Author: Tina Calabro

Opening Doors and Creating Community: Self-Advocacy Voices

I am in awe of people whose mission is to open doors to opportunities and experiences, and nurture the growth of community. This is one of my favorites.

Mission

The  Self-Advocacy Voices mentorship incubator program empowers adults with disabilities to give voice to their interests, passions, knowledge and experiences through public speaking within a supportive environment of peers and mentors, in order to increase opportunities for participants to attain valued roles within the broader communities of their choice.  

Vision

Adults with disabilities develop the tools for self-advocacy and self-expression through public speaking with confidence and independence. The powerful messages they create resonate within people’s hearts and minds, so both the performer and the audience are transformed, resulting in greater public awareness of the unique gifts and individuality of people with disabilities, increased commitment to community inclusion, and more opportunities for participants to engage in personally meaningful ways in the communities of their choice.

Structure

As in solo performances, participants plan their presentation, prepare with mentors, rehearse a few times to gain confidence, and then present or perform. 

Presentation sessions are held twice monthly for one hour, usually with two presenters scheduled for each session. Each session includes time for Q and A. Sample topics chosen by participants to date include self-advocacy, leadership, independent living, art, music and culture. 

Prior to the group sessions, participants work with mentors to identify a subject of interest, and then plan the format and content of their presentation. Mentors work with participants on preparation and presentation skills. Participants are welcome to serve as mentors to peers.  Engaging the audience in creative ways (e.g. multimedia such as slides, music, video) is encouraged. 

Benefits of the program include:

* Connections with and learning from mentors, professionals and peers from all over the world

* Increased self-confidence and self-esteem

* Increased comfort with public speaking, performance and self-expression.

* Increased skills in public speaking and literacy. 

* Social interaction and friendship building.

* Expanding participants’ circles to include others with shared interests.

For information: https://selfadvocacyvoices.org/

Beyond Group Homes

Vision for Equality sponsored a terrific webinar on April 19, 2022, entitled “Beyond Group Homes: Housing Options for People with Developmental Disabilities.” David Gates, Esq. presented a comprehensive round up of options and resources. Information about waiver-funded planning support was also detailed.

Here is the link to the recording: https://www.visionforequality.org/resources/beyond-group-homes-presentation-video-recording/

Wheelchair users can’t hail an Uber or Lyft in Pittsburgh

Unlike larger cities like Washington DC, New York and Chicago, Uber and Lyft service in Pittsburgh is not accessible for people who ride in wheelchairs. Over the past few years, both companies have been sued under the Americans with Disabilities Act and local non-discrimination laws regarding accessibility.  The lawsuits have brought change in some cities, but those changes have not reached Pittsburgh.  Fortunately, Pittsburgh does have accessible taxi service from ZTrip (formerly Yellow Cab) and VeTaxi.

For an in-depth look at Pittsburgh’s prospects for wheelchair-accessible Uber and Lyft, see my March 19, 2019, article in Public Source.