Self-Advocates Becoming Empowered Webinar with Autism NOW January 24, 2011

8/3/2019 Self-Advocates Becoming Empowered Webinar with Autism NOW January 24, 2011

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SABESelf-Advocates Becoming Empoweredwww.sabeusa.orgFunded by the Administration on

Developmental Disabilities


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NancyNancy

WardWardOklahomaOklahoma

VickiVicki

TurnageTurnageAlabamaAlabama

BettyBetty

WilliamsWilliamsIndianaIndiana

DebDeb

KneyKneyRhodeRhode

IslandIsland

ChesterChester

FinnFinnNew YorkNew York

SteveSteve

HolmesHolmesNew YorkNew York


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Listen and support the person withpositive feedback.

Believe in the person and believe inthe dreams; give honest non-directivefeedback and help when asked.

An ally supports people in talkingabout their dreams, identifying howthey can achieve their dreams,securing the resources needed,

celebrating along the way.


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Theyre like a mentor even though they don'tmake decisions for you. They encouragesomebody with a disability to make the bestdecisions with the right supports. That's what ittakes to believe in somebody.

They give you the space to gofor your dreams. They find

information, connect you tothe right resources andpeople so you can do whatyou want with your life.


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I don't think ally and adviser are the samebut they can be. If I am asked to be anadvisor I take on the responsibility of

listening, supporting and helping as I amrequested. I always see myself as an allyas an advisor. I am also an ally, but not anadvisor, to many people as their friend or

co-worker or co-participant in an activity.To be an advisor there has to be a deep trust developedso the group or person feels free to say what they want.Advisors help me understand what is being said in a

meeting and help put my thoughts into a presentation.


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An advisor by definition typically offersadvice, assists individuals and groups inorganizing, supported the individual and groupin securing and obtaining resources neededetc. An ally is a much stronger active term, wedo all of the same things as advisors andin addition we unite and form an active

association with self-advocates insupporting the self-advocacy movement.

An advisor supports you to organize yourideas and gives advice when needed. We

pick our advisors. They need to be able toshare knowledge without people saying theyare interfering. We need to be able to speakfreely. Advisors dont just rubber stamp what aperson or group is doing. The relationshipneeds to be honest and open.


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When I hear the word Ally, I

think of someone who doesnthave a disability, but supportsthe rights of persons withdisabilities. Another examplemay be a person who is not gay

or lesbian, but is in favor of gayrights. An advisor, on the otherhand, is a person who has aprofessional or volunteer role

with a disability rights group ororganization. They support thegroups goals and help keepsthings moving. An advisor mayalso play the role of an ally.


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People make mistakes. Its about how we workthrough it together. If both of us work we candevelop a strong friendship.

Be there, wait until someone asks for help.Dont help too little because they might nothave the information they need. But avoidhelping too much. Let them learn what they

can do on their own.Always check in with the person you areassisting and let them direct the amount ofassistance you give and know that it might

vary from task to task and circumstances.


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Always ask what type of support does the individual needto do themselves. Constantly engage in dialogue with self

advocates as to if you are doing too much or too little.Being an advisor you have to know when to give advicewhen to listen and it is not about what you feelpersonally. You remain neutral. You are there to provided

information and support.


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Avoid helping in a way that may seem toocontrolling. You also don't want to act inway where the person feels ignored.Sometimes, somebody who is assisting aperson with a disability may want tojump in and say something for you. And,sometimes they may be too quick to

help. People need time to figure thingsout for themselves. It can be hard foradvisors to hold back. Another issue thatcan occur is when a person with a

disability asks an advisor for an opinion.Try redirecting the question back to theperson. The outcome of this when itsdone well is that you are encouraging theperson with a disability take ownership of

the issue.


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Provide good information withouttaking control of the issue. Assist withlooking at the consequences. Even if

the group makes a decision thatadvisors dont agree with, they stillshould support the decision thegroup has made. The can be hard to

do.Sometimes you have to excuseyourself if you feel too strongly aboutan issue. If you have information,

provide it and then step away.


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We just went through this at SABE. Let them know yousupport them in whatever they decide to do. Provide the

information needed to make the decision. If asked, giveyour best advice.

Assist the self advocacy group members in looking at prosand cons of each decision they make. Make sure that you

do not push your opinion on the group.


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For most decisions, an advisor with the rightmindset about their role would celebrate theindependent thinking of the group and supportthe decision. In some situations though, if anadvisor totally disagrees with a decision a groupis making and believes it is counter to the goalsof the group or has other significant concerns,

the advisor has an obligation to be upfrontabout how they feel about things, not silent.Disagreements on goals and strategies arenatural in groups and good advisors will

support a group's decision unless it issomething they simply feel so strongly aboutthat they cannot. In this case an adviser couldrespectfully give up the role or decline toparticipate in the outcome of the decision.


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It is important realize it goes both ways. Yes

we learn from advisors but they can alsolearn from us. Be patient when helpingsomebody understand and give enough timeto let them say what it is that you want tosay. Advisors have an ability to pull out ofyou what it is you are trying to say. They havethe ability to help me walk through asituation and help me to say what I want tosay, like when putting together a

presentation.

We need information in an accessibleformat. People are left out of so much. Weneed advisors who we trust to help us

understand what is going on in meetings.


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Learn from self-advocate leaders and

experienced advisors about advisorsthey work with now and in the past.Talk to them about what makessomeone a good advisor and whatdoesnt. You will get direct usefulinformation about what makes a goodadvisor.

Observe other advisors. Learn about themovement. Talk to self advocates aboutwhat roles they want you to play.

Have the advisor believe in you and helpyou to see yourself as a person and tohave the confidence in yourself.


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Role play and talking about what you job is. Define the

role of board members and advisors. Write the rolesdown. Review them often and remind yourself that yourrole is to assist and to listen and not to take over andcontrol. If the group is not doing what they should bedoing you are there to remind them of what their dutiesor and responsibilities are. Advisors are not your slaves.It should be a partnership because you are trying toaccomplish the same goals.

Train them as you go. Let they know what you need, howyou need it and go from there. When I thought I couldnot do something my advisor gave me theencouragement and had the expectation that I would doit myself. I felt better that I wrote the letter on my own.


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Have self advocates talk

about what life is likewith a disability. Onetool that is used is calleda fishbowl. A fishbowl

is when a small group ofpeople with disabilities sitin an inner circle, with the people being trainedsurrounding them. Those in the inner circle answerquestions from a facilitator (preferably another person

with a disability), and those in the outer circle dont talkand just watch. At the end, the observers are allowed toask question and make comments about what they haveheard. This is an effective way to hear what is on the

minds of persons with disabilities.


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Max Barrows [email protected]

Vicki Turnage [email protected]

Steve Holmes 1-518-382-1454

[email protected]

Nancy Ward [email protected]

Betty Williams [email protected]

Karen Topper [email protected] Kney [email protected]

Chester Finn [email protected]

Documents

Self-Advocates Becoming Empowered Webinar with Autism NOW January 24, 2011