Self-advocacy is about independent groups of people with disabilities working together for justice by helping each other take charge of our lives and fight discrimination. It teaches us how to make decisions and choices that affect our lives so we can be more independent. It teaches us about our rights, but along with learning about our rights, we learn about our responsibilities. The way we learn about advocating for ourselves is supporting each other, and helping each other gain confidence in ourselves to speak out for what we believe in.

-Self Advocacy Group Member

Self-Advocacy groups provide a forum for adults with developmental disabilities to collectively achieve their goals and independence. They work together on behalf of the membership and all people with disabilities to empower themselves, to find and keep meaningful, decently paying employment and gain greater control of decisions about where and how they live. Self-Advocates work to create a map for future generations of people with disabilities by challenging themselves with leadership roles. Self-Advocacy aims at empowering people with disabilities – by ensuring that their voices are heard and their aspirations are acknowledged.

The Consortium provides support, coordination and technical assistance to the groups, but each group’s agenda and actions are under the control of the Self-Advocates of each group.

Leadership Through Advocacy is based in the greater Holyoke area. Self-Advocacy Network is based in the Springfield area. The groups meet biweekly.

Both Groups?

• Provide assistance with preparation for conferences around human rights and lend their services as consultants.
• Meet with people with developmental disabilities living in institutions and assist them by sharing information and experiences and supporting in trying to move out of the institutions.
• Through letters writing and visits, they lobby the legislature to work on more public transportation, housing and employment issues for people with disabilities.
• Publish a newsletter for people in Western Mass who are interested in advocacy.
• Hold voter registration drives

Contact:
Leadership Through Advocacy and Self-Advocacy Network:
Elaine Kalmar, Group Coordinator
(413) 536-2401 x 3017
ekalmar@theconsortiumwmtc.org

This program is funded in part by the Massachusetts Department of Mental Retardation