Self Advocacy - Other Useful Links
Advocating Change Together, St. Paul, Minnesota, USA, is a disability rights organization run by and for people with intellectual and other disabilities. ACT is committed to the premise of, "It is not the individual who must change to fit society, but society and systems that must change to accommodate all people." More information is available at: http://www.selfadvocacy.com/aboutact.htm.
Association for Self Advocacy (ASA), Zagreb, Croatia, is the only NGO in Croatia that is run by and for people with intellectual disabilities. Established in 2003, ASA meets regularly to work on campaigns and to discuss relevant human rights issues. The organization is particularly concerned with assisting people with intellectual disabilities in the process of moving from institutions into the community. More information is available at: http://www.inkluzija.hr/Inkluzija_Home.htm or email samozastupanje@zg.t-com.hr. To view a film on community living for people with intellectual disabilities in Zagreb, please click here.
The Big Tree: An internet portal for learning disability, London, United Kingdom, is a project of The Rix Centre at the University of East London. The goal of the portal is to provide links to a variety of websites related to intellectual disability. A large amount of Easy to Read content is included on the portal, and many pages include information about self-advocacy. More information is available at: http://www.thebigtree.org/.
Central England People First, Northampton, United Kingdom, is a multi-branch organization composed of, and run by, people with intellectual disabilities. One of the primary aims of the organization is to ensure that people with intellectual disabilities are involved in the planning and development of the services that they receive. Other goals include raising public awareness and working against labeling. More information is available at: http://www.peoplefirst.org.uk/.
European Platform of Self-Advocates (EPSA) is an international self-advocacy group affiliated with Inclusion Europe. The group aims to support the increased empowerment of self-advocates in Europe and to strengthen the European self-advocacy movement in general. To this end, the EPSA organizes conferences, publishes a monthly newsletter and informational brochures, and maintains a list of self-advocacy organizations in Europe. More information is available by clicking here.
IndependenceFirst, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA is a non-profit organization directed by, and for the benefit of, persons with disabilities. IndependenceFirst has a vision for full inclusion of persons with disabilities in all aspects of the community and commits itself to this end. More information is available at: http://www.independencefirst.org/home/.
Kids as Self Advocates (KASA), Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA, is a self-advocacy organization for youth aged 13-21 living with disabilities and chronic health conditions. The KASA National Advisory Board is composed entirely of young adults with disabilities and chronic illnesses. The members of the advisory board recommend policy for the KASA project, lead KASA programming, and serve as resources regarding issues concerning young adults with disabilities and chronic illnesses. The program works to affect policy, educate the greater community, and strengthen the involvement of youth in related organizations. More information is available at: http://www.fvkasa.org/.
One For Us is an Easy-to-Read website designed for people with intellectual disabilities. It includes information on advocacy, health, housing, leisure, money, relationships, rights, and work. One For Us is supported by Speaking Up, a registered United Kingdom charity in Cambridge that provides advocacy services for people who experience learning difficulties, mental ill health and other disabilities. More information is available at: http://www.oneforus.com/.
"Pentru Voi" Self-Advocates, Timisoara, Romania, is an active part of the self-advocates' movement in Romania. The group publishes "Pentru Voi" Magazine, the first Romanian magazine created by and for people with intellectual disabilities. Members of the group have participated in international conferences across Europe and have organized trainings on self-advocacy for young people. Most recently, "Pentru Voi" Self Advocates took part in the first national conference for self-advocates from September 4-5, 2006. More information is available at: http://www.pentruvoi.ro/servicii/servicii_autoreprezentare_en.htm or email pentruvoi@pentruvoi.ro. For more information on the self-advocates' conference, please follow these links:
Conference Flyer
Conference Statement
Information on "Pentru Voi" Self Advocates and on the conference
People First, London, United Kingdom, is a network of organizations run by and for people with intellectual disabilities. People First works to raise awareness of issues of concern to people with intellectual disabilities, to campaign for the rights of people with intellectual disabilities, and to support self-advocacy groups. More information is available at: http://www.peoplefirstltd.com/.
People First New Zealand, like its counterparts in other countries, is run by and for people with intellectual disabilities. People First New Zealand covers the six regions of New Zealand, with a president for each region and branches all over the country. Their website includes a useful section on the internet with information about what it is and how to use it. It also provides links to other People First sites around the world. More information is available at: http://www.peoplefirst.org.nz/.
People First of Norfolk, Norfolk, United Kingdom, is an independent self-advocacy group for adults with intellectual disabilities. The group offers training and resources, collaborates with social service agencies, and actively works for positive social change and the empowerment of people with intellectual disabilities. More information is available at: http://www.peoplefirstofnorfolk.org/default.asp.
Quality Action Group, Stirling, United Kingdom, works for the social inclusion of adults with intellectual disabilities. They run a drop-in and advice center, offer training and conferences, and talk with local governmental officials to work for socially inclusive public policy. The group is managed by people with intellectual disabilities. More information is available at: http://www.btinternet.com/%7Equalityaction/.
Self Advocacy Net, Vancouver, Canada, assists people with intellectual disabilities to speak up for themselves about their rights and to have their voices heard. More information is available at: http://www.selfadvocatenet.com/.
Self Advocacy Rocks! is the self-advocacy branch of the Far Northern Regional Center, Redding, California, USA. Self Advocacy Rocks! has a large focus on peer education. They offer trainings on abuse prevention, parenting sexuality, and acceptance. In addition to offering trainings to people with intellectual disabilities, they also work with service care providers and elementary schools. The group's accessible website is a fully talking web page. More information is available at:
http://www.farnorthernrc.org/selfadvocacyrocks/.
Self Advocacy Sydney, Inc., Sydney, Australia, is a self-advocacy organization which provides information and support on a fee-for-service basis for people in the Sydney metropolitan area. The organization is run by and for people with intellectual disabilities. Their mission is to support consumers in becoming self-advocates; to educate the greater Sydney community about self-advocacy and the rights of people with intellectual disabilities; and to develop connections with other similar groups. More information is available at: http://sasinc.com.au/.
Self Advocates Becoming Empowered (SABE) is a non-governmental organization based in the USA that aims to ensure that people with disabilities are treated as equals and that they are given equal choices, rights, and responsibilities. SABE seeks opportunities for people with disabilities to speak up to empower themselves, to make decisions, to learn from their mistakes, and to make new friends. More information is available at: http://www.sabeusa.org/.
Self-Advocates' branch is a new branch of the National Down Syndrome Congress (USA) and the web section is still growing. Currently, the website offers information the annual Youth & Adult Conference held by and for self-advocates 15 years old and older as a part of the National Down Syndrome Congress convention. There is also information about how self advocates can participate in activities and become leaders in the National Down Syndrome Congress. More information is available at: http://www.ndsccenter.org/selfadvo/intro.php.
Speaking For Ourselves, Plymouth Meeting, Pennsylvania, USA, is an independent grassroots, self-help/self-advocacy organization run by people with intellectual disabilities. Speaking for Ourselves helps members run organizations, develop leadership skills through real-life experiences, learn to work together collectively, and increase self-sufficiency and independence. More information is available at: http://www.speakingup.org/advocacy/index.php.
Speaking Up, a registered United Kingdom charity in Cambridge, supports the Active Voices initiatives. Active Voices is a range of energetic initiatives, such as Next Steps and the Cambridgeshire Parliament, that empower people with disabilities to find their voice and shape their own lives. More information is available at: http://www.speakingup.org/.
TASH is an international association of people with disabilities, their family members, other advocates, and professionals who are fighting for a society in which inclusion of all people in all aspects of society is the norm. TASH is an organization of members concerned with human dignity, civil rights, education, and independence for all individuals with disabilities. More information is available at: http://www.tash.org/advocacy_members_take_action.html.
United Voice, Selangor, Malaysia, is also known as the Self-Advocacy Society of Persons with Learning Disabiliites, Selangor & Kuala Lumpur. The organization is run by and for people with intellectual disabilities in the target regions. Activities include training in advocacy and self-advocacy, awareness-raising, social gatherings, and participation in national and international dialogues, forums, and workshops. More information is available at: http://www.unitedvoice.com.my/.