Council-Sponsored Grant Activities:
Self Advocacy

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SELF ADVOCACY:

SAM (Self-Advocates Minnesota)

SAM is the new networking group in Minnesota for people with developmental and other disabilities in Minnesota. It was developed over the last few years by self-advocates and allies in the state. Self-advocates were frustrated that self-advocacy received minimal funding and had no structure. They were frustrated because there was not a visible self-advocacy organization acting as the "hub" of the movement in Minnesota. Therefore, through multiple discussions over the last few years, SAM was launched in 2007.

SAM uses small group discussions to help members process and own information

SAM State Leadership Circle decided to increase public awareness about the hurtful use of the “R” word in popular culture.

SAM is not a new non-profit but a networking, communication hub for the self-advocacy movement in Minnesota. SAM does not dictate the direction of any local, community-based self-advocacy group. Rather, SAM supports their efforts in the following ways: SAM raises money and gets resources to self-advocacy groups across Minnesota. SAM provides technical assistance to self-advocacy groups to help them meet their goals. SAM puts systems of communication in place to better communicate and learn from each other.

Dignity is what SAM is all about.

SAM groups use theater and role-playing to explore ideas and concepts about empowerment and disability rights.

The mission of SAM is to promote the human and civil rights of people with developmental disabilities and help support people with all disabilities to be active participants in the larger disability and human rights movement. SAM is located in six regions. Each region works on personal empowerment, disability awareness and systems change.

SAM members explore the concept of equal justice.

SAM groups invite a woman from Iraq to talk about services for people with disabilities in Middle East.

SELF ADVOCACY

Supplier:
   Advocating Change Together, Inc.
   1821 University Avenue, Suite 302-South
   St. Paul, Minnesota 55104
   (651) 641-0297 voice
   (800) 641-0059 toll free
   (651) 641-4053 fax
   www.selfadvocacy.com
   Email: act@selfadvocacy.org

Federal Funds: $100,000 (Central and Northwest regions)

State legislative appropriation:  $140,000 for SFY 2008 and $134,000 for SFY 2009 (Southwest, Southeast, and Northeast regions)

Other match funds:  $21,565

State funded regions:

Total of 37 training sessions held
Total of 626 self advocates participated
Total of 46 self advocates were teachers/trainers for training sessions

Increased independence, productivity, self determination, integration and Inclusion (IPSII) as a result of the training sessions:

Total of 559 self advocates completed the ADD customer satisfaction survey with the following results:

Federally funded regions:

Total of 11 training sessions held
Total of 191 self advocates participated
Total of 41 self advocates were teachers/trainers for training sessions

Increased independence, productivity, self determination, integration and Inclusion (IPSII) as a result of the training sessions:

Total of 179 self advocates completed the ADD customer satisfaction survey with the following results: