Funding Available for New Self-Advocates Groups
The Arc Network, a project of The Arc of
Indiana funded through a grant from the Family and Social Services
Administration (FSSA), has $20,000 in start-up
funds available to assist in developing ten new self-advocates groups throughout
the state. $2,000 in start-up funds are available to each eligible group.
Please see below guidelines from Self-Advocates of Indiana regarding
requirements for a self-advocates group. If you have a newly formed
self-advocates group,
with officers and a minimum of ten members, the group is eligible to apply for
funds.
To apply, please submit a completed application, available at:
Self-Advocates Group Application
For more information, contact: Nanette Whightsel, 317-977-2375 or
1-800-382-9100 or
nwhightsel@arcind.org
SELF-ADVOCATES OF INDIANA
Guidelines for Local Self-Advocates Groups
Self-advocates of Indiana is a state-wide program established on January 10, 1990, by people with developmental disabilities.
History
Self-Advocates
of Indiana is the culmination of an effort started in 1989. The Governor's
Planning Council on Developmental Disabilities provided a grant to
The Arc of Allen County in Fort Wayne, Indiana that was used to provide three
regional trainings in November, 1989 and a leadership conference on
January 10, 1990. Eighty-four self-advocates attended one of the three
trainings. They were given the tools to begin their own local groups. T
he Leadership Conference officially began the state-wide organization. The first
goals of the state-wide group were to start a newsletter and develop a
handbook for how to start a local chapter.
Mission
The stated mission of
Self-Advocates of Indiana is:
To learn our rights and to speak out about our
rights so that
we get the respect we deserve.
Purpose
The purpose of Self-Advocates
of Indiana is to:
1.
exchange ideas;
2.
learn about rights and responsibilities for
themselves and other people with disabilities;
3.
help people with disabilities understand their
rights;
4.
learn to run a self-advocacy group;
5.
encourage
self-advocates to meet in their communities and to speak out to the community
about
self-advocacy; and,
6. learn to communicate so that others
can understand.
Rules
In order for a local chapter to become a member of the state organization the local group must:
1.
Have at least 10 members.
2.
Have monthly meetings.
3.
Be willing to speak out in
their community concerning issues of self-advocates.
4.
Have a representative for the
state group.
a. the representative must be a person with a developmental disability.
b. only representatives vote on proposals brought before the state group.
c. representatives must meet quarterly, starting April 1990 at The Arc State Convention.
5. Only people with disabilities can be members of local groups.
6. Each group may have one or more helpers who do not have a vote.
7. Local chapters will not pay to belong to the state group.
8. Local chapters may charge membership fees to their members.