Advocating Change Together (ACT) has launched a Self-Advocacy Resource Network.  Over the past several months, ACT received more than 1,000 responses from people who want to receive and share information about promoting self-advocacy at home, in school, at work, and in the community.

Network participants receive e-mail messages from ACT on a different topic related to self-advocacy.  The e-mails contain a brief overview of the topic, with hot links to more in-depth information, to related education exercises and cultural diversity issues, and to responses ACT received from Network participants on prior topics.  Since the network began in January, e-mail topics have included:  Popular Education, Partnerships, Fundraising and a Self-Advocacy Declaration of Independence.

“We hope this Network will become an effective vehicle for sharing community organizing tactics, self-advocacy success stories, resources, and training and support strategies” says Nhia Lee, ACT Marketing Director. Lee adds that “ACT is especially interested in methods for improving outreach to racial and cultural minorities and for building alliances with groups outside the disability community that share similar system change goals”

Self-advocacy is both a goal and a method in the civil rights movement of people with disabilities.  ACT hopes this becomes an important tool in building a grassroots movement.  To join the Network, go to www.selfadvocacy.org and sign-up, or call 651-641-0297.