Annual Report

July 1, 2001 through June 30, 2002

This has been a year of transition for SUFU. Speaking Up For Us is becoming known in all corners of the state. Their network is growing. This year, they have hired a new Project Coordinator, hired a grant writer, moved their Augusta office out of BDS, begun to develop training to deliver outside of statewide meetings and conferences and connected with numerous allies! SUFU members see their role in training people with disabilities, their supporters and people in the community as very important to their mission.

Goal One: Speaking Up For Us (SUFU) will continue to build our network at the local, state, regional and national levels.

Objective 1: SUFU will plan and hold a statewide conference to provide opportunities for networking and training for at least 350self-advocates and supporters by October 2001.

Objective met and surpassed. Over 400 self-advocates and supporters attended the conference in October. The effort of conference planning was lead by a solid core of about 10 self-advocates from all over the state. As many as 30 people attended conference planning meetings to pitch in. Geographically, the whole state was well-represented at the conference. Forty self-advocates from Aroostook County made the journey to Bethel!

Objective 2: SUFU will continue to be involved with the national organization, SABE, by sending representatives to at least 2 regional events by June 2002; and supporting at least 25 self-advocates and supporters to began fundraising and planning to attend the national conference in Buffalo, NY in September 2002.

Objective in progress. The officers attended 2 SABE regional meetings in November and May and have made excellent connections with self-advocates from other states. This time to network and learn what other states are doing has been invaluable to SUFU as they are able to get new ideas and bring back information to Maine. The officers who attend stay in touch with self-advocates from other states through e-mail and share what they learn with other self-advocates and people from BDS.

Fundraising to go to the national conference in Buffalo is in progress, with the 50/50 raffle raising almost $700 so far. Board members and advisors are sharing ideas with self-advocates and supporters about how to raise and save money to get to the conference. Board members have brought information and ideas back to local groups. So far, 10 people are confirmed as being able to go. Six SUFU members have submitted 2 proposals to present in Buffalo on Independent Living and Voting Rights. This goal will continue into the next fiscal year since the conference is in September.

Objective 3: SUFU will support local groups to organize at least three regional meetings; to bring self-advocates and advisors together to connect, share skills & ideas, increase communication between local groups and have fun, by June 2002.

Objective met. At least one regional gathering happened in Region 1 this spring. A semi-formal dinner and dance was held with the support of the Adult Multiple Alternative Center. Local peer groups in Region 1 also gathered for a softball game. Also, with the SUFU’s help, Support Solutions made a regional meeting happen when they invited David Hinsberger to host a viewing of ‘The Other Sister’ and a discussion following the movie. Over 60 self-advocates attended! In Region 3 and in Region 1, there are plans in progress for regional gatherings.

Objective 4: The SUFU Board will have at least two overnight retreats (as part of its quarterly meetings) to get together and have a chance to connect, share skills & ideas, and increase networking and communication between members. The first overnight retreat will be held by December 2001. The second retreat will be held by June 2002.

Objective met. The overnight retreat in June is the second of the year. The first retreat was held in January. As with the January retreat, board members made all of the arrangements for the retreat including hotel reservations, meeting space and meal planning. At the June meeting, board members invited former Project Director, Laurie Kimball to join them and help in the process of brainstorming for the upcoming year. The board also spent time planning for the future, brainstorming where they would like to see SUFU in 5 years. The information generated at this retreat will be used to develop this year’s goals and objectives as well as for organizational development and designing a business plan with grant writer, Lilliana Jodoin.

Objective 5: SUFU will support at least two advisor workshops to provide an opportunity for supporters to network, share ideas and support one another. The first workshop will be held by September 2001. The second will be held by April 2002.

Objective not met. The first advisor training was held in September. The second, scheduled for April was cancelled due to lack of interest and transportation difficult. It was suggested that Advisor workshops be held in a couple different areas of the state to increase participation. This will be taken into consideration for next year.

Objective 6: SUFU will investigate funding opportunities to hire additional advisors by June 2002.

Objective in progress. The DD Council secured funding for SUFU to hire a grant writer part time. Lilliana Jodoin has been working with SUFU part time since May to help write a business plan and apply for grants. The goal is to get more funding for advisors as well as securing stable, long-term funding for SUFU. The DD Council has also invited SUFU to come to the next council meeting on June 26 to talk further about funding and continued support for Lilliana’s time.

Goal 2: SUFU will do outreach and training for individuals and organizations, including self-advocates, supporters, service providers, state and local agencies, the legislature, families, boards and committees about self-advocacy and what we want.

Objective 1: SUFU will design at least 3 training and/or “membership” opportunities to train self-advocates, supporters, service providers, state and local agencies, the legislature, families, boards and/or about rights, person centered planning, self advocacy etc. by December 2001; and will conduct at least 3 paid trainings by June 2002.

Objective met. At least three of SUFU’s trainings are available for presentation. The officers are working on a brochure for training and membership opportunities. Work on further training on topics of ADA rights and exploitation continues. This year, SUFU members presented at the Direct Service conference as well as having 4 members speak at the first Community Inclusion conference.

Objective 2: SUFU will organize at least 2 state-wide meetings to invite people to speak to self advocates about issues that affect our daily lives by May 2002.

Objective met and surpassed. SUFU has held 5 statewide meetings this year and collaborating with Support Solutions to offer a 6^th. In addition to the statewide meeting held at Sunday River and the holiday party in December, SUFU has had statewide meetings on topics such a ‘Rights’, ‘SSI and Work’, and ‘Guardianship’. SUFU joined Support Solutions in welcoming David Hinsberger to Augusta where self-advocates watched the movie, ‘The Other Sister’ and had a discussion about the film. In planning these meetings, SUFU has collaborated with the Disability Rights Center, the Center for Community Inclusion, Alpha One and BDS. At each statewide meeting, attendance was between 30-60 self-advocates and supporters. These meetings are not only an opportunity for self-advocates to learn, but also an opportunity for those who are presenting to learn what is important to people with disabilities.

Objective 3: SUFU will inform at least 10 audiences about our issues by doing workshops, writing letters, testifying and/or offering training by June 2002.

Objective met and surpassed. Support ongoing. This year, members of SUFU have testified before and written to the legislature regarding budget cuts as well as working with the DRC on work and guardianship issues. SUFU has also had involvement with the DRC creating a new committee on developmental disability that met for the first time this month. They have been in a working relationship with MACSP to increase support for self-advocacy activities and with Alpha One to design training on ADA rights. They have also offered support to people serving on councils, boards and committees with Maine Parent Federation, BDS, Maine Advisory Council, SILC and Olmstead.

SUFU has also given feedback to BDS on reportable events and begun to make connections to work with BDS on a regional level.

Objective 4: SUFU will work to get the word out about our organization and our mission using at least 5 approaches such as public media, letters, brochure, SUFU web site, Link-Maine website, a newsletter and/or resource library by June 2002.

Objective met. Support ongoing. SUFU’s resource library was unveiled as well as its’ brochure. Newsletter is in progress. In addition, SUFU has been working with MPBN on a documentary about the lives of people with disabilities. SUFU placed a listing in a resource guide in Aroostook County. They also sent representatives to attend Disability Awareness Day in Augusta. SUFU officers also met with Larry Eslping; a self-advocate and member of the Massachusetts Developmental Disabilities Council to increase their networking with other states!

Objective.5: SUFU will seek help from our allies to address at least 3 issues of importance to us, such as transportation, access to technology (computer, internet, etc.), the Department’s name change, legislative alerts, voting rights and/or support for recreation by June 2002.

Objective met. Support ongoing. SUFU has done a lot of work with the DRC on issues such as ADA rights, employment and the creation of a new advisory committee on developmental disability. There has been some effort within BDS to have regional reps so SUFU can have a role in giving feedback to caseworkers. SUFU officers met with Dick Farnsworth from MACSP to discuss transportation and support for self-advocacy. In Region 1, self-advocates are working with the local PAR group on gathering transportation resources.

In addition to work on these goals and objectives, all three SUFU offices are as busy as can be! Board members in Presque Isle, Augusta and Portland have been spending some time at the offices, volunteering help with daily business and mailings. The Board retreat in June clearly outlined SUFU’s long-term goal of being a valued source for training on issues of importance to people with disabilities.

Respectfully submitted,

Jodi B. Stacey, Advisor