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National Conversation

on Advising Self-Advocacy groups

You are invited to join us in a National Conversation on Advising Self-Advocacy Groups!

Tell others who you think will be interested!

The self-advocacy movement has grown stronger over the years and is here to stay. Success, though, often depends on self-advocates getting the support they need. This support is offered by individuals called “advisors.” We understand that advising a self-advocacy group is not always easy. Advisors want to be helpful. But sometimes advisors give too much help, or too little. And sometimes advisors don’t give the right kind of help at all. Anybody who advises a self-advocacy group understands how rewarding it can be… and how hard!

So let’s talk about it! We are hosting three teleconferences on advising self-advocacy groups:

April 7 – May 5 – June 2, 2008.

All will begin at 3pm ET and run for approximately 90 minutes each. Each will include a 60 minute panel presentation and a 30 minute Question and Answer discussion. The panel participants will include advisors and self-advocates. We will learn a lot from these participants. Scroll down to read about the topics that will be discussed during each session.

The registration fee will be $25 per teleconference for ONE phone line. If you use a speaker phone, you can gather people around and listen together! Additional lines will be $25 each.

If you register for all three teleconferences, you will pay only $20 per teleconference or $60 total! Additional lines will also be $20 each. So, it pays to register for all three!

To register download the registration form here:

For each session, the registration deadline is one week prior to the scheduled teleconference. Don’t miss the cut-off!

Come and join us for the first National Conversation on Advising Self-Advocacy Groups! Register Now!!

The topics we will cover during each session are described below:

Teleconference #1: The Nuts and Bolts of the Self-Advocacy Movement
April 7, 2008 – 90 minutes (3pm ET)
Registration Deadline: March 31, 2008

  • What is the self-advocacy movement?
  • What are the goals of the movement?
  • What is the self-advocate’s role in the movement?
  • What is the advisor’s role in the movement?
  • What are self-advocates proud of having achieved so far?
  • What do self-advocates worry about?
  • What help do self-advocates need to be successful?
  • What help do self-advocates need to be successful?

Teleconference #2: The Advisor – Coach, Guide or Doer?
May 5, 2008 – 90 minutes (3pm ET)
Registration Deadline: April 28, 2008

  • What tasks are advisors typically asked to do?
  • What styles of advising are most effective?
  • What are the biggest lessons that advisors have learned?
  • What are the biggest challenges facing advisors?
  • What do advisors worry about?
  • What conflicts do advisors run into with others in the service system?

Teleconference #3: Growing with the Self-Advocacy Movement
June 2, 2008 – 90 minutes (3pm ET)
Registration Deadline: May 26, 2008

  • How is the relationship between self-advocates and their advisors evolving?
  • What support do advisors need to do their job well?
  • What indicators can we use to describe "good" advising?


HSRI Link

An initiative of the
Self-Advocate Leadership Network at
The Human Services Research Institute

Send comments to: theriot AT hsri DOT org
Last major reorganization: May, 2007

Self Advocate Leadership Network link
Self-Advocate
Leadership Network