What Self Advocates Want Professionals to Understand Liz Weintraub IM4Q July 26, 2017

Here’s Some Truth About our Lives… Some of us have good lives Some of us receive great support from family, friends and staff But Many of us are not living the life we want Many of us don’t get the help we need. 2 Julie Petty, Reinventing Quality, 2008

Truths From Experts…Us Be Patient Remember whose life it really is It’s not your house or apartment Trust what I say I’m not a slot to be put into a placement We’re not kids! BUT – We sometimes depend on your help … be there!

I am lonely and by myself. YOU make us too dependent on Many of us do NOT live the life we want … People Say: I am lonely and by myself. YOU make us too dependent on staff and agency support I don’t like not being able to go where I want 4

What People Say, continued … I DON’T LIKE: Transportation problems and fit into your schedule. Not having enough money. Not having a job I’m interested in and where I can grow People passing over us … They ask other people what we like...

What is YOUR Job in Supporting Self Advocacy? Without self advocacy … “We would not be able to have any freedom to live our own lives; we would be like slaves.” New Voices; Self-advocacy by people with disabilities, Dybwad & Bersani

Some Hints From My Life …. Allow People to Have Dreams! 7

To take risks 8

To help others 9

To make mistakes 10

To have REAL friends 11

To Love and Be Loved … 12

What Do Self-Advocates Believe In? Being treated as equals Same decisions, choices, rights, responsibilities and chances as everyone else Making new friendships and renewing old ones Learning from mistakes

DO YOU Believe in Us? Some professionals Some parents Self-advocates work hard to earn people’s belief in them

Self Advocacy Timeline Late 1950s/early 1960s: self-advocacy groups started 1973: People First of Oregon began 1973-Present: Groups began to spring up Late 1980s: Talks focus on the next step 1990: 1st National conference; self-advocates decide to work on the idea of an organization

1992: SABE became official organization 1996: Continued to meet face to face on a quarterly basis SABE launched the Campaign for Freedom Late 1990s: Self-advocates working with parents 2000’s: Active with politics & getting out the vote Conferences usually held every two years

Different Levels Personal Local State National International

NOTHING ABOUT ME … WITHOUT ME Include us in discussions Listen to US and Our ideas Respect US

TEAM T…….Together E…….Everyone A…….Achieves M…….More M……More

MY WISH FOR YOU My hope is within this century, there won’t be the need for the self-advocacy movement because………

Contact information Liz Weintraub AUCD lweintraub@aucd.org 240-821-9371