Cherie Tessier and Katchen Helwig of Region 1 representing Alaska,
Idaho,Montana, Oregon, Washington report the following: People First
of Washington has been working on two training programs that help people
to be stronger self-advocates. These videos are called, “Mixed Voices”
and “Reaching My Own Greatness”. Our convention is set for October
. Two of Washington State’s institutions are in trouble with the Dept.
of Justice for the following misconduct: 5000 hours in restraints, 72 abuses,
37 requiring stitches, 2 having amputees of their fingers. Self-determination
trainings are being conducted throughout the state. Alaska reports that People
First of Alaska had a booth at Summer Solstice in June where we sold t-shirts.
Members marched in the parade. The Advisory Board developed goals and we
have been working on organizing and assigning tasks to meet the goals. We
planned a trip to Kodiak for going to workshops. We decided as a group to
do two things a year that doesn’t have anything to do with People First.
We started computer classes. We meet on Thursdays to work on tasks, such
as planning for conferences. We plan to have an open house this winter to
encourage new members to join. We will advertise on T.V. and newspapers for
this event.
Teresa Moore of Region 2 representing Hawaii, California, Arizona, and
Nevada, reports: Our regional representatives have been asked to participate
in the planning of a western states conference. Details will be available
soon. States within this region are encouraged to contact Theresa at
pfaz@juno.com. Arizona is discussing what it would take to become our own
state-wide organization. We had our first election in September.
Beverly Stevens of Region 3 representing New Mexico, Utah, Colorado and
Wyoming, reports the following: Several chapters in Wyoming are very
active with presentations, trainings and conferences. Beverly is working
on trying to get all of the states within the region to come together for
regional meetings. In New Mexico, there are three active chapters with the
strongest being in Albuquerque. In the state of Utah, we are beginning to
make contact about their self-advocacy activities. We hope to improve our
connections there.
Joe Wrinkle of Region 4 representing Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, North
Dakota and South Dakota reports the following: Grants have been awarded
to People First in Kansas to hold statewide trainings, to start up new chapters,
and develop a website. We are setting up meetings on-line at a Region 4 website
at www.moddrc.com. Call 800-444-0821 if you need help getting on-line or
getting into the conference area. In Missouri, members of People First have
received leadership training and are now on boards of directors of several
agencies. There are 7 VISTA members on board for the next year. They will
help to establish new chapters and a training manual.We are holding a joint
conference with MO-TASH in February in Kansas City. In Nebraska, People First
is winding up a 3 year project to reorganize and strengthen the self-advocacy
movement in the state. The theme of the statewide conference in Nebraska
this October is “Celebrating 25 Years of Self-Advocacy and Beyond.”
North Dakota People First is now a newly-formed non-profit agency.
Elouise Woods of Region 6 representing Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi,
Tennessee, Kentucky, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Florida reports
that Representatives from People First of Alabama attended the Southeast
Regional Self-Determination Conference in Greensboro, North Carolina in September
to make a presentation. People First of Alabama is working hard to support
the local and state chapter. We supported the memory of Bonita Scott of Tennessee
and People First of Tennessee by going to her funeral and sending flowers.
Bonita was a strong leader in the self-advocacy movement and she will be
greatly missed. We have been busy making presentations about self-determination,
leadership and self-advocacy.
David Young of Region 7 representing West Virginia, Maryland and
Virginia reports that he wrote a letter introducing himself to self-advocacy
organizations in West Virginia, parts of Maryland and Virginia. This mailing
introduced him and his role as representative for the region and gave information
about the National Conference in Providence as well as the Self-Determination
conference which was scheduled for September (but was cancelled due to Hurricane
Floyd). He will continue to do these mailings and try and make contact with
these groups. David represents SABE at the People First of Virginia state
board meetings and our chapters.
Mary Varney and Keira Williams of Region 8 representing Maine, New Hampshire,
Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut and New York have the
following reports: Our region is extremely proud to report that we have recently
had our third REGION 8 meeting!! We did initially meet in Alaska in 1998,
then in Massachusetts in the fall of ‘98. In April of this year we met
in Rhode Island and in October, we met in New Hampshire. We have about 30
people from throughout our region gather together and develop our REGION
8 ACTION PLAN. A couple of the things which we are working on include better
communication between states, input to the work of SABE, and finding funding
to allow us to keep meeting. We are also getting ready to help Rhode Island
with the National Conference 2000. We have great fun and are excited about
what we have accomplished. Our states are doing the following: The Self-Advocacy
Association of New York State decided to focus on three main areas. These
are: 1. To continue to strengthen our development and support of local and
regional self-advocacy group. 2. Ensuring that New York State continues to
expand self-determination opportunities for people who want to create the
life they want. 3. Continue to develop and expand our AmeriCorps Project.
The Project is called “Our Experience is the Best Teacher”. We
had our statewide conference in September with the theme being “Dream
it, Do it”. Rhode Island’s Advocates in Action reports that they
have been busy this past year with planning the National Conference, of course!
They also find time to give presentations about self-advocacy at conferences
and individualized training sessions. Advocates in Action has a project called
“This Is Us”, a disability awareness project in the schools. They
also had a successful turnout with their Trade Show, where people come to
see small businesses, cottage industries and technical devices so that they
can decide on services that they need. Advocates in Action also sent many
people to attend a disability rights rally in Washington, D.C. last May.
Maine’s Speaking Up For Us is hoping to send 2 people to Chicago TASH
to present. We sent representatives to the Rhode Island statewide conference.
We are having a statewide conference in October. Five people from Speaking
Up For Us went to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania for the Self-Determination
Conference. We learned how to be on our own. We are also working with a team
to help get better counselors and services for people who have been abused.
In Connecticut, People First self-advocates have been working hard at organizing
a board of directors meeting to discuss upcoming events. In addition to the
state conference in October, Connecticut has been testifying in court to
CLOSE THE DOORS of our institutions. One of our People First officers has
been chosen to be on the U.S. President’s Committee and this is a huge
honor for our group. Many of our members attended the Philadelphia
Self-Determination Conference. People First of New Hampshire also attended
and presented at the 11-state Self-Determination Conference in Philadelphia
this past June. One of New Hampshire’s Chapter presented work that they
have been doing around community organizing and the establishment of LifeArt.
A People First of NH committee also presented the “Who Decides?”
Survey work that has been a major part of the self-determination project
in this state. The board of directors had a retreat in the spring to celebrate
our new publication Large Pepperoni Pizza With An Advisor on the Side: How
to Hire, Supervise and Train Your Advisor. The board experienced a rope challenge
course to help people learn to work together. Elections were held during
our October statewide conference, which was a huge success. |
