Self Advocacy

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Self Advocacy

For Young Adults with Disabilities By Tracy
Moltisanti
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What I wanted to do

• For my project I began a self advocacy
  group for young adults with disabilities. Being a
  self advocate means speaking or acting for
  yourself. It means deciding what is best for you
  and taking charge of getting it. Self advocacy is
  standing up for your rights as a person. I wanted
  to get a group of people together who feel the
  same way that I do, and try to help each other
  reach our goals.

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Why I wanted to do this

• Sometimes people who have disabilities dont
  understand or know how to deal with their issues.
  Being with other people who have disabilities and
  talking about your feelings might help them to
  understand and learn ways to handle their
  problems. This is why I wanted to start a group.

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General goals

• These are a few of the things that I wanted to
  work on in the meeting.
• Learning how to get along with other people.
• Learn how to explain your feelings so people
  understand you and they dont put you down.
• Keep working on and discussing new problems.
• Making decisions for ourselves.

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Janet Hunt

• Janet Hunt is the executive director for People
  First of New Hampshire. (PFNH) I met Janet at
  another meeting that I had been to. She and I
  talked, and she told me to contact her if I
  wanted to do this for my senior project. I
  contacted her and she agreed to be my mentor. At
  our first meeting we sat down and made a to do
  list. Janet told me she was very excited to help
  me with this project because I was the first
  young adult in the state of NH to come forward
  and ask to start a self advocacy group.

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(No Transcript)
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Self-Advocacy The definition of self-advocacy
recommended from the National Steering Committee
of Self-Advocates is the following
Self-advocacy is teaching people with a
disability how to advocate for themselves and to
learn how to speak out for what they believe in.
It teaches us how to make decisions and choices
that affect our lives so that we can become more
independent. It also teaches us about our rights,
but along with learning our rights we learn about
our responsibilities.
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Getting started To Do List

• The first thing that I had to do was make a
  list of the details that I had to take care of.

• Location
• First meeting date
• Make posters or advertise
• Find people (age group 16-22)
• Agenda, how to run a meeting- leaders, supplies,
  rules,
• food, dreams, without parents
• Permission slips for videos and pictures
• Sign up sheet
• Article for newsletter and paper
• Web page for PFNH
• Presentation
• Roles of leaders and advisors
• Dreams and goals
• Final paper with all research and sources noted

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Location

• Finding a space was not a problem. I reserved the
  annex at Community Bridges.
• My mentor helped me call and ask if this room
  would be available.

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Choosing a meeting date

• I had to choose dates to hold the meetings.
  I had to be sure to leave time enough to gather
  information and have my meetings, but still have
  time do to my presentation. The dates that I
  chose were April 18th,May 8th May 16th.

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Find people who were interested
(age group 16-22)

• I wanted to talk to people who were my own age
  and had the same goals and questions that I had.
• Flyers were handed out and posted at Bow high
  school, Concord high school and Community Bridges
  to try and advertise to people my own age. This
  is a picture of the flyer that I made.

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COME AND MAKE NEW FRIENDS!
Self Advocacy Group for Young Adults with
Disabilities
Ages 16-22  

• Meeting Dates
• April 18th
• May 2nd
• May 16th
• Community Bridges Annex
• Bow NH
• 630 to 800 PM

Talk about your hopes, dreams and challenges of
having disabilities
Please respond to Janet Hunt at 1-800-2128 or
568-2128 by April 14th to make sure we order
enough pizza
DIRECTIONS TO COMMUNITY BRIDGESare meeting in
the Annex which is next to the garage doors. From
Interstate 93- Take I93 to 89 North and follow
direction below From Interstate 89 North or
South - Follow directions below Exit 2 for
Clinton Street.At bottom of ramp take a LEFT onto
Clinton Street.Follow Clinton Street for about 3
miles.Building will be on the LEFT with sign by
road
Tracy Moltisantis Senior Project
COME AND MAKE NEW FRIENDS!
COME AND MAKE NEW FRIENDS!
COME AND MAKE NEW FRIENDS!
COME AND MAKE NEW FRIENDS!
COME AND MAKE NEW FRIENDS!
COME AND MAKE NEW FRIENDS!
COME AND MAKE NEW FRIENDS!

• Meeting Dates
• April 18th
• May 2nd
• May 16th
• Community Bridges Annex
• Bow NH
• 630 to 800 PM

Talk about your hopes, dreams and challenges of
having disabilities

• Meeting Dates
• April 18th
• May 2nd
• May 16th
• Community Bridges Annex
• Bow NH
• 630 to 800 PM

Talk about your hopes, dreams and challenges of
having disabilities

• Meeting Dates
• April 18th
• May 2nd
• May 16th
• Community Bridges Annex
• Bow NH
• 630 to 800 PM

Talk about your hopes, dreams and challenges of
having disabilities

• Meeting Dates
• April 18th
• May 2nd
• May 16th
• Community Bridges Annex
• Bow NH
• 630 to 800 PM

Talk about your hopes, dreams and challenges of
having disabilities

• Meeting Dates
• April 18th
• May 2nd
• May 16th
• Community Bridges Annex
• Bow NH
• 630 to 800 PM

Talk about your hopes, dreams and challenges of
having disabilities

• Meeting Dates
• April 18th
• May 2nd
• May 16th
• Community Bridges Annex
• Bow NH
• 630 to 800 PM

Talk about your hopes, dreams and challenges of
having disabilities

• Meeting Dates
• April 18th
• May 2nd
• May 16th
• Community Bridges Annex
• Bow NH
• 630 to 800 PM

Talk about your hopes, dreams and challenges of
having disabilities
Please respond to Janet Hunt at 1-800-2128 or
568-2128 by April 14th to make sure we order
enough pizza
Please respond to Janet Hunt at 1-800-2128 or
568-2128 by April 14th to make sure we order
enough pizza
Please respond to Janet Hunt at 1-800-2128 or
568-2128 by April 14th to make sure we order
enough pizza
Please respond to Janet Hunt at 1-800-2128 or
568-2128 by April 14th to make sure we order
enough pizza
Please respond to Janet Hunt at 1-800-2128 or
568-2128 by April 14th to make sure we order
enough pizza
Please respond to Janet Hunt at 1-800-2128 or
568-2128 by April 14th to make sure we order
enough pizza
Please respond to Janet Hunt at 1-800-2128 or
568-2128 by April 14th to make sure we order
enough pizza
DIRECTIONS TO COMMUNITY BRIDGESare meeting in
the Annex which is next to the garage doors. From
Interstate 93- Take I93 to 89 North and follow
direction below From Interstate 89 North or
South - Follow directions below Exit 2 for
Clinton Street.At bottom of ramp take a LEFT onto
Clinton Street.Follow Clinton Street for about 3
miles.Building will be on the LEFT with sign by
road
DIRECTIONS TO COMMUNITY BRIDGESare meeting in
the Annex which is next to the garage doors. From
Interstate 93- Take I93 to 89 North and follow
direction below From Interstate 89 North or
South - Follow directions below Exit 2 for
Clinton Street.At bottom of ramp take a LEFT onto
Clinton Street.Follow Clinton Street for about 3
miles.Building will be on the LEFT with sign by
road
DIRECTIONS TO COMMUNITY BRIDGESare meeting in
the Annex which is next to the garage doors. From
Interstate 93- Take I93 to 89 North and follow
direction below From Interstate 89 North or
South - Follow directions below Exit 2 for
Clinton Street.At bottom of ramp take a LEFT onto
Clinton Street.Follow Clinton Street for about 3
miles.Building will be on the LEFT with sign by
road
DIRECTIONS TO COMMUNITY BRIDGESare meeting in
the Annex which is next to the garage doors. From
Interstate 93- Take I93 to 89 North and follow
direction below From Interstate 89 North or
South - Follow directions below Exit 2 for
Clinton Street.At bottom of ramp take a LEFT onto
Clinton Street.Follow Clinton Street for about 3
miles.Building will be on the LEFT with sign by
road
DIRECTIONS TO COMMUNITY BRIDGESare meeting in
the Annex which is next to the garage doors. From
Interstate 93- Take I93 to 89 North and follow
direction below From Interstate 89 North or
South - Follow directions below Exit 2 for
Clinton Street.At bottom of ramp take a LEFT onto
Clinton Street.Follow Clinton Street for about 3
miles.Building will be on the LEFT with sign by
road
DIRECTIONS TO COMMUNITY BRIDGESare meeting in
the Annex which is next to the garage doors. From
Interstate 93- Take I93 to 89 North and follow
direction below From Interstate 89 North or
South - Follow directions below Exit 2 for
Clinton Street.At bottom of ramp take a LEFT onto
Clinton Street.Follow Clinton Street for about 3
miles.Building will be on the LEFT with sign by
road
DIRECTIONS TO COMMUNITY BRIDGESare meeting in
the Annex which is next to the garage doors. From
Interstate 93- Take I93 to 89 North and follow
direction below From Interstate 89 North or
South - Follow directions below Exit 2 for
Clinton Street.At bottom of ramp take a LEFT onto
Clinton Street.Follow Clinton Street for about 3
miles.Building will be on the LEFT with sign by
road
Tracy Moltisantis Senior Project
Tracy Moltisantis Senior Project
Tracy Moltisantis Senior Project
Tracy Moltisantis Senior Project
Tracy Moltisantis Senior Project
Tracy Moltisantis Senior Project
Tracy Moltisantis Senior Project
13
Another flyer that I posted
COME AND MAKE NEW FRIENDS!
COME AND MAKE NEW FRIENDS!
COME AND MAKE NEW FRIENDS!
COME AND MAKE NEW FRIENDS!
COME AND MAKE NEW FRIENDS!
June 29th 400 to 530 PM United Way of Merrimack
County 46 South Main St. Concord NH
June 29th 400 to 530 PM United Way of Merrimack
County 46 South Main St. Concord NH
June 29th 400 to 530 PM United Way of Merrimack
County 46 South Main St. Concord NH
June 29th 400 to 530 PM United Way of Merrimack
County 46 South Main St. Concord NH
June 29th 400 to 530 PM United Way of Merrimack
County 46 South Main St. Concord NH
Talk about your hopes, dreams and challenges of
having disabilities
Talk about your hopes, dreams and challenges of
having disabilities
Talk about your hopes, dreams and challenges of
having disabilities
Talk about your hopes, dreams and challenges of
having disabilities
Talk about your hopes, dreams and challenges of
having disabilities
Please respond to Janet Hunt by June 26 at
1-800-566-2128 or 568-2128 or email
janet_at_peoplefirstofnh.org
Please respond to Janet Hunt by June 26 at
1-800-566-2128 or 568-2128 or email
janet_at_peoplefirstofnh.org
Please respond to Janet Hunt by June 26 at
1-800-566-2128 or 568-2128 or email
janet_at_peoplefirstofnh.org
Please respond to Janet Hunt by June 26 at
1-800-566-2128 or 568-2128 or email
janet_at_peoplefirstofnh.org
Please respond to Janet Hunt by June 26 at
1-800-566-2128 or 568-2128 or email
janet_at_peoplefirstofnh.org
Tracy Moltisantis Senior Project
Tracy Moltisantis Senior Project
Tracy Moltisantis Senior Project
Tracy Moltisantis Senior Project
Tracy Moltisantis Senior Project
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Putting it together

• After I decided on the meeting dates and
  advertised, I began to start putting everything
  together to make the group successful. Here is a
  list of all the things that I did.

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Agenda

• I needed to learn how to run a meeting and come
  up with an agenda.
• I went to a Future Goals meeting. This is a
  group that was formed a long time ago. This gave
  me an idea of how a meeting was run and what I
  needed to do.
• When I was there
• I noticed that there were about 15 people there.
• They had a gavel that they banged on the table to
  get everyone's attention.
• Attendance was taken.
• Everyone went around and talked about their goals
  and dreams.

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Permission forms

• I needed to get permission slips so I
  could take pictures of our meetings.

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Sign-In Sheet
I made a sign in sheet so I would know who was
there
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NH Grant for Teens
Acceptance letter
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Web Page
I made a link on People 1st of NHs web site
http//www.peoplefirstofnh.org/YoungAdultSelf-Advo
cacy.htm  
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The first meeting

• My first meeting was on April 18, 2006 at
  Community Bridges in Bow. The meeting went good.
  We played a game just to break the ice and we had
  pizza. We talked about everyones dreams what
  everyone wanted to work on. It was disappointing,
  because only 2 other people showed up. I feel
  pretty good about the first meeting, because at
  least 2 people were interested, and they got
  involved in the meeting. For my next meeting, I
  want to talk about more issues.

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The agenda for my meeting
This is the agenda that I handed out to everyone
at the meeting
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This is me and my group
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Meetings 2 and 3

• I had to cancel the last 2 meetings. I was very
  sick the night of the 2nd meeting. The 3rd
  meeting was scheduled the week of the floods, and
  the building was not open. I have scheduled
  another meeting date on June 20th. I am not sure
  where it will be held. Flyers will be posted
  around the school to let everyone know the time
  and location.

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8th National Self-Advocacy Conference
My mentor went to this conference and she brought
the newsletter for PFNH. I have an article on
page 2.

• Southern Collaborative - Region 6 Region 9 of
  SABE
• We Had A Dream  Now We Have The Power! - -
  Atlanta, Georgia
• Thursday-Sunday - - May 25-28, 2006 - -
  www.SABE2006.org

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Newsletter
This is a copy of the page in the newspaper that
Janet Hunt took to the national conference in
Georgia
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NH Developmental Disabilities Council Rap
Sheet Article
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Relationship Group

• Group Rules
• One person talks at a time
• Give each other respect
• No laughing at each other
• No putdowns
• Give each other encouragement
• Treat others the way you want to be treated
• Officer Rules
• Need to be on time
• Call or email the president or vice president
  that you cant make it to the meeting
• The officers cant miss three meetings in a row

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Relationship Group AgendaNovember 28, 2006

• Introductions and order pizza
• Planning for a larger group meeting what do we
  want and need?
• Work on group rules
• Talk about money
• Work on the groups hopes and dreams
• Create a flyer
• Set a new meeting date and time

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Problems that I had

• The problems that I had in my project were not
  holding the last two meetings. I also had a hard
  time finding a location for the meeting on the
  20th of June. I did not get to video tape my
  meetings because there was no one who could tape
  for me, but I did get pictures.

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New Learning

• I learned how hard it is to put together a
  support group, and taking care of all the
  details. I also learned how hard it is to run a
  meeting and be the leader.

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Resources

• These are some of the tools that I used to help
  me get started
• Building Yourself Workbook
• Self-Advocates Becoming Empowered Start-up Tool
  Kit
• Self-Advocacy Workbook