About Us

The Self-Advocate Leadership Network, established in 1998, is a collaboration between self-advocate from across the country and the Human Services Research Institute (HSRI). We offer training directly to self-advocates and others - including family members, direct support staff and board members.

The curriculum, "My Voice, My Choice - A Manual for Self-Advocates," provides the basis for much of the training. "My Voice, My Choice" emphasizes basic skills and information related to self-advocacy, how service systems work, and self-determination. The curriculum is designed in a way that makes the information easy to learn and fun. It uses ordinary language, group activities, puzzles, overheads, and more to help people learn and remember the information.

In addition, training on other topics is available using toolkits. These topics include planning and giving a presentation, establishing an AmeriCorps*VISTA project for self-advocates, and using Medicaid to fund trainings for self-advocates. The training is a great resource for family members, board members, direct support staff and others!

Frequently Asked Questions:
What are the goals of the Leadership Network?
What outcomes can you expect?
What will participants learn about?
How can you bring the Leadership Network to your state?

What are the goals of the Leadership Network?

The goals of the Leadership Network are to provide self-advocates and others with:

• An understanding of the key words and phrases that are used when we talk about the developmental disabilities system - phrases like developmental disability, services and supports, providers, self-determination, community integration, self-advocate, service system, Medicaid, and more.
   
• Information on the reasons behind many of the changes happening in the developmental disabilities field.
   
• An understanding of how "participant-driven" or "self-directed" systems generally work.
   
• The skills and tools to gather information on what is happening in a state's developmental disabilities system, to conduct an analysis of the system, and work for needed changes.
   
• The ability to plan and give a presentation on the information self-advocates have learned from "My Voice, My Choice."
   
• An understanding of how self-advocacy organizations can use Medicaid, AmeriCorps*VISTA, and the Internet to build capacity for their organization.

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What outcomes can you expect?

Training provided by the Self-Advocate Leadership Network:

• Prepares self-advocates to direct their own lives and participate in shaping policy.
   
• Prepares self-advocates to collaborate and work for systems change.
   
• Prepares professionals to help self-advocates play greater leadership roles.
   
• Assures that policy discussions and changes benefit from informed self-advocates.

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What will participants learn about?

• The vocabulary used in developmental disability service systems.
   
• How service systems are managed and financed with special focus on participant-driven or self-directed supports.
   
• How to conduct an analysis of a state system.
   
• How to work together for systems change.
   
• How to plan and give a presentation.
   
• How to build capacity for self-advocacy organizations.

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