Self-Advocacy
Self-Advocacy is About
"...independent groups of people with disabilities working together for justice by helping each other take charge of their lives and to fight against discrimination. As a verb, self-advocacy is about advocating - lawyering - for oneself; instead of someone else (like an advocate) speaking for the individual. As a noun, it generally describes the grassroots, civil rights movement of self-advocacy including its associations and groups.
The movement stresses the need for people with developmental disabilities to learn decision making skills and reinforces the need for understanding responsible choice in order to become more independent. The way people with disabilities learn about advocating for themselves is by supporting each other and helping each other to gain confidence to speak out for what they believe in." (Information provided by People First in Oregon, attributed to be the first self-advocacy movement in the United States.)
There are 3 self-advocacy groups comprised of Crystal Run Village service recipients. The groups are open to individuals living in the community with their families, other agencies or who may be living independently. The groups typically meet once a month.. Elected officers (who are self-advocates elected by their peers) and advisors meet to discuss and plan the agenda’s for the meetings which are conducted by the officers. The objective of the meetings is for the members to learn how to advocate for themselves and to help others. This is accomplished by inviting other self-advocates and professionals to come and speak with about ways and opportunities to advocate. Goals include educating new staff, educating themselves and other people with disabilities about their civil rights and fundraising.
Members attend local, state and national conferences where they meet new friends and learn new skills for understanding and spreading the word about the meaning of self-advocacy and for understanding individual and group responsibility to themselves, the people important to them and society as a whole.