Home
Index: |Home| Board of Directors | Bylaws | Goals & Objectives | Progress Reports |
This objective is on target.
In the first quarter, SUFU members attended the Candidate’s Forum in Augusta and the Sanford/Springvale Group hosted State Senator Courtney to discuss employment and the budget.
SUFU Chair, on behalf of SUFU members, called Sen. Snowe’s and Sen. Collin’s office with a request to support the Stimulus Package.
Two self advocates attending advocacy day spoke to their elected officials regarding budget cuts to services and the impact on people with disabilities.
A SUFU member testified in support of LD 625: Resolve, To Ensure All Children Covered by MaineCare Receive Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnosis and Treatment Services.
Members of the Ellsworth Self Advocacy Group were pleased when Representative Eaton accepted their invitation to visit the group and provided training on the legislative process of how a bill becomes a law. Members shared concerns on employment, transportation and the budget.
Members of the Millinocket group invited Rep. Clark to their local group, but he is unable to attend until the end of the legislative season.
SUFU officers signed a petition going to New Jersey’s Governor Corzine, requesting the release of Frankie Macias who has been institutionalized at the New Lisbon Developmental Center since 1994.
Members of the Casco/Norway group wrote a letter to Maine Special Olympics requesting a policy change regarding the use of a starter pistol at the beginning of games. Some members found the starter pistol too loud.
This objective is on target.
In the first quarter, SUFU members shared Advocacy Day information with self advocates and agencies around the state.
Twenty eight self advocates and supporters attended Advocacy Days at the State House. In addition to the SUFU officers, fifteen members of Family Matters and ten members of the Ellsworth local self advocacy group journeyed to Augusta to learn about the legislative process and tour the State House.
This objective is on target.
In the first quarter, self advocates worked with a task force on Alternatives to Guardianship, Quality Services and Housing Coalition and DHHS Lead Teams.
SUFU members have a ‘seat at the table’ at MEDAC and the Community Inclusion work group.
The two self advocates who serve on the Alternatives to Guardianship task force helped to develop the language that would be used for a statement of consent. The statement has the potential to reduce requests for guardianship in some instances. The work group continues to meet to review information that will be published in a booklet and on the SUFU website.
SUFU Vice- Chair, Tyler Ingalls, currently serves on the Housing Summit Planning Committee. The Summit, planned for Oct. 9, is being co hosted by the housing coalition and the MDDC.
SUFU officers have worked with allies to form the DD Advocates Coalition to improve communication, services and address budget concerns.
This objective is on target.
SUFU held a statewide meeting March 18th in Bangor. Speakers from ally organizations included the DDC, DRC, and State Office of Advocacy. Speakers shared information on how and when to advocate on current legislation, asked for feedback from self-advocates about how budget cuts have affected their services, and information on how to use the state advocacy system.
This objective is on target.
The Presque Isle self advocates continue to access support for their local group from a volunteer community member.
A Pittsfield self advocate has obtained support and a local advisor from their agency due to the strong self advocacy efforts by Region three SUFU Director, Teresa Carmichael.
KFI has expanded their support of local self advocacy to include Millinocket; in addition to supporting self advocacy in Lincoln and Bangor.
In Central Maine self advocates participated in ‘A Meet and Greet’ to share SUFU organizational information and community outreach to increase community awareness of SUFU.
At a luncheon hosted by CAARC, SUFU Chair, Kile Pelletier shared SUFU organizational information, mission statement, goals, significance of supporting local self advocacy groups and the importance of a ‘seat at the agency table’ for self advocates at a luncheon for Aroostook area community service providers. Steve Richards, CAARC, invited agency leaders from around The County.
This objective has been achieved and is ongoing.
In the previous quarter, SUFU officers met with allies to form DD Advocates Coalition to address budget cuts and the impact on services provided to people. SUFU leaders urged MACSP to encourage provider agencies to include self advocates in service and budget decisions whenever possible.
The DD advocates coalition met again in January to share current updates on the curtailment and status of the budget. The Coalition discussed the need for more consistent communication between stakeholders and other entities of the coalition. Members discussed some of the barriers to sharing clear information. Legal requirements, necessary wording and concerns over creating a situation of panic were a few of the items discussed.
Officers facilitated the second meeting with a planned outcome for a statement of agreement on how stakeholders would work together. This was not accomplished and is unfinished business at this time.
Officers have sent a letter requesting meeting with MACSP and others. SUFU members have identified the need for a clear statement of agreement between agencies and stakeholders, along with further discussion on self advocates having a ‘seat at the table’ at agencies for budget and service decisions.
Members of SUFU have met with DHHS Lead teams in region one and three to share information. DHHS Regional offices have encouraged and welcomed the opportunity to learn more about SUFU, goals, mission and trainings. Through united efforts, plans are underway, meetings and trainings have been scheduled for case managers and community service providers in efforts to improve services and communication between DHHS, providers and self advocates from around the state.
Self advocates have shared organizational information in two DHHS regional newsletters.
One self-advocate participated in a meeting held by DHHS asking for input concerning changes to the DSP training curriculum currently required by the state.
SUFU shared organizational information with members and staff of the Maine Developmental Disabilities Council.
Officers met with Jane Gallivan at a recent officers meeting to share information on the budget, lead team connections and many other topics.
This objective has been achieved.
Self advocates, supporters and allies united in Bangor for two days at ‘Bridging the Gap’ conference. Attendees had the opportunity to attend workshops, regional events, view resources, network and celebrate 15 years of self advocacy.
In January, self-advocates interested in conference planning met in Orono. DHHS Training coordinator Laurie Kimball assisted SUFU staff and self- advocates with skills for debriefing after a conference. The volunteer planning committee gained skills such as questions to ask themselves regarding physical space, meeting the needs of attendees, materials, accessibility, etc. They will use these skills in planning future conferences.
SUFU obtained information such as hotel fees, food cost, available supports, resources and transportation needed to host a statewide conference. After a cost assessment was completed and feedback from many local groups was considered, the SUFU Board of Directors voted to host three smaller regional events in the fall of ’09. Regional planning committees will focus on accessing community resources as much as possible to reduce costs and increase conference participation. SUFU will host a regional conference in Aroostook, Penobscot and Androscoggin County.
This objective has been achieved.
SUFU participated in conference calls with NEAT states in January and March to share information and state reports on self-advocacy activities. This information was collected for reporting to Self Advocates Becoming Empowered’s national Board of Directors meetings.
Officers participated on two teleconference calls hosted by SABE and the University of Minnesota. This was a national conversation on the state of the states' budgets! During the first call, state directors explained what is going on around the country and contributing factors. The second call focused on self- advocates sharing concerns on budget cuts and how people served are being affected by the cuts. The call included suggestions on what can be done.
This objective has been achieved.
Over 25 supporters from around the state attended the presentation ‘Are you really supporting self advocacy?’ in Bangor. The focus of the presentation was to aid supporters in the ability to self identify and reduce mixed messages given when supporting people. Participants discussed things such as what is said, voice tone, body language and behaviors of supports that may lead people to feel they are not being supported in advocating for themselves and their choices.
In the previous quarter, four self advocates in Danforth were working on ways to tell their stories.
A SUFU member spoke on the importance of early intervention and inclusion for a United Way promotional video.
A Bangor area self advocate shared his story as part of a conference workshop ‘When Friends Aren’t Friends’
In the previous quarter, thirty eight self advocates and supporters attended three Project Vote trainings.
SUFU Officers enlisted the help of DRC Executive Director Kim Moody and liaison Jodi Benvie to obtain information on delegating, managing staff, communicating with allies, asking for assistance if needed and leading of the organization.
Approximately twenty-five Ellsworth area self advocates and supporters were trained in Emergency Preparedness.
SUFU Chair, Kile Pelletier, shared SUFU organizational information, mission statement, goals, importance of supporting local self advocacy groups and a ‘seat at the agency table’ for self advocates at a luncheon for Aroostook area community service providers. The luncheon was hosted by Central Aroostook ARC and eight people attended.
SUFU members have been reaching out to youths and young adults with disabilities by attending transition fairs in Northern, Central and Southern Maine to share SUFU and self advocacy information.
Members of the Brunswick group shared information on supporting people with disabilities in an emergency with Red Cross volunteers.
Community outreach and information has been shared with employment specialists, teachers and youths at Southern Maine Advisory Council on Transition in Saco.
Members of the Ellsworth and Millinocket groups both received
SUFU organizational information, mission statement, goals, allies as information resources, legislative advocacy days, importance of local self advocacy groups, talking to your legislators and a ‘seat at the agency table’ for self advocates.
Seventeen members of the Casco/Norway group received self advocacy training.
The Lewiston/Auburn local group has done outreach to connect one of their self advocates with a self-advocacy group in the Washington DC area. One of the groups members may be moving to the D.C. area and the group is supporting him to connect with a self advocacy group in what may be his new community.
SUFU signed a Memorandum of Understanding to participate in a grant funded project with the Maine Coalition Against Sexual Assault. This grant would fund a project to provide personnel, training, technical assistance, advocacy, intervention, risk reduction and prevention of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault and stalking against individuals with disabilities.
Respectfully Submitted,
Gayna M. Cook