PROJECT LEADERSHIP: CHAPTER1

Knowing the Past to Change the Future: History and Purpose of Advocacy

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PURPOSE

To learn about:

� Key legislation and policies

� The Disability Rights Movement

� What advocacy means

� Current issues

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WHAT DO WE LEARN FROM HISTORY?

We gain an understanding of the history of disability and how that history affects people’s lives today.

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WHAT DO WE LEARN FROM HISTORY?

Individuals and groups of individuals have the power to change systems and attitudes.

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KEY LEGISLATIONAND POLICIES

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THE DISABILITY RIGHTSMOVEMENT

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HOW CHANGE HAPPENS

“Power concedes nothing without a demand. It never did and it never will.”

-Frederick Douglas

Public Policy Advocacy:: A Grassroots Guide, The Statewide Parent Advocacy Network, span@spannj.org

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THE DISABILITY RIGHTS MOVEMENT AIMED TO:

Ø Improve the quality of life of individuals with disabilities through increased civil and legal rights.

Ø Decrease the pathologized view of disability, replacing it with the view that individuals with disabilities comprise a cultural or social minority group.

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SOCIAL PREJUDICES HAVE: � Excluded children with disabilities from

public schools.

� Confined people in state institutions and nursing homes.

� Sanctioned discrimination in housing,employment, and public accommodations.

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DISABILITY RIGHTS MOVEMENT

1960s� Civil Rights Movement� Women’s Rights Movement

1970s� Independent Living Movement

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BLANK SLIDE (HIDDEN)

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INDEPENDENT LIVING MOVEMENT ACHIEVED:

� Choice to live in the community

� Personal service assistance

� Removal of barriers to full participation

http://www.pbs.org/independentlens/lives-worth-living/

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HIGHLIGHTS OF THEDISABILITY RIGHTS MOVEMENT

Jeopardy

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3 KEY PIECES OF LEGISLATION

� Rehabilitation Act of 1973

� Education for All Handicapped Children of 1975

� Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990

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LANTERMAN ACT 1969

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Rights for individuals with developmental disabilities and their families to access the supports and services they need to live like people who are without disabilities.

FAMILY VOICES – ROLE OF PARENTS

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� Bringing our children home� Helping other families� Improving hospital policies� Advocating for inclusive education� Involving fathers� Seeking cultural competence� Conducting research� Assuring family-centered care� Improving state and federal policies� Encouraging youth to speak out� Partnering with government agencies� Training leaders

http://www.familyvoices.org/about?id=0002

MORE ON DISABILITY RIGHTSq http://www.pbs.org/independentlens/lives-worth-

living/disability-rights-timeline.htmlA PBS interactive timeline

q http://americanhistory.si.edu/disabilityrights/welcome.htmlSmithsonian Exhibition

q http://bancroft.berkeley.edu/collections/drilm/History of Disability Rights and Independent Living Movement

What Does It Mean To Advocate?

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PUBLIC POLICY ADVOCACYFOR SOCIAL CHANGE

“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.”Margaret Mead

Public Policy Advocacy:: A Grassroots Guide, The Statewide Parent Advocacy Network, span@spannj.org

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HAVE YOU EVER:� Gone to bat when there was a problem at school?

� Helped a relative or neighbor get care when they were sick?

� Asked friends to support a favorite project?

Then you have been an ADVOCATE!

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WHAT IS ADVOCACY?

Advocacy is speaking, writing, or acting in

support of a cause. It is something

most of us do routinely on behalf of ourselves, our families,

our neighbors,and our friends.

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ISSUE-BASED ADVOCACY

Ø Citizens advocate every day to remedy social problems pertaining to:

¢Gender¢The Environment¢Health Care¢Race¢Disability

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TYPES OF ADVOCACY

¢Self Advocacy¢Peer Advocacy¢Public Policy Advocacy¢Social Justice Advocacy¢Interest-Group Advocacy¢Bureaucratic Advocacy

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SERVICE VS. ADVOCACY

ØIdentifying the difference

Public Policy Advocacy: A Grassroots Guide, The Statewide Parent Advocacy Network, span@spannj.org

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ADVOCACY

� Change tactics over time

� Go up the “Chain of Command”

� Demand change

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LEVELS OF ADVOCACY LEADERSHIP: WORKING YOUR WAY UP

Public Policy Advocacy

Peer Advocacy

Individual Advocacy 33

CHECKLIST FOR PUBLIC POLICY ADVOCACY

q History and Purpose of Advocacyq Laws, Regulations & Systemsq Working with Decision Makersq Working & Communicating with Othersq Telling Your Story q Forms of Participationq Local Allies & Change Makers

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CURRENT ISSUES

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DEVELOPING AN ACTION PLAN

Focusing on:Ø Identifying the issue/problem to be

solvedØSetting goalsØ Identifying core constituencies

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MY ISSUES

¢What issues are important to me?¢Why are they important?¢Who do these issues affect?¢What can be done to change or improve

these issues?¢How would I like to get involved?

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SUGGESTED RESEARCH TOOLS

§ Family Voices of CA § Family Voices National§ Lucile Packard Foundation for Children’s Health§ Genetic Alliance§ CA Healthline§ California Health Report§ Centers for Independent Living§ National Newspapers (i.e., New York Times)§ Local Newspapers (i.e., SF Chronicle, Contra Costa Times) § Local Libraries§ Family Resource Centers 38

Chapter 1 Review

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HOMEWORK

Beginning Your Personal Action PlanØArticulate an issue or problem you

would like to solve.ØFormulate four clear goals. Ø Identify the core constituencies affected

by the issue.

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EVALUATION

� PurposeoTo get feedback on the effectiveness of this training

oTo identify what participants are learning

oTo find areas that can be improved

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