SABE Self Advocacy Conference

How can you keep the Self Advocacy Movement going?

Have Regional Conference or meeting?

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 information about SABE projects and activities

SABE 2020

The nest national conference will be in October 2018 in Denver, Colorado! 

[raquo] View 2018 SABE Conference Packet [Word Document]

SABE Executive Committee & Advisors

2014 Voters with Disabilities Election Report

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.

[raquo] Read the 2014 Election Report [Word Document]

VOTE Project Distance Training Webinars

Shout out to the 2016 Distance training state groups from Mississippi, New Mexico, New York, Oklahoma, and Oregon.

SABE Voter Project goes Tech

Special thanks to Alabama, Arizona, Florida, and Maryland for joining us this on the vote project.  Technology can never replace face to face meetings or trainings, but we can have a great learning experience when you have caring and passionate people working together.

SABE vote project presenting using GoToWebinar.
The Alabama staff from the Protection and Advocacy joining in on the Distance Learning Webinar.
Vote project Candy activity.

SABE Voter project 2014

2014 was SABE’s first year training self advocacy groups and their P&A organizations.  States that participated were Maine, South Carolina, and Wisconsin.

Self advocacy groups and their P&A organizations.

SABE’s My Technology Handbook

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.

Download the My Technology Handbook, to begin your journey in the world of technology! This version allows for screen readers to be used.

[raquo] Download the user-friendly version with “graphics” of the SABE My Technology Handbook.