Speaking Up For Us of Maine

Goals and Objectives FY 03-04

Goal 1-Speaking Up For Us will ensure opportunities for self-advocates voices to be heard by advocating and speaking up about issues that are important to us to the legislature, policy makers, professionals, organizations, family members, and community leaders.

Objective 1-SUFU will keep abreast of current events as they affect people with disabilities and work with legislators, and other policy makers, testify and write letters on at least 5 issues that affect us by June 2004.

Objective 2-SUFU will advocate for people to have options for alternatives to institutions and sheltered workshops and increase community inclusion and independence by working with at least 3 allies such as BDS, DRC, etc by June 2004.

Objective 3-SUFU will encourage individual voices to be heard by teaching about voting and making the disability community known as a voting force by inviting legislators to at least two events by June 2004.

Objective 4-Speaking Up For Us will connect and collaborate with at least 3 boards or committees on a local level to improve and increase transportation and share information about how to get rides by June 2004.

Goal 2-Speaking Up For Us will educate self-advocates, support staff, children, families, professionals, public officials and community members and caseworkers about things that are important to us.

Objective 1-We will train people with disabilities and future self-advocates about self-advocacy and other topics that will help people speak up, empower them and help them become more independent. We will offer at least 5 trainings to self-advocates on these and related topics by June 2004.

Objective 2-SUFU will train circles of support (family, friends, caseworkers, guardians and support staff) about issues of importance to people with disabilities so they can listen better, support people to be more independent and so they can be role models for others. At least 5 trainings will be offered to supporters by June 2004.

Objective 3-SUFU will educate people in the public (community members, professionals such as police, public service, doctors, etc.) by teaching them about different kinds of disabilities so they can support people better and to increase community inclusion and acceptance. At least 3 training opportunities will be offered to the public by June 2004.

Goal 3-Speaking Up For Us members will have the opportunity to network on a local, statewide, regional and national level to share information, get to know people, support other self-advocacy efforts and promote growth and strength.

Objective 1

SUFU will support self-advocates to attend conferences and or meetings in New England, to gain information to share with others, opportunities to learn. SUFU will send at least 10 people to 4 meetings by June 2004.

Objective 2

SUFU will provide technical support to at least 2 new groups and ongoing support for at least 5 existing groups to work on projects as meets SUFU goals and objectives.

Objective 3

SUFU will plan a 10th Anniversary Celebration for at least 400 self advocates and supporters to provide opportunities for individuals to learn, network, connect with old friends, meet new ones, and have fun by October 2003.

Goal 4-

Speaking Up For Us will carry out routine business, share information and resources, spread its mission and work toward increasing financial growth and stability.

Objective 1

Speaking Up For Us will conduct regular business by officers meetings and other meetings by June 2004. Officer’s meetings will be held at least bi-monthly.

Objective 2

Speaking Up For Us will produce 2 newsletters to get the word out about issues and events. The first will be released by September 2003, the second by May 2004.

Objective 3

Speaking Up For Us will hire a grant writer for assistance to apply for at least 10 grants by June 2004.