Resources Can Help You Meet People and Sharpen Your Advocacy Skills
Caller: I live in Tiptonville, and I have several disabilities, but I also have a lot of abilities. I have a job, and I’m going to be 23 next month. I hope to get my own apartment soon with my cousin. He was telling me about Pathfinder and that you have resources for me. He told me to call or email you. My cousin also said you work with self-advocates, and said I was a self-advocate because I have a disability. He said when I speak out I can help myself and other people, and even change things that need changing. I think I could do that, and I also want more friends. Do you have any resources for me?
PATHFINDER: Thank you for your question. It’s such a great question.
Pathfinder definitely can direct you to several great resources to help someone sharpen their advocacy know-how and make friends. Both Partners in Policymaking Leadership Institute (Partners) and People First Tennessee offer opportunities for self-advocates to improve their advocacy and leadership skills and broaden their networks.
Partners in Policymaking is a very popular and free program administered by the Tennessee Council on Developmental Disabilities. Made up of both self-advocates, and family members of someone who has a disability, each diverse group of students is intentionally chosen to represent different locations, socio-economic backgrounds, and disabilities.
Leadership Development Director Cathlyn Smith said new applications will be accepted in March and until the end of April for the next class, which will be mostly virtual, beginning September 2022 and running through April 2023. She said she hopes to do several of the classes in person, and they will continue to monitor health and safety conditions for meeting in person. (Before the pandemic the class met in a Nashville Hotel from Friday through Saturday afternoon, one weekend a month.) If your application is not chosen for the Leadership Institute this year, you can reapply in subsequent years.
Partners teaches about the history of disability movements and laws such as independent living and special education; state and local policy and legislative issues and processes; disability-related best practices and inclusion; federal policy and legislative issues and about community organizing.
As a parent and Partners graduate myself, I can tell you it was a very positive experience, and actually marked a turning point in my career direction. To get other perspectives on what to expect, use the link below, and scroll down for videotaped interviews with Partners graduates:
Here’s the Partners application link.
Another great resource is the statewide group People First Tennessee, which is by and for self-advocates. According to their brochure, “People First is an organization of self-advocates and supporters who come together to protect the civil rights of individuals with disabilities, and to influence decision makers about supports and services needed to successfully live in their communities. Self-advocates who join a local chapter by paying dues automatically become part of People First Tennessee. Membership gives self-advocates the opportunity to make friends, be heard, and advocate for others.”
The brochure also lists a number of membership benefits including a laminated membership card; t-shirt; members-only events and parties; regular emails and newsletters; opportunities to participate in surveys, trainings, community activities and statewide membership meetings during the TN Disability Megaconference; connection to a large network of peers; and opportunities to make friends, be heard and advocate for others.
More information about the group can be found on The Arc Tennessee’s website.
To join you can print the brochure, fill out your information on the form in the brochure, and mail it to The Arc Tennessee. The membership fee for a self-advocate to join is $5. Here is a link to the form.
If you or someone you know needs help finding resources, please contact Pathfinder at 1-800-640-4636 for one-on-one assistance.
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