Self-advocacy has reached the Last Frontier . . . Alaska. Self-advocates in Alaska are uniting to present to the world the Fourth International Self-Advocates Conference. "Pursue the Challenge: Leadership Conference for Self-Advocates" will be attended by more than 1,000 self-advocates from around the world. The conference will be held in Anchorage, Alaska on April 23-25, 1998 at the Egan Convention Center in downtown Anchorage.

Self Advocacy

Self-advocacy became a movement in the United States in 1973. Five people with developmental disabilities from Salem, Oregon, joined together to speak out about their rights and goals in life. They decided to self-advocate. What started as a movement among 5 people now encompasses more than 11,500 people in the United States and even more in Europe.

Self-advocates are people with developmental disabilities who speak out on their own behalf concerning issues that affect them. Rights that seem basic to most people are often difficult for people with developmental disabilities to claim. Rights will be discussed such as the following Presentation Tracks below:

Living in the community . . .

Living in the community is a right that most people take for granted. Yet, in the not so distant past having a developmental disability meant that you would live out your life in an institution. Unfortunately this still happens throughout the world. Self-Advocates Becoming Empowered (SABE), a nation organization on self-advocacy in the United States has mandated the closing of institutions as a priority objective. Workshop presentations in this conference track are open to all self-advocates who can share information about closing institutions. Options for presentations include: using the legal system to accomplish this goal; building community supports so that people with developmental disabilities can live outside of the institutional system; and sharing the "how-to's" from people who have made the transition from institutional living to community living.

Possessing an understanding of the legal system . . .

People with developmental disabilities often interact with the legal system. These interactions often involve proactive reform. However, it is impossible to ignore the relative over representation of people with developmental disabilities in the prison community. Workshop presentations in this conference track are open to all self-advocates who can share information about using and understanding the legal system. Options for presentations include: presentations that address how the legal system works; successful efforts to change laws that are unjust day-to-day legal concerns (rights and responsibilities as citizens) actions to take if you are arrested and the experiences of people with developmental disabilities who are imprisoned (Johnny Lee Wilson as an example).

Working across groups . . .

There are a number of national organizations that have united with the hope of improving the lives of people with developmental disabilities. Groups such as TASH, AAMR, ARC, and University Affiliated Programs have formed for this purpose. Unfortunately, decisions are sometimes made without the input of people with disabilities. Workshop presentations in this conference track are open to all self-advocates who can share information about speaking up and speaking out. Options for presentations include: presentations that provide self-advocates with information and communication skills about using their own voice; linkage techniques to other disability groups, such as people with psychiatric and/or physical disabilities and information about communication with other cultures.

Choices in living, learning and working environments . . .

Once people with developmental disabilities get out on their own, be it their parent's home, a group home, or an institution, there are a number of choices that must be navigated. People often encounter difficulties that come in the form of social and physical barriers. These barriers can be devastating to a person's self-esteem and feelings of self worth. It can become difficult to make decisions about employment, education, and housing. Workshop presentations in this conference track are open to all self-advocates who can share information about making choices in living, learning and working environments. Options for presentations include: presentations that address looking for and keeping employment, deciding whether or not to pursue education beyond high school, owning your own home, overcoming physical barriers imposed by inaccessible housing, finding affordable housing, breaking stereotypes and overcoming attitudes about people with disabilities, and increasing self-esteem.

Having an international voice . . .

The power of one voice pales in comparison to the power of many voices. People with disabilities throughout the world have the power to effect change through a united effort. In parts of the world people with disabilities are still without basic human rights. This conference track is designed to examine the current situation of human rights and accessibility throughout the world, and provide information about steps to enact change. Workshop presentations in this conference track are open to all self-advocates who can share information about their experiences in the self-advocacy movement from a political standpoint. Options for presentations include: presentations that address human rights issues, legislation that has resulted from self-advocacy, information sharing about the American's With Disabilities Act in the United States, developments on the United Nations front, Inclusion International and how to lobby for the rights of people with developmental disabilities.

Note

As this is a self-advocacy conference only self-advocates will be accepted as presenters. Self-advocates may include people without disabilities in their presentation, but it is recommended that the primary role of "presenter" be filled by a self-advocate.

Links

This web page is designed to be a content oriented site, making it quick to access, high in information content, easy to respond to, and also a few web links for your convenience. Here are a few related web links. These may assist you in your search for information resources. Click on any of the highlighted web address to go there.

One more: http://www.ns.hrdc-drhc.gc.ca/english/communit/communit.htm

Sponsors

People First of Alaska has received support from the Administration of Developmental Disabilities, the Governor's Council on DD/MR and Special Education, Self Advocates Becoming Empowered (SABE), Alaska State Department of DMHDD, DuAlaska Inc. Disability Law Center, The Center for Human Development, ARC of Alaska, Anchorage Convention and Visitors Bureau, BP Exploration. We greatly appreciate their contribution toward self-advocacy.

Conference Updates

Be looking for the "Pursue the Challenge: Leadership Conference for Self-Advocates" Call for Papers during May of 1997.

Mail

If you would like more specific information about the conference please drop us a note. Our email address is: peoplefirst@customcpu.com. Click on email address to write to us. Please allow 5-7 days for an email response. If you prefer, you may write us at the following address: Pursue the Challenge Conference, People First, 2330 Nichols St., Anchorage, AK 99508, USA. You may also fax us for more information at: (907) 274-4802.

This Web Page will be updated frequently, adding more and more useful information for you. This page is devoted just to the People First 1998 International Conference but will contain some useful links to other Self-Advocacy Web Sites. We will keep this a page with useful information and not a graphics delight, saving you time and speeding your work. Please check in on our page frequently to see what is new with the Conference.Please send your comments to us if you find errors, ways we could improve, or how you like our page. This page is being produced by Joe Davis of MacFriendly, Anchorage Alaska, akjoe@servcom.com. Thank you.