Disability Activism & Advocacy

Posted on: Fri, Aug 15 2008 2:41 PM

Posted by: ~~Laura~~ Posts: 2

Hi everyone!

My name is Laura and I am a journalism / psychology student at the University of Central Florida. I was born with spina bifida, and I am interested in forming an advocacy group online. I strongly believe that, as people with disabilities, we owe it to ourselves to be our own advocates, but I really don't know how to get started. My interests lie in the field of accessibility to all, and also where matters of "disability etiquette" are concerned.  

Is anyone willing to check out my blog, or reply to me about ideas on how to spread the word? Please let me know, and, by all means, let others know.

 Please visit laurita86.blogspot.com. You can also feel free to reply to my post on here!

 Oh yeah...I am also bilingual...I am fluent in Spanish. Don't really know if that means anything, but I'm just putting it out there in case. Thanks!!

 God bless,

 Laura  ;-)

Posted on: Fri, Aug 15 2008 2:47 PM

Posted by: Kara Posts: 2,333

Hi Laura!

Welcome! We have a few things in common...I was also born with my disability (Osteogenesis Imperfecta) and I'm working on my PhD in psychology right now in Florida (at Nova Southeastern in Fort Lauderdale). I've also been heavily involved in advocacy groups for a few years-mostly in a capacity where I can exercise my passion for writing...so that's knid of alot in common!

My first question would be--what types of advocacy groups have you been involved in before? What niche are you looking to fill that's not yet available? I'll check out your blog in a bit...I also have one here (on Disaboom) and at www.karasheridan.com.

Hope we talk more soon,

Kara

Posted on: Fri, Aug 15 2008 3:11 PM

Posted by: rainey826 Posts: 3,961

WELCOME TO DISABOOM !!!!!!   RAINEY XO  

Posted on: Fri, Aug 15 2008 4:14 PM

Posted by: ~~Laura~~ Posts: 2

Kara,

Thanks for the warm welcome! I can't say I've ever been involved in an advocacy group before, but I am a member of my chapter of the Spina Bifida Assoc. of Central Florida (national is SBAA). I've tried in the past to get things moving for them, but the president of SBACFL hasn't really acknowledged any of my ideas.

I've met with and interviewed several administrators on my campus (where I did my A.A.) at Valencia Community College, and actually toured them around the campus, encouraging them to take more pro-access measures, and I recently convinced their Facilities department to change the library bathrooms so that they are accessible.

So you see, since I've never really been a part of anything like this, I've kind of had to be my own advocate. I'd love to meet other people interested in this field, and I hope my goals will someday take me to D.C., or someplace where I can truly make a difference.

Thanks, and please keep in touch!!

Laura

Posted on: Fri, Aug 15 2008 10:26 PM

Posted by: george9t7 Posts: 76

Hi Laura:

This is my first post here and so i don't know where everyone is, er,,, on what page, you know.

I have no experience with advocacy as a member, but personally i would like to have an advocate.  It's about a personal matter, but it's about my disability and for me it's hard to plead my case.  I'm experiencing an injustice, a difficult injustice to explain.  In any case wouldn't that be what an advocacy group does?  Be advocate for what the groups all about.  An advocate for the disabled, a real person helping another.  It's certainly likely that disabled people would be the most likely advocates.  I would love to do that for someone and i want someone to do that for me as well.

Hope this is not stupid... i just piped in here and typed my thoughts on this.

I'm George  

The Advocate is somebody that's on my side no matter what.  When it's time to go to bat, that person, Advocate would be there.

Posted on: Fri, Aug 15 2008 10:46 PM

Posted by: DSB Posts: 767

 Hi Laura ine starting point in creating any group is to firt ID whom your trying to reach as far as supporters go and what professionals may assist ingetting your goal. For example you mentioned accessable issues and am in the midle right now of attempting to gather more people with disabilities to join me in an outreach group that actually visits Architects office and help explain how accessable my not always mean usable. I will be working through and am developing by way of work a method where architects can earn credits through the AIA local chapter.

My model is not complete yet or the program but lets face it Architects design our living spaces as do planners and designers and since I have worked for over 30 years with these types of people they firmily want to make the world more accessable but often never have real disabled people explain how the use of ADA designs at times are not so very useful but they usually depend upon just that the ADA and design based not on real world input but by what is on paper in a book and specifications.

So maybe start with yuor local AIA chapter go in talk to them outline what you want to do and if they cannot assist they I am sure will find a architect firm that will help you develope a program for your area.

Posted on: Fri, Aug 15 2008 11:19 PM

Posted by: Kara Posts: 2,333

 Thanks for the additional information Laura...

Even if you end up still wanting to start your own, I'd suggest looking into some of the more advocacy-centered organizations. Disability-specific organizations seem to just now be starting to get the importance of advocacy so I predict it will be awhile to see real movement there...here are just a few with links:

National Youth Leadership Network-I know youth makes you think younger but this is for people with disabilities up to age 28-it's an amazing organization that allowed me to be really active (both in DC and locally here or whereever I was) and make a difference....you can get involved right away.

National Council on Independent Living (NCIL)-I've been to a national conference to speak with this group and they were also welcoming and have the structure/organization set up to allow you jump in with others and get things done. There are several committees aimed at different goals-check them out and express interest if you'd like to join.

American Association of People with Disabilities:  This site isn't as clear with directions on how you can become individually involved but there are invaluable resources on internships, fellowships, and constantly updated advocacy topics that serve as good content to motivate advocacy efforts (especially if you want to start your own).

I hope these help! Let us know how it's going....

Posted on: Sat, Aug 16 2008 12:53 AM

Posted by: Bob Posts: 54

  Hi Laura

    I started a advocate group in my town it is called   Rochester disibiliy Advocates If you go to your local state web site you can find info on disibility programs and how to get involed with them. I have gone from just sitting on my front porch watching girls walk by to working over 50 hours a week learning what our state is doing and where they need help. I start a 9 month traing program to work with local legestive in all aspects of disibilites.I can not wait to get started. So i looked on line and found the coures in a brief way so now I am reading it to get ready for the class.

 Online is a good thing however I am for doing something local that way i can see results. i worked 2 years getting a change on one street that had a button to cross but in a chair there was no way to reach it. Well this year it has been fixed and my phone has been ringing alot thanking me for pushing to get it done. I told them it was not me but it was our group. Sure it was a small thing but now it is in and we have a safe way to cross the street.

  This year our town has put in curb cuts with red bricks for the sight inpaired and again my phone went nuts for about 2 weeks . then one contractor told the paper that the sidewalks did not meet code and my phone went nuts calling me all kind of names since the concil wanted all side walks brought up to code  well we got a change that if they are bad then the property owners has 90 days to fix them and the ones in good shape only need to bring up to code when property is sold.

 So there are alot of things that can be done local rather than a online group that only types in gripes and realy not much ever gets done. So my advice is start a local group and meet new people in your town not only disabled will join but ab''s will also help