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

2. 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

3. 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!

4. 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

5. 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...

6. 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

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

8. To take risks 8

9. To help others 9

10. To make mistakes 10

11. To have REAL friends 11

12. To Love and Be Loved … 12

13. 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

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

15. 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

16. 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

17. Different Levels
Personal
Local
State
National
International

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

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

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

21. Contact information
Liz Weintraub
AUCD