The Power of Self-Advocacy: The Arc Tennessee & People First
Self-advocacy is a crucial skill that empowers individuals to assert their needs, rights and desires effectively. The mission of The Arc Tennessee is to empower people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families to actively participate in the community throughout their lifetime, and one way we do that is with the support of People First Tennessee.
People First Tennessee is a grassroots membership disability rights group led by self-advocates and a place where people are empowered to address issues that keep them from living the life they want.
We strive to assist people with:
- Understanding Self-Advocacy.
- Building Self-Awareness.
- Developing Effective Communication Skills.
- Navigating Challenges.
- Embracing Independence.
- Advocacy in Various Settings.
- Empowerment through Knowledge.
People First and The Arc Tennessee work with self-advocates across the state to form local chapters in their areas. You can find out more about participating in your local chapter or starting a chapter by joining People First. Becoming a member of People First gives you the chance to hear the latest on things that may affect you and learn about opportunities you may be interested in. Once you join, you can have access to our People First Leadership Manual. It offers history, activities, and information to help self-advocates move toward their advocacy goals.
The information on how to join can be found here.
Another opportunity we have coming up on April 4th is the Entrepreneur Expo, in Franklin TN. The Expo will give self-advocates a chance to showcase their business or innovative ideas and will also provide them with the opportunity to share with educators, families, and others. Attendees can learn from those who already own a business and receive helpful tips on ways to start their own businesses. This is the perfect opportunity for people who may want to start a new business to meet and talk with others about how they got started!
The Expo is free to attend. If you are interested in setting up a booth at the Expo, the cost is only $10. To sign up for a booth, please visit the following link: https://bridgetosuccesstn.org/event-info/#entrepreneur-expo
Self-advocacy is not just a skill; it’s a mindset that empowers individuals to take control of their lives. By fostering self-awareness, developing effective communication skills, and navigating challenges with resilience, individuals can unlock their full potential and contribute to a society that values their voices and perspectives.
Heather Henderson serves as The Arc Tennessee’s director of advocacy and has been investing in the disability community over the past 10-plus years. Though her career started in architecture and design, she pivoted her focus to the disability community when a friend asked her to consider joining The Arc Tennessee’s People Talking to People program. Since then, she has worked as a direct support professional, program manager for a Medicaid waiver provider agency, an independent support coordinator, a person centered practice facilitator with the Department of Intellectual and developmental disabilities, all before returning to The Arc Tennessee as part of the advocacy team.