Online News ~ March, 2009 |
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Young Adult Self-Advocates Testify
Several self-advocates, family members, and people who work in the health & human service field addressed state representatives on March 17, 2009 at the Legislative Office Building in Concord. In some cases this was the first time young-adults testified on their own behalf. Their message: The Governor's budget must include funds to end the waitlist.
(Photo Above) Chrystal Johnson, President of People First of New Hampshire & the Lakes Region Self-Advocacy Group, testifying on behalf of those who are waiting. End the waiting. Richard Johnson, Chrystal's husband, stands behind her.
(Photo Below) Jillian Libby, 20, testifies - see below. Her mom, Brenda Libby, is next to her.
Jillian Libby's testimony
March 17, 2009
Dear Members of Division III Health & Human Service Committee of House Finance,
My name is Jillian Libby. I live in Penacook. I am twenty years old. I graduated from Merrimack Valley High School in 2007. I'll be done with my transition years through the High School in January of 2010.
I am looking forward to not waiting for services. I want to have my own herb business. I hope that you know that we are no different and that we have dreams, too, just like you.
My dreams will be met if I don't have to wait.
Sincerely,
Jillian Libby |
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The Subject Of Relationships Workshop
People First of NH hosted a relationship workshop on March 18, 2009 presented by Angela Amado and sponsored by Community Bridges.
About the presenter:
Angela Amado is the Executive Director of the Human Service Research and Development Center and also a Research Associate, Institute on Community Integration, University of Minnesota. She combines a deep commitment to full community participation for everyone with a practical, how-to method of application to day-to-day situations. She has conducted training on community-building and person-centered supports throughout the United States, Canada, Netherlands, and Israel. |
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Serving Our Communities Project
In February, members of People First discuss what it means to be a part of a community and ways that each could serve. They completed a survey about community strengths and personal involvement. This was the beginning phase of a new goal for the organization to partcipate as citizens in Renew America Together.
Watch our discussion on You Tube:
This month, we reviewed the survey results and began to match people's interest with volunteer opportunities.
For more information about Renew America Together and to get involved, visit www.usaservice.org |
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Close Institutions!
An Update On Our Laconia State School Stories Project And More
Last June, we held an event where several former residents of Laconia State School joined together to share stories about their lives then and now. The re-union was the start of a People First goal to produce a video and publish a book to let the world know that institutions should be closed. Now, with our involvement on Facebook, we've created a cause "Institutions: Close Them!" No matter how big or how small a place may be, if people are congretated and not included in society in every minute of his/her day, they are isolated and at risk of harm. While we continue to collect stories to produce our video and book in New Hampshire, here are a few things you can do to help with our overall goal to close institutions:
2. Read a recent article about an institution in Texas:
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Who We Are And What We Are About
People First of New Hampshire is a statewide non-profit directed by citizens who experience disability for the purpose of self-advocacy.
What is self-advocacy?
Self-Advocacy is a way in which people speak-up, voice their opinion, and take responsibility toward being equal within society. Self-advocacy is a movement for people who experience disability. In many places across the world, there are organizations called "People First" for the self-advocacy movement. The title "People First" means that labels for people are not respectful, and, that everybody should be considered PEOPLE with ability first. People First of New Hampshire started in 1992 and has 17 chapters and groups across the state. |
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Ways To Support People First of NH
There are a couple of ways in which you can support our work. You can visit our website and find our donate button at the top of the page, or, you can visit our cause on Facebook and join our challenge to raise $1000 by the end of March. The funds will be used to help plan self-advocacy conferences and workshops.
Click-on these links:
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April's Online News Will Include
- State Budget Concerns
- More about young-adult self-advocacy ~ personal stories
- Update - Institutions: Close Them! ~ personal stories
- Serving Our Communities...continued
- More about our goals
What would you like to read from us? Send us an email at our People First email address. | |
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