all about groups A publication of the Self-Advocacy Association of New York State, Inc. 0 Balltown Road, Building 5, Schenectady, NY 12304 l: 518-382-1454 www.sanys.org Introduction Self-Advocacy is based on the belief that all people have the right to make choices for themselves. We have value as individuals and believe in ourselves-we want others to believe in us too! People with developmental and other disabilities are better able to speak for themselves than anyone else. Self-Advocacy is speaking up for yourself and responsibly living your life the way you choose. People should have equal opportunity regardless of their disability. Self-Advocates help and encourage each other to change things for the better. Self-Advocacy is: - Making your own choices - Speaking or acting on behalf of yourself or others - Standing up for your rights - Learning about your rights and responsibilities - Fighting discrimination - Asking questions if you don't understand something Thanks, Bob, you Self-Advocates explained that help and encourage really well! each other... Support - Where groups Þt in Self-advocacy groups provide a supportive environment where individuals can develop conÞdence and independence while working on issues that are important to them. It is important to help each other, and to always try to include and value the opinion of everyone in the group. Encouraging people to make their own choices and keeping a positive attitude helps others to become empowered and more independent. People learn leadership skills and how to effectively communicate. Self-Advocacy groups also are a place where people come together to make changes in their communities and society. The activities of self-advocacy groups reßect the wishes and decisions of the group members. People can work together to solve common problems on a policy level, like getting access to transportation. Self-advocacy groups provide a supportive environment Starting A Group Adapted from People First of Washington OfÞcer Handbook Self-Advocacy groups are as unique as the people who form them. All successful Self-Advocacy groups have several things in common. All Self-Advocacy groups need: u a purpose or mission shared by each member of the group u a leader to take responsibility to organize and run meetings u concrete goals u members who are willing to work toward these goals Why start a group? Adapted from SABE Self-Advocacy Start-Up Toolkit A self-advocacy group is a place to: uÞnd out more about the rights of people with disabilities uwork on issues with other people who share a common view ulearn how to advocate for yourself and others udiscover how to make changes in your home and workplace udevelop leadership and public speaking skills uhear about upcoming events like conferences and regional meetings udevelop friendships uutilize the resources of the Self-Advocacy Association ulearn useful information from each other uget support from others For Education... -Help myself and others uSpeak up for yourself -Work on problem-solving and decision-making skills Find out about rights and responsibilities and the options you have through learning about other people's experiences -Voting and how government works - Practice public speaking For Human Rights... -Work for better services and programs uAdvocate for community living and inclusion uAdvocate for real jobs and fair wages -Promote dignity and respect -To overcome discrimination by educating the community -Advocate for better laws To Socialize... -To meet together to make friends -Plan and hold picnics, parties and recreation activities -Have fun with friends after the meeting -To feel good about myself and others around me Nine Steps to Starting a Successful Self-Advocacy Group Adapted from SABE Start-Up Toolkit It is important for members of the group to have control right from the beginning so that the group will belong to the members. Starting a group takes time so that everyone will understand what is going on and be able to participate in starting the group. 1 Make sure everyone understands what a Self-Advocacy group does... why people meet as a group. 2 Decide on the responsibilities for getting the group going... place to meet, transportation, publicity, etc. 3 Find out how other groups work and learn from them... invite another group to visit and talk. 4 Decide on the rules for how you will work together: ofÞcers, advisors, voting, etc. 5 Develop "team spirit" and a good working friendship with members. 6 Decide on goals for the group. Start small...build up. 7 Decide on ways to reach your goals...an action plan. 8 Develop "connections" within the community. 9 Evaluate the group, and make changes when reasonable. Nine Ways to Support A Self-Advocacy Group Over Time Adapted from SABE Start-Up Toolkit 1 Make sure people know when and where the meeting is (call people, send letters or calendars, put up notices, etc.) 2 Make sure the advisor(s) know what their jobs are. 3 Have OfÞcer's Meetings where ofÞcers in the group practice and get ready, talk about problems, etc. 4 Find ways to get everyone involved with the group so that everyone has a job, a chance to talk, responsibility, etc. 5 Use easy words, pictures, and videos so that everyone understands what is going on! 6 Make sure the goals of the group are real and important in people's everyday lives. 7 Make a 3 to 6 month plan for the group and set goals with the group once a year. 8 Make meetings fun! Self-Advocacy can be hard work...have fun sometimes. 9 Face any problems with the group "head on." Part of Self-Advocacy is solving problems. Role in SANYS What is SANYS? SANYS stands for the Self-Advocacy Association of New York State. We also refer to our organization simply as SA or SANYS. SANYS is a not-for-proÞt organization run by people with developmental disabilities. The broad goal of SANYS is to support those who speak up for what people with developmental disabilities want. Grassroots leadership... SANYS is a grassroots organization, which means that our base of support and our leadership comes from a big pool of potential self-advocate leaders. Groups' role in SA structure... Most SANYS board members are or were in SA groups, and this experience led them to want to do more. The board is at least in part made up of the leadership of local SA groups. A position as an ofÞcer in a group is a great asset to self-advocates who want to get on the board of directors. SA Board members are elected by their peers at regional SA conferences. Leadership (Adapted from SABE Self-Advocacy Start-Up Toolkit) To be a good ofÞcer, you must also be a good leader. u Effective leaders think about ways to make the groups they lead stronger. Poor leaders will make members feel like they cannot do things on their own, and refuse help from anyone. u One of the most important parts of self-advocacy is speaking for yourself, and a good leader will always try to help members to do that. This promotes leadership within the group, and establishes a group that will support itself over time. u Leadership must be shared so that other members can Þll ofÞces when they become open. A good ofÞcer will teach the members how to be ofÞcers and conduct meetings. Good leaders encourage everyone to participate in the group and keep the group focused. Good leaders encourage everyone to participate in the group and keeps the group focused Being Self-Advocates within a group Members have a responsibility to let their thoughts be known. No one should ever feel like they can't speak up, even if no one else agrees with them. A good group will make people feel like they can say whatever they think about an issue, as long as it is done in a polite way. Everyone's comments should be valued, and members have a duty to respect and encourage each other. Members should also make it clear if they do not understand something. If someone doesn't understand what is happening at a meeting, they should ask questions until they understand. Many times when one person doesn't understand something, chances are there are others who have the same question. The group is a place to learn. Being in a self-advocacy group is really being a self-advocate with a group of other self-advocates. Everyone is equal and should show respect and expect to be respected. This is important to the groups' ability to consider all sides of an issue before making a decision about that issue. Members of a group should try to attend as many group meetings as possible. Speaking up: Participation Some groups have time on their agenda for people to "check in" and share something about themselves. For example: "I'm Jane and I just got a kitten," or "I'm Joe and I just started a new job." Here's what the various ofÞcers do! Adapted from People First of Washington OfÞcer Handbook President: The president is elected by members of the SA group. Before the Meeting: The president is responsible for calling the other ofÞcers to plan an agenda meeting. During the course of the meeting: - Calls the meeting to order - Asks the secretary to take roll call, or have people introduce themselves - Asks the secretary to read the minutes of the last meeting aloud - Asks the treasurer to deliver the treasurer's report - Opens the discussion about old business (any reports or projects people are working on) - Opens the discussion about new business (new ideas on projects people want to work on, announcements, etc. u Introduces the program, if any (guest speaker, etc.) - Calls the meeting to an end The president must regularly attend meetings. If unable to come, the president must notify the vice-president so he or she can run the meeting. The president encourages people to participate in the group meeting and also for them to attend events like regional meetings and conventions. Vice-President: - Is elected - Helps plan the agenda - Fills in for the president and runs meetings when needed - Helps the president during the meeting when needed or asked - Attends meetings regularly, and notiÞes president if unable to attend Secretary: - Is elected - Helps plan the agenda - Is able to read and write, or Þnd a helper During the course of the meeting: - Reads roll call and checks off people's names if they are at the meeting. If people introduce themselves, then the secretary checks off names as he or she hears them. - The secretary reads the written notes of the last meeting. The notes are called minutes. - Takes minutes (notes) about what happens during the meeting. - If both the president and vice-president are absent, the secretary Þlls in and runs the meeting. - Helps the president during the meeting when needed or asked. - Attends meetings regularly, and notiÞes president if unable to attend. Treasurer: - Is elected - Helps plan the agenda - Can count money and add and subtract numbers, or Þnd a helper - Deposits the group's money in the bank - Keeps track of all the money the group takes in and how much the group spends. (The group advisor can help keep the records in order and Þled in a treasurer's notebook) - Runs meetings if no other ofÞcer can do so - Helps the president during the meeting when needed or asked - Attends meetings regularly, and notiÞes president if not Group Meeting Basics - The group should decide the tone of the meeting. Meetings range in formality and structure. Some groups meet monthly and others may meet weekly or twice a month. - OfÞcers can meet with the advisor prior to each meeting to review the agenda. - Some groups collect dues to use for activities they plan or to order food after the meeting. - The advisor or secretary should take notes. - The President calls the meeting to order to begin the meeting. Sample Meeting Elements These are some steps a group can choose to use when running a meeting: Old business - The group reviews previous meeting minutes New business - President asks the group if there are any announcements etc.. Project updates - If group members are working on speciÞc issues in between meetings, they take turns talking about the progress they have made. Check in - Some groups give people 1-2 minutes each to share how they are doing. Group discussion and planning - Groups work on projects together and need time to discuss the things they want to work on. Everyone should participate in project work. Relationships are also a part of groups and some groups plan to have snacks or a meal after a meeting to give time to socialize. Group Rules - Groups decide on how to organize and meet. Some groups decide on rules when they start to meet while others develop rules as they go along. Examples of rules are: taking turns to speak, and respecting everyone. Robert's Rules of Order - This book is often used as a resource to clarify rules and etiquette for conducting meetings. Take turns to speak and respect everyone Agenda - In Depth Adapted from People First of Washington OfÞcer Handbook All ofÞcers should hold a meeting before the whole group meets to plan the agenda for the group meeting. The agenda is a list of things that need to be discussed during the meeting. All ofÞcers should help to plan the agenda. Suggested agenda items: 1 Call the meeting to order. The president or ofÞcer in charge gets everyone's attention and says "This meeting will come to order." Everyone should quiet down so the meeting can start. 2 Roll call or introductions. The secretary reads roll call or people introduce themselves. 3 The Minutes. The secretary reads (or has someone else read) the minutes of the last meeting aloud and people have the opportunity to add or make corrections to the minutes. The ofÞcer in charge asks the members for a motion to accept the minutes (as read, with additions, or with changes.) There is a vote to accept the minutes. 4 Treasurer's Report. The report is read aloud by the treasurer. 5 Old business. Old business is the list of items that were not fully discussed at the last meeting. This is the time for committees to report on projects the group has been working on. Before ending this part of the meeting the ofÞcer in charge asks "Is there any other old business?" 6 New Business. New items which were not discussed at the last meeting. The ofÞcer in charge opens the discussion and asks "Is there any new business." 7 Announcements remind members about upcoming events. Members can also share things happening in their lives like work, home life, hobbies, new skills, volunteering or vacations. 8 The Program is the time for learning new things of interest to members. If possible, this should be done in an entertaining way. Groups could consider guest speakers, a relevant video, or working on a group volunteer project. 9 End the Meeting. The ofÞcer in charge asks for a motion to end the meeting. After someone motions, the president calls for a vote to end the meeting. After the vote, the meeting is ended by the president. Decision-Making If there are many different issues the group wants to work on, you may need a way to decide which one issue to work on even if people feel strongly about several. One way to do this is with a brainstorming and vetting process. - First, people should bring up whatever ideas they have and the secretary should record them. - People can vote, by a show of hands, for the issue they think is the most important as the list is read aloud. - Record votes and make a short list (with, for example, the top three vote-getters.) Keep the narrowed down list and have everyone vote again to narrow down the list further until the choice is only between two options. ...look at all sides of an issue, and discuss it. - Then take a Þnal vote (using the procedure described in the next chapter) to democratically decide which issue to work on. Set reasonable goals. When working on an issue, think about what small steps you will need to take to reach your larger goal and plan them on a realistic timeline. For example, if you wanted to hold a bake sale to raise funds to send some group members to the statewide conference, you would need to decide a number of things. - Who will be in charge of money? u Who will do the cooking or buy the food? u Where will it be? Each of these questions lends itself to a task. We have to come up with someone to take care of the money and to get the baked goods, and someone else will have to secure a place to hold the sale. Who will that be? Another smaller decision must be made. Think through what you want to do and write down the steps. There are a number of ways to assign responsibilities but everyone should have a role--asking for volunteers is always a good Þrst step. Decision-Making & Voting Anything that is the business of the whole group should be decided among the members by voting. The president does not vote unless there is a tie. A motion is an idea that someone would like the members of the group to consider. Here is the process for making a motion and seeing it through to a vote. - First someone makes a motion by saying "I motion that..." - Before there is any discussion, another member must second the motion, which means that they also want to consider the issue. - If the motion is seconded, the secretary writes the motion in the minutes, who made the motion and who seconded it. - The presiding ofÞcer then asks the secretary to restate the motion (say it aloud). - After the motion is read there is discussion about all aspects of the motion, but not about other things. - If there is no discussion, ask a couple of questions or wait for a little while for people to think of what they have to say, if anything, about the topic. - If someone brings up a topic that is not part of the motion being discussed, you can use a big piece of paper or ßip chart to record that topic and get back to it later as "new business." These topics can also be put on the agenda as "old business" for the next meeting. - When discussion seems to stop, the presiding ofÞcer asks if there is any more discussion. If there is no other discussion, the presiding ofÞcer asks if there is a call for a vote. Any member can call for a vote. You can vote by a show of hands or by saying "Yea" for Yes I am in favor of the motion or "Nay" for I am opposed to the motion. The presiding ofÞcer then announces the results of the vote. Electing OfÞcers Adapted from People First of Washington OfÞcer Handbook A nomination is the way a member says that he or she would like to have a particular person be an ofÞcer. Here's the process: 1. The presiding ofÞcer opens the nominations. u The members nominate who they want to be elected u If the person nominated wants to run for the election they accept the nomination - No one can nominate themselves - There should be at least two and no more than Þve people running for an ofÞce 1 Nominations are closed by a motion from a member. 2 A vote is held to choose between the nominated candidates. 3 The presiding ofÞcer continues the nominations for each other ofÞce. On the day of the election, for each ofÞce: - Each person who is nominated gives a campaign speech, telling why they would be best for the ofÞce - A vote is taken (by secret ballot or whatever the group decides is best) - The votes are counted u The presiding ofÞcer announces the winner - The winner gives a thank you speech - If there is a tie, the members should vote again, and choose between the two nominees who got the most votes Secret Ballot: Voting by secret ballot is the way many groups prefer to handle the election of ofÞcers. On a slip of paper, a member will write the name of the person they would like to vote for or use a pre-made ballot made listing the candidates (which can include pictures). The slips are dropped into a box or other container. The slips are then tallied. When members can't write, a box is prepared for each nominee and a picture of each candidate is put on their box. The members are each given a slip of paper which they drop into the box of the candidate of their choice. Secret ballot is the way many groups handle the election of ofÞcers... Projects that groups have worked on: Adapted from SABE Self-Advocacy Start-Up Toolkit - Changing the name of an agency - Changing the location of or having a cross-walk put in on a busy road - Public Education - increasing public awareness of disabilities by speaking to staff of agencies, schools, faith-based organizations, boards, and other community and political groups. - Organizing events - conferences, dances, holiday and other parties, picnics, political events, sporting events, trips, etc... - Letter writing campaigns - Mentoring students with disabilities - Voter registration drives - Blood donor drives - Volunteering in the community - anything from teaching reading and math skills to helping out at a local food bank or nursing home. - Fund-raising - Bake sales, car washes, ticket sales, 50/50 rafßes, spaghetti dinners, tag sales etc... - Bringing their agenda to politicians and law makers. SA Group vs. Advisory Council What is an ofÞcial SA group? Note: We want to answer this question for two reasons. One, there is a lot of confusion about the difference between a self-advocacy group and an advisory council. Two, we want to make sure that SA groups are formed and controlled by self-advocates. This is not to say that an advisory council is a bad thing. It's good for agencies to involve people in decision-making and seek input; that is part of self-advocacy too. Criteria for status as an ofÞcial group of the Self-Advocacy Association of New York State: 1 Groups must elect their leaders-president and vice-president etc. 2 Groups choose their own advisor(s) 3 Groups develop their own agenda and activities. They participate in regional and state SA activities (even if only one person goes to the regional meeting, conference, etc.) 4 The main purpose of the group is self-advocacy activities 5 If afÞliated with an agency, the group remains independent of that agency and the way that agency functions. These groups would not be SA groups unless they also have the above listed elements. 6 The group maintains membership records and a list of current ofÞcers with SA's main ofÞce. The group maintains... a list of current ofÞcers QualiÞcations Required to Be a Candidate for a SA Board Position An individual who wishes to become a SANYS board member must meet the following guidelines: 1 Be a member of an SA group with one year of experience in a leadership role (as an ofÞcer) and a reccomendation from the current SA group the candidate is a member of. 2 Available to travel to 4 Board meetings, which at this time include three days and two nights in Albany. 3 Willing to speak for themselves and others including in public (at meetings, etc.) 4 Available to attend regional meetings 5 Show committment to activities within the region they represent 6 Have a developmental disability (receive or be eligible to receive services from OMRDD) The Role of the Advisor Self-advocates found the following traits and skills in an advisor helpful to groups: - Assist the group with making contacts, this could be by inviting guest speakers to the meeting or by supporting group members to write letters to legislators and local ofÞcials. - Be supportive and stand by the group. Support us to do the work we want to do. - Help us to explore our community. - Be ßexible and open minded, we need to try different projects and if we fail we can always modify our project and try again. - Teacher-Counselor-Motivator - Be a resource and provide information Examples of tasks advisors often do: - Help the secretary to take notes - Assist the group to draft a letter - Help the group Þnd an accessible meeting space, and open or close the room if needed - Encourage members to do as much as they can. - Assist the group to make a schedule and discuss meeting format options - Invite other people to the group - Assist with transportation - Help us publicize our accomplishments and be heard by our directors - Help us get to regional meetings - Assist the group to get back on track when needed - Inform the group of their options as they make decisions Ten Questions to Ask Yourself as an Advisor These questions were developed by People First of Washington: 1 Am I really listening to what self-advocates have to say or am I imposing my point of view? 2 Do I see the real human growth and potential in self-advocates or do I see "disability" and "limitations?" 3 Have I "checked out" my actions and feelings with self-advocates? 4 Are any of my actions based upon a potential conßict of interest or a need to be controlling in any way? 5 Do my Actions: - increase the self-respect, self-conÞdence, and self-reliance of self-advocates, and encourage them to take risks? - decrease the self-advocates' dependence on me? - increase a peer support system and encourage self-advocate leaders to take over my role - teach people a process for making decisions, solving problems, and doing things on their own vs. controlling things - decrease the chance that you will be seen as a "manipulator" - increase the self-advocate's opporunities to understnd and participate in the decisions that affect their lives? - encourage a positive role for diverse membership? 6 Do my actions promote respect and recognize individual growth as well as group spirit? 7 Do my actions encourage and assist self-advocates in obtaining and understanding a wide variety of information and different points of view so that people can make informed decisions? Have my actions developed "allies" for the self-advocates point of view? 8 Do my actions recognize that anger is okay and and indeed justiÞed in many instances, and encourage people to use anger for positive growth and societal change? 9 Do I recognize that is okay for self-advocates to: u question my point of view? u work me out of a job? u tell me that they don't need me and can decide on their own? - give me negative feedback about what I am doing? - not see me as an authority Þgure 10 Do I realize that advisors as well as self-advocates and self-advocacy organizations are fallible (or imperfect) and therefore make mistakes and have problems just like anyone else or any other organization?