Transcript Georgia Voices That Count

Georgia Voices That Count:
Seven Years of Advocacy
Training and Support
Introduction
Advocacy project
 Quarterly meetings
 Curriculum
 Support the disability
community
 Political awareness
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Activities of GVTC
Provides advocacy training
 Fosters peer support
 Shares resources
 Communicates historical context
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Activities (Continued)
Promotes self-advocacy and self-determination
 Emphasizes lifelong commitment
 Supports personal growth and achievement
 Creates leaders and activists
 Strengthens community
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What Makes GVTC Unique?
Only for people with disabilities
 80% taught by people with disabilities
 Cross-disability
 Collaboration of disability organizations
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What Makes GVTC Unique? (cont.)
Training with support
 Individualized experience
 Experiential training
 Addresses disparities
 Challenges the “disability hierarchy”
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Conferences and Curriculum
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History of Self-Advocacy
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Held in Atlanta
Tour the MLK Center
Make connection between Civil Rights Movement and the
Disability Rights Movement
Conferences and Curriculum
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Advocating for Community Living
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Held in Athens
Learn about the Americans with Disabilities Act
Learn about the Olmstead Decision
Learn about supports and barriers to community living
Conferences and Curriculum
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Advocating for Employment
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Held in Warm Springs
Tour the Little White House
Consider why Roosevelt hid his disability
Examine the supports and barriers regarding employment
Conferences and Curriculum
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Leadership
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Held in Atlanta
Coincides with participation in Disability Day at the State Capitol
Consider the attributes of good leadership
Graduation
Circles of Support
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David – to help
deal with
serious illness
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Tommy – to
help publish
book
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Sheila – to help
plan move back
into community
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Annette – to
help move from
nursing facility
Participants’ Achievements
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Joy Norman
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Class: GVTC #4
Advocacy Project: create job fair for people with disabilities
Current activities:
 Works with Mayor’s “Committee for Persons With Disabilities”
for annual job fair
 Now on Statewide Independent Living Council
 Working to develop Center for Independent Living in
Columbus area
 Provides support to many individuals and causes
 Quote: “I’m a voice to be reckoned with.”
Participants’ Achievements
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Margo Waters
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Class: GVTC #2
Advocacy Project: organize curb cuts
Current activities:
 Testified at State Capitol regarding the Independent Care
Waiver Program
 Helped create legislation for the Visitability Campaign
 Testified at city council regarding pedestrian accessibility
 Now employed at disABILITY LINK and supporting many
persons with disabilities and important issues
 Quote: “Voices has empowered me to speak up whenever,
where ever necessary.”
Participants’ Achievements
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Ryan Mercer
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Class: GVTC #6
Advocacy Project: create a website featuring resources for
young people with disabilities
 http://ryansresources.homestead.com/
Current activities:
 Continues to update site
 Featured in Sept. ‘08 AJC article
 Member of People First of Atlanta
 Working on his own plans for independence
 Quote: “They taught me how to stand up for myself.”
Participants’ Achievements
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Betty Hasan-Amin
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Class: GVTC #6
Advocacy Project: create and distribute a brochure of resources
relevant to people new to independent living
Current activities:
 Board member of the Interfaith Disability Connection
 Current Organizing Institute participant working to connect
disability and refugee communities
 Active in transportation advocacy
 Quote: “We are strong.”
Participants’ Achievements
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Whitney Walker
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Class: GVTC #1
Advocacy Project: Letter writing campaign for full implementation
of the Olmstead Decision
Current activities:
 Continues to write actively
 Attended Self-Advocates Becoming Empowered 2008
 Member of People First of Atlanta
 Quote: “Georgia Voices That Count helps a lot of people help
a lot of people.”
Participants’ Achievements
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Barbaraann Bongiovanni
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Class: GVTC #4
Advocacy Project:
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successfully advocated for accessible sidewalks,
crosswalks and curb cuts in her community
Current Activities:
 Appointed board member of the Georgia Independent
Living Network Meeting and disABILITY LINK
 developed summer camp for teenagers with disabilities to
learn about self advocacy and self determination as part of
The Organizing Institute
 Certified Peer Supporter through The Georgia Peer
Support project and actively provides peer support
 Volunteers in local and statewide organizations for people
with and without disabilities
 Quote: "I am truly a Georgia Voice that Counts!"
Participants’ Achievements
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Percy Hardy
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Class: GVTC #5
Advocacy Project: Become a peer supporter
Current Activities:
 Is now a Certified Peer Supporter
 Recognizes that his experiences, though difficult at
times, has provided him the unique ability to offer
support to other people with disabilities
 People First board member and active in disability
community events
 Overcame his fear of public speaking!
 Quote: "I am now confident I have something to offer!"
Participants’ Achievements
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Dawn Alford
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Class: GVTC #4
Advocacy Project: a student at Georgia Tech and working
on campus accessibility issues
Current Activities:
 Appointed Ex Officio member of the Governor's
Council on Developmental Disabilities
 Regularly testifies at the State Capitol regarding
services for people with disabilities
 Undertakes speaking engagements on a variety of
disability related topics including service dogs
 Working towards full accessibility in her worship
community
 Quote: “Everyone can be a leader!”
Outcomes of GVTC
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GVTC has produced “positive personal growth” and
“clear progress” in participants1
Promotes ethnic, gender, and geographical diversity in
advocacy training2
Essential to “positively influence public policies that
enhance the quality of life for people with…disabilities
and their families.”3
Produced community leaders with direct impact on
legislative and other decision making bodies.
1 “Values
in Action: Outcomes & Impact of GCDD Programs”, Andrew Young School of Policy
Studies at Georgia State University. April 2008. p.45
2 Ibid.,
3
p 41
Ibid., p 45
Conclusion
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Creates Self-Advocacy
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Creates Leadership
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Enhances existing skills
Builds confidence
Cultivates self-direction
Promotes perseverance
Fosters mentorship
Enhances public speaking skills
Creates Community
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Projects have direct social impact
Strengthens disability community
Encourages inclusion and diversity