Self-Advocacy Leadership Task Force

This task force was established on October 1, 2011, to help self-advocates and future self-advocates develop leadership skills. The more specific goal of the task force is:

“In partnership with individuals with developmental disabilities, families and other community partners, the Council will provide training, technical assistance and support to build capacity of individuals with developmental disabilities for self-determination, independence and meaningful participation with their communities.”

Task Force Members

The programs supported by the Self-Advocacy Leadership Task Force for the 2012-2016 planning period include:

Partners in Policymaking (PIP)

This is an advocacy training program for individuals with developmental disabilities and family members. The program is designed to provide information, training, and skill building so that participants may better advocate for change. The intended goal is to achieve a partnership between people needing and using services and those in a position to make policy and law.

Youth Leadership Forum (YLF)

The Able Trust will host the Florida Youth Leadership Forum in July in Tallahassee. At least 50 current high school sophomores and juniors who have disabilities will be selected as delegates (at least 15 are students with developmental disabilities). The YLF is designed to bring together young people with disabilities and with leadership potential and help prepare them for the future at a four-day event where students with disabilities cultivate leadership, citizenship and social skills.

Florida Self-Advocacy Alliance (FSAA)

Provide funding to help the self-advocates establish a statewide developmental disability self-advocacy network to build self-advocates’ capacity for advocacy and systems change. The FSAA may choose to have the Council support its efforts to print brochures and member applications, support means for groups communication, mailings and to hold an annual conference

Reaching Out for Self-Determination: Promoting Self-Determination to Unserved and Underserved Individuals with Developmental Disabilities

The purpose is to conduct outreach activities and trainings to promote self-determination for unserved and underserved Floridians with Developmental Disabilities in 3 areas of the state. Those targeted include individuals in rural areas, minorities and/or Spanish-speaking individuals, and those for whom English is a second language. Based on the needs assessment, training materials will be developed to promote self-determination, self-advocacy and independence.

 

Self-Advocacy Grassroots (FL Sand – Florida Self-Advocates NetworkeD)

The purpose is to conduct a needs assessment to best identify and provide supports and resources currently needed by this grassroots organization. This will result in assisting the FL SAND members to participate in cross-disability and culturally diverse leadership coalition in their local communities and state-wide. In addition, the three additional local self-advocacy groups under Florida SAND will be established during this time period.

Becoming Leaders: Training for Self-Advocates

Year 1
Develop Train the Trainer guide from Toolkit and train 6 self-advocates to provide training and mentorship to individuals with developmental disabilities.

Years 2-5
Each year in years 2-5, 6 or more self-advocates will be trained to train other individuals with developmental disabilities to become leaders. The training will help those to learn more about self-determination disability issues and education of public policy makers.

Next Chapter Book Clubs

There are Clubs around the state where members with a variety of reading levels participate in a group to read and discuss books together to improve their social skills and their self-confidence. The clubs meet in a public place in their community such as a fast food restaurant or library.