The NACDD Self Advocacy Committee recognizes that individuals have the right to choose how they would like to be identified. Within the disability community there are some who choose to be identified with person-first language where others choose to be identified by their identity first. Both forms of identity are valid and recognized. It is important for everyone to have the power to decide how they would like to self identify with their chosen language.
NACDD Self Advocacy Committee Position Statement on Person First and Identity First Language in Communications
Understanding Advocacy Through the DD Council Lens
Understanding Advocacy through the DD Council Lens Resource – NACDD/ITACC, in collaboration with AIDD, and NACDD’s Self-Advocacy Committee (SAC) developed this resource designed to enhance the understanding of advocacy from the unique perspective of DD Councils. PDF Version | Word Version
Self-Advocacy Committee’s Survey Results & Best Practices
Part 1: Survey
In 2014, NACDD’s Self Advocacy Committee completed a survey of DD Councils on self-advocacy in their states, including barriers and issues for sustainability. The executive summary shares what NACDD has learned from the Council’s responses to the survey.
They reported that their states had seen noticeable changes in the self-advocacy movement during the past five years. These changes involved shifts in recruitment of members, collaborations with other groups, age of participation, and other factors. Some states have seen progress in the growth of self-advocacy, where other states have experienced major declines.
Topics include:
- Changes in Self-Advocacy in the States over Time
- Demographics and Diversity of Self-Advocacy Groups
- Sustainability of Self-Advocacy Groups
- Barriers to Self-Advocacy
- Major Themes and Concerns
“Nothing About Us, Without Us” Resource Summary Survey – NACDD/ITACC “Nothing About Us Without Us” Best Practices to Support Statewide Self-Advocacy Organizations User Feedback Survey Summary. We hope this summary will inspire you and your Council to use the resource for the first time or provide ways to continue sharing it with Council members, colleagues and advocate leaders in your state and territory. PDF Version
Part 2: Best Practices
The “Nothing About Us Without Us” Best Practices for Supporting Statewide Self-Advocacy Organizations was developed by NACDD’s Self-Advocacy Committee and numerous self-advocate leaders from advocacy organizations around the country. It includes an executive summary of the self-advocacy survey completed by DD Councils and a list of best and promising practices that NACDD believes will result in the growth and sustainability of effective self-advocacy organizations. It is the opinion of its developers that these practices should be implemented to the greatest extent possible in advocacy organizations of all size and scope.
To read the full document, click here for the PDF version, or here for the Word version.
DD Council Resources
JUNE 2018 LEGISLATIVE TIPS FOR SA – ALABAMA
MARCH 2018 GROWING AND MAINTAINING YOUTH LEADERSHIP IN VIRGINIA
AUGUST PARENT, EMPLOYEE AND SELF ADVOCATE VIDEOS IN ARKANSAS
AUGUST 2019 STRENGTHENING SA IN THE STATE OF KANSAS
MARCH 2020 BUILDING THE CAPACITY OF SELF ADVOCACY IN VERMONT
CROSS-DISABILITY AND CULTURALLY DIVERSE LEADERSHIP COALITIONS
Strategies and resources for DD Councils
PDF version
Accessible Word version
Understanding Advocacy through the DD Council Lens Resource – NACDD/ITACC, in collaboration with AIDD, and NACDD’s Self-Advocacy Committee (SAC) developed this resource designed to enhance the understanding of advocacy from the unique perspective of DD Councils.
Nothing About Us Without Us
Best Practices to Support Statewide Self-Advocacy Organizations
NACDD’s Self-Advocacy Committee, in collaboration with self-advocates from across the country, leaders of national disability organizations and State and Territorial Developmental Disabilities Councils, developed a list of best and promising practices that we believe will result in the growth and sustainability of effective self-advocacy organizations. Please share this resource with Council members, colleagues and advocate leaders in your state and territory.
Advisor Training
The Advising Through Self-Determination Guide provides advisors with a variety of resources, from general information regarding disability and advocacy to specific examples of activities that promote self-determination. Multiple organizations and individuals contributed to this guide, providing first-hand information from detailed traits of effective advisors to advice from both advisors and self-advocates.
Advisor Training
The Advising Through Self-Determination Guide provides advisors with a variety of resources, from general information regarding disability and advocacy to specific examples of activities that promote self-determination. Multiple organizations and individuals contributed to this guide, providing first-hand information from detailed traits of effective advisors to advice from both advisors and self-advocates.
People First of New Hampshire announces revisions to their book, “Large Pepperoni Pizza With An Advisor On The Side: How To Hire, Supervise, And Train An Advisor” – now with audio narration and training movie! This is a book which helps self-advocates learn how to hire and interview advisors, where to look for advisors and how to supervise and train advisors.
This is a publication for purchase and can be ordered here!
Advice for the Advisors (written by Bill Worrell)
This handbook was written mainly for people who are currently advisors to self-advocacy groups, such as People First, or similar self-advocate committees, such as the Consumer Advisory Committee of C.A.C.L. If you’re thinking of becoming an advisory, this handbook will also be useful. Finally this handbook is a good resource for friends and supports of self-advocacy who are looking at ways to support self-advocacy.
(Chapters 5-12 deal specifically with advisor strategies/best practices – starting with STRENGTHENING PEOPLE FIRST – THE CHALLENGE OF BEING A GOOD ADVISOR)
People First Advisor Handbook | A Toolkit for People First Advisors PDF version, download for free
For more information and resources for advisors, see the People First of Utah website
Self-Advocacy Organizations
Sample materials for describing Self-Advocacy Groups, Committees & Organizations
Hawaii Self-Advocacy Advisory Committee (SAAC)
Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities National Training Center
Plain Language Summary – Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities, and Rural Access to Care
Plain Language Summary – Trauma-Informed Care for People with Developmental Disabilities
Plain Language Summary – Dual Diagnosis 101
Plain Language Summary – Mental Health Among Older Adults with Disabilities
Association of University Centers on Disabilities (AUCD)
‘Tuesdays with Liz’ is a weekly video series highlighting current issues in disability policy. It is hosted by Liz Weintraub, a long-time disability advocate, and produced by AUCD.
National Resources
Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities National Training Center
Resources
Resources for Accessible Meetings
- Planning Accessible Meetings and Conferences: A Suggested Checklist and Guide (NEAT & Speaking Up for Us)
- How To Make SA and Other Meetings Welcoming and Accessible (YouTube video, Green Mountain Self-Advocates)
Resources from Our Community Standing Strong (OCSS) and Our Community United (OCU)
National Leadership Consortium on Developmental Disabilities
University of Delaware
The Leadership Institutes run by The National Leadership Consortium on Developmental Disabilities offer a select group of future leaders from organizations across the United States and internationally, the opportunity to come together with a renowned faculty of national experts on progressive supports for people with disabilities. The Institutes support the development of skilled leaders who are passionate about quality, have the leadership, management and financial skills needed to run solid not-for-profit businesses and government agencies, are capable of assembling top-notch teams of caring staff, and have a solid commitment to progressive values that assure lives of meaning and impact for people who choose to receive support. The Leadership Institutes emphasize participation and collaboration. Extensive reading and structured assignments are required in advance. Written assignments and individual and group participation during the week are essential.
A highlight of the course for past participants has been the relationships that are built over the week-long experience. Participants will leave with a network of colleagues and enduring relationships with some of the most influential leaders in the field.
The focus of the Leadership Institutes is on supporting participants to determine and set direction to move their organization to a high-performance model and build a lifetime network of peers and leaders to sustain career growth.
To learn more about the Leadership Institute visit their Website or e-mail the director, Nancy Weiss