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