority issues on a local and state level.
The committee continues to work with the results of this survey and putting
it together to develop and revise SABE's plan. The Open The Doors Committee
has now been combined with the Grassroots Committee.
Legislative Committee
This committee has been working to prepare an educational briefing to be
delivered in Washington, D.C. this summer.
Public Relations Committee
This committee has worked on the finishing touches of a new booklet to be
printed called "Sticks & Stones" about using correct and friendly language
about all people.
Other topics of interest:
Defining more clearly the role of advisors
The need to raise money for representatives to attend meetings
The national conference in Buffalo, NY
Shuffle Off To Buffalo - Share The Spirit!
Q: What is Share the Spirit ?
A: Share the Spirit is the 6th National Self-Advocacy Conference. It's the
conference for Self-Advocates Becoming Empowered (SABE) held every two years.
SABE is the National self-advocacy organization.
Self-Advocacy Association of NY, Inc. (SANYS) is the host of the 2002 conference.
Q: When is Share the Spirit ?
A: Share the Spirit begins on Thursday, September 19, 2002 with an opening
ceremony in the evening. It runs through Sunday, September 22, 2002.
Q: Where is Share the Spirit ?
Share the Spirit will take place in Buffalo, New York. It will be held at
the Adams Mark Hotel.
There are about 1200 people expected at the national conference!
Thank you Self-Advocacy Association of NY (SANYS)!!
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