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Self Advocacy Mobilization

This project implements a self-advocacy initiative that will mobilize individuals with disabilities to effect systems change at the local, regional, and statewide levels. The effort establishes a statewide committee linking teams of self-advocates in selected communities, ensuring that self-advocates continue to occupy a lead role in directing their own lives and shaping disability policy and practice through promotion of self-determination and community inclusion at a local level.

It builds on the “New Voices” initiative (http://www.vcu.edu/partnership/newvoices/) which assembled a planning committee of self-advocates who developed the “Our Lives, Our Voices” statewide conference in 2005 and subsequent regional events in 2006 where self-advocates could directly identify tools and resources needed to build effective advocacy networks. (Funded by the Virginia Board for People with Disabilities)

Major Activities:

• Identify self-advocate leaders from across the state to serve as the project’s Steering Committee and to participate in state level advocacy.
• Provide assistance as needed for the Steering Committee to develop and disseminate a policy statement (decision brief) based on the work in local communities and additional opinions/statements on other key initiatives as funding/time permits.
• Using a facilitated process, support self-advocates in developing a strategic plan (including the identification of advocacy activities) for impacting policy change for the identified issue in the Va Beach and Northern Neck/Middle Peninsula communities.
• As part of the process at the local community level, conduct mentorship and leadership training. Ensure that the training is co-conducted by a self-advocate trainer and a staff member/ally.
• Through the development of Community Mobilization Teams, create and foster cross-disability partnerships with disability organizations, graduates of the Partners in Policymaking and Youth Leadership Forum programs, New Voices members, and community service organizations.
• Through the development of a state Steering Committee create and foster partnerships with disability organizations, state departments and boards, and other entities that promote and enhance the effectiveness of self-advocacy efforts in the state.