Local self-advocates earn leadership certificates
For Immediate Release:
Contact: Jennifer Johnson
Communications Manager
508-628-6432 (office)
774-279-6113 (mobile)
Framingham, Massachusetts, July 29, 2010… Saturday, July 24 was a momentous day for twenty-five local graduates of the Core Leadership Training for Self-Advocates, a program for individuals with intellectual/ developmental disabilities created by staff from Advocates, Inc., the Metro Region office of the Department of Developmental Services (DDS) and Metro Residential Services, Inc. In a ceremony at the Morse Institute Library in Natick, the graduates of the seven-week training received certificates of completion before an audience of proud parents, siblings, friends and staff members.
Self-advocacy is a growing movement among individuals with intellectual/developmental disabilities. The principles of self-advocacy give individuals the confidence to take greater control of their lives and the services they receive.
According to Anne Fracht, Advocates self-advocacy coordinator who herself has an intellectual disability, “Self-advocacy has been compared to the civil rights movement with goals of equality, to be heard and accepted, and to make our own decisions. The training of new leaders is an important step in growing our movement.”
“Often individuals with intellectual/developmental disabilities defer to those in authority,” said Jeff Keilson, vice president of strategic development for Advocates. “It’s part of the existing culture that self-advocates are trying to change. This program helps overcome that obstacle by training self-advocates as leaders who can support their peers in the process of making decisions about their own services.”
The seven-week training program was facilitated by Keilson, Fracht, Barbara Peebles and MaryJo Veling of DDS and Karen Carpenter from Metro Residential Services. The twenty-five participants are also active in two area leadership groups, Greater Framingham Self-Advocates Together and MRS SpeakOut, which meet regularly to plan advocacy activities and develop skills for self-empowerment.
The graduates of the Core Leadership Training include:
Angel Arthur of Natick
Karen Barnes
Richie Butts of Framingham
Nery Casteneda of Framingham
James Discenza
Andrea Gaudette of Natick
Kevin Hoteling of Natick
David Howland
Karen Kosar of Framingham
Scott MacDonald of Hudson
Scott Muse
Nicole Rachel of Framingham
Michael Sheppard
Anita Sills
Geoff Ward of Framingham
Richard Whitmore
About Advocates
Headquartered in Framingham, Advocates is among the 20 largest human service organizations in Massachusetts. With over 1,000 employees and 12,000 individuals served each year, Advocates is a leading provider of family support services; residential support services; day habilitation; employment supports; outpatient mental health and substance abuse services; psychiatric emergency services; housing, benefits and legal services; and community justice programs. Advocates’ programs are located at over 100 sites throughout Eastern and Central Massachusetts. To learn more, visit http://www.AdvocatesInc.org.
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