1. Creating a Strong Self-Advocacy Group By Cindy Bentley, Tia Nelis, and Jason Endres

2. Why Do People Join Groups?
To meet people
They have common interests
To learn
There is strength in numbers
To use their skills and talents
To change things

3. Starting a Self-Advocacy Group
A group needs:
A mission or purpose, a common understanding
Leadership, officers
Responsibilities and rules
Goals
Membership
Support and assistance

4. Being a Self-Advocate Means…
Knowing and speaking up for your rights and the rights of others
Supporting one another to build self-confidence
Being actively involved in decisions that affect your life and the lives of other people with disabilities
Providing community education regarding issues affecting the lives of people with disabilities
Working with others to solve problems
Advocating for positive change

5. Reasons Why People Join Self-Advocacy Groups
There may be different reasons why people join a self-advocacy group. As people learn more, they may find they are interested in all different parts of self-advocacy.
1) Self –advocates are always learning and educating others on important issues they may be facing, such as:
Housing
Transportation
Education
Employment

6. Important Skills for Self-Advocates
Help yourself and others
Learn to be a strong self-advocate
Speak up
Speak out
Solve problems as a group
Make decisions together
Learn about your rights and responsibilities
Learn how to vote and how your government works
Learn how to help in your community

7. Self-Advocates Work for Human Rights and Equality
To get better services and programs
To live in the community -- NOT in institutions, nursing homes, or other segregated places
To improve human rights and to have dignity
To teach others to stop discriminating
To have real jobs in the community with real wages
To have community integration
To make better laws
To be involved in decisions which effect our lives

8. Steps for Starting a Self-Advocacy Group
Find a meeting place and time that is accessible and easy for as many members to get to as possible
Make sure that all group members understand what self-advocacy is and why you are meeting
Have members choose at least one personal goal that is in line with ideas about self-advocacy
Develop goals that people can work on as a team
Choose goals that are manageable for the group

9. More Steps for Starting a Self-Advocacy Group
Create rules and responsibilities that members should learn and understand
These may include:
Officers, Dues
Voting, Advisors
Ways to treat one another
Be sure to develop friendships, connections, and a supportive environment between group members
Be sure that every member can participate to the best of their ability

10. Even More Steps for starting a Self-Advocacy Group
Develop connections within your community
Evaluate your progress and decide what things are working well and what things could be changed

11. Vision, Mission & Goals Spend time developing: Vision statement
Mission statement
Plan for the future with goals and objectives

12. Developing a Mission Statement
Mission/purpose statement
What is it?
Why is it needed?
Elements of a mission statement:
Who are we?
What do we believe?
What will we do?
Where will this occur?
What do we want to accomplish?

13. Mission Statement Example
We are People First Wisconsin, a statewide self-advocacy organization for people with disabilities. We are dedicated to enabling people with disabilities to have our voices heard. In addition to this, the mission of People First Wisconsin is to:
Educate people with disabilities, including children & youth with disabilities, about their rights.
Assist people with disabilities to figure out what they want to do with their lives, and how to make these dreams come true.
Educate the public about the rights and strengths of people with disabilities, and what they need from the public to be successful.
Help local self-advocacy groups to get started and get stronger.
Help individuals and local self-advocacy groups get to know each other, learn from each other and work together.
Work toward closing all institutions and making life in the community a human right for people with disabilities.

14. Goals What are goals? Why are goals important? Elements of a goal
Concrete Statement
Objective
Achievable
Time-frames
People Responsible
Action needed to work on goal

15. Setting Your Goals
It is important for self-advocates to set realistic goals which they can achieve individually and as a group.
Here is a process that groups can use to come up with goals.
Evaluate needs and interests:
Identify needs:
What needs you and other group member have
Identify interests:
Brainstorm what things you are interested in accomplishing as a self-advocacy group

16. More Setting Your Goals
Discuss what goals can be accomplished early in the group development, and which may take more time
Circle and number, in order, which goals the group wants to work on first
Write under each goal ways that these items can fit into the personal needs and interests of the group members
Outline steps you will have to take to reach these goals and identify what kinds of supports you will need to these accomplish goals

17. Sample Goals Learning our rights & to speak up for ourselves
Educating others about self-advocacy and disability issues
Raising money for our group to attend conferences
Real homes and real jobs
Making places accessible
Closing institutions
Stop funding cuts

18. Members What can you do to make members feel welcome?
Meet with them before the meeting to share the history & relevant information, and clearly share the purpose of the group
Accurate information about date/time & place of meeting
Do introductions and let them share their story
Address their support needs
Encourage their options & comments and involve them in the discussion

19. Responsibilities of Members
Attend & participate in meetings
Communicate with members & advisor
Promote group in positive way
Be respectful of all members
Practice confidentiality
Bring concerns to the officers attention

20. Leaders What is leadership? How do you know someone is a good Leader?
What are the qualities and characteristics of a leader?
What responsibilities do leaders have?

21. Responsibility of Officers
Provide leadership for the group
Be a role model for all members
Attend meetings and be an active participant
Fulfill duties and responsibilities of the office you represent
Assist the group in problem solving
Bring new ideas to the group
Complete all necessary work on time

22. Meetings
Agenda - distribute ahead of time with extra copies at meeting
Handouts, including previous meeting minutes
Introductions
Conversation & discussion
Ground rules
Sign-in sheets

23. Meeting Agendas
Topics to be discussed at meeting and may want to identify who will be responsible for each topic
May include meeting schedule with timeframes
End with confirmation of next meeting

24. Advisors

25. Role and Responsibilities of Advisors
What is the role of an advisor?
Help with meetings, which can include: scheduling, writing agendas, keeping minutes, and transportation
Assist with record keeping
Share information
Encouraging all member to participate
Be respectful, organized, trustworthy, and committed to the group
Does not make decisions for the group
Is not a voting member

26. Recruiting & Hiring an Advisor
Who does the advisor work for?
Clearly define the job tasks and the job responsibilities
Discuss expectations:
Drive own car? Transport People?
Schedule: hours availability after work hours?
Assist with personal care?
Discuss salary and benefits (If any)
Documentation
Commitment statement

27. Evaluating an Advisor Job Performance
Advocacy, independence
Administrative and organization duties
Time management, including schedules and flexibility
Keeping to a budget
Is the advisor meeting the group’s expectations?

28. Dealing With Conflict of an Advisor
What to do when you have conflicts with your advisor?
Talk with the advisor and clearly state the concern or problem
Discuss impact of problem
Discuss possible solutions
Include a time frame for solution
Document discussion
Use job description and evaluation process
Get advice from an outside source

29. Tips for Keeping a Self-Advocacy Group Together Over Time

30. Make sure that all members know when and where the meetings are
This can include calling people, sending out letters and calendars, and hanging up notices
Have self-advocates make contact with their advisors so everyone knows what their job is

31. Find ways to get everyone involved in the group
Have officer meetings
This is a good time to practice, get ready for meetings , and to discuss issues
Find ways to get everyone involved in the group
Give everyone a job and a chance to communicate

32. Use accessible materials in meetings
This could include pictures, writing notes, and videotapes -- This will help everyone to be on the same page
Make sure that things people are discussing are important to their lives
This will help motivate members

33. For the first few years:
Evaluate the progress of the group and update goals every three months
If any problems arise, face them head on
Part of self-advocacy is solving problems

34. Most importantly: Make sure meetings are fun
Self-Advocacy can include both business and fun

35. What keeps a group active?
Leadership
Staying focused, and keeping with the mission
Working together on activities and goals
Holding officer meetings
Convenience & accessibility
Location, time, reading out loud, using pictures etc.
Working through conflicts and problems as they come up

36. Dealing With Conflict in the Group
Define the problem or conflict
Acknowledge differing opinions & ideas
Determine who is involved
Hold a meeting and consider using an outside facilitator
Listen to all sides and stick to the facts
Identify where there is agreement
Identify compromise and make solutions

37. Most Importantly
HAVE FUN!!!