self advocates photoSelf-Advocates

To be a self-advocate to me means to be brave and to stand up and
tell people what you want and how you live, how you want to live your life." 
Ned Russell-Sullivan, Self-Advocate

Watch our "Self-Advocates" Video

Play our "Self-Advocates" Video

 

 

The Arc of Indiana is strongly committed to empowering people with intellectual and other development disabilities, Self-Advocates, to be self sufficient and independent
to the greatest extent possible.

  • Self-advocates are people with disabilities who speak up for themselves and others. It means that although people with disabilities may ask others for support, they have the right to make decisions about their own lives without unnecessary influence or control by others.
  • Self-advocates are people who know and understand their rights, take responsibility for their own lives, and fight against discrimination and stereotypes.
  • The self-advocacy movement is about making sure that people with disabilities are treated as equals, with the right to the same choices, responsibilities, and chances as everybody else.
  • It is about people with disabilities coming together to achieve the goals of living the life they want, with the supports they need, to live, learn, work and be involved in their community. By having group meetings and holding conferences, self-advocates work together to help improve their own lives and the lives of others.

The Arc of Indiana supports and encourages all people with disabilities to become self-advocates, and to become involved with Self-Advocates of Indiana, a statewide organization run by and for people with developmental disabilities.

Self-Advocates of Indiana

Self-Advocates of Indiana was established in 1990 by people with developmental disabilities.

Mission
The 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:

  • Exchange ideas.
  • Learn about rights and responsibilities for ourselves and other people with disabilities.
  • Help people with disabilities understand their rights.
  • Learn to run a self-advocacy group.
  • Encourage self-advocates to meet in their communities and speak out to the community about self advocacy.
  • Learn to communicate so that others can understand.

Learn more by visiting the Self-Advocates of Indiana