 Leisure clubs began in Sweden in the late 1960s.  In 1974 a group of people with disabilities from Oregon attended a conference in Canada and returned home to form a self advocacy group.  The group called themselves People First.

 National group – Self Advocates Becoming Empowered formed in 1991  Over 800 statewide and local self advocacy organizations across the country.  STAND Together – first local group began in 1985  People On the Go of Maryland began in 1989

 Having control over your own life  Expressing your likes and dislikes

 Is about people being able to stand up for themselves  Means you are able to speak up for what you need and want and tell people about your thoughts and feelings

 Help people speak up about what is important to us.  Bring people together to advocate for common issues

 Self advocates can accomplish more when we are in a big groups rather then doing things alone. Change comes when groups of people advocate for the same issue. This is why it is important for people with disabilities to join self advocacy groups.

 It is important to remember that we are accountable for our own actions when we advocate.  It is important for everyone in the group to agree on how they are going to advocate and what the message will be.

 Because it gives you confidence in your abilities.  Because it helps you decide what issues are important to you  Because it makes you think about what you want in life and set goals

 When you want to be listened to  When you want to be heard  At medical appointments  When you are in your IP meeting  And MANY more places

 Where you work  Where you live  Where you play  And at the Legislature

 Speaks-Up about what they are thinking  Speaks-Up about how they are feeling  Speaks-Up about what they believe in  Speaks-Up on the issues they consider important

 Makes important decisions in their life  Takes responsibility for their decisions  Advocates for change

 We have seen as a state a decreased amount of young adults who are involved formally with self-advocacy.  We all know there is power in numbers so where are the youth and why aren’t they involved?  Good self-advocacy skills are necessary to find and maintain employment and live in the community as independently as possible.

 Students who scored higher on the self- determination scale were more likely to be employed, earn more per hour, have their own bank account, and live on their own.

 Make choices.  Direct their own I E P meeting.  Ask for accommodations.  Set Goals.

 Believe that you can accomplish anything. Set goals for what you want to do and make a plan to achieve those goals.  Find a mentor. Seek out someone you can completely confide in who will support you in the development of your leadership skills.  Be a mentor to younger students with disabilities. Help them to develop their leadership skills by sharing your experiences and connecting them with available opportunities.

 5. Participate in youth leadership conferences. Take advantage of leadership workshops that involve both youth and parents, since parents can be a valuable resource for supporting leadership skills. Help organize conferences and other youth leadership projects.  Create a peer support network. Connect with other youth leaders with disabilities, including those in different communities. You can share experiences (what you did, what worked for you, etc.) and learn from one another. Form a council of older youth with disabilities to serve as a resource for younger youth with disabilities.