Peer Training

Abuse Prevention Project
   "There are too many of us being abused," said James Smith at a regional People First meeting last year. "This has to stop, so we have declared war on abuse."
   The Abuse Prevention Team is a group of 5 self-advocates from Shasta, Tehama, and Butte Counties who present to other consumer groups. The presentation focuses on the right to privacy, confidentiality, self-advocacy, relationship and intimacy, and respect. The presentation also includes the definition of abuse, how to stop it, and how to report it. Each presentation is 1 hour long.
   For more information and to schedule a presentation call Sherri or Cindi at the Regional Self-Advocacy Project, 530-223-7771 or email cfreshour@wecarealot.org

Also known as the "radical arm" of the Abuse Prevention

Team, this group's mission is to educate professionals and support staff who work both inside and outside of the regional center service system.
The group focuses on the culture of abuse by identifying 1) the severity of the problem 2) why people with disabilities are more vulnerable to abuse, and 3) ways the community can help prevent abuse in this population.
For more information and to schedule a presentation at your agency or facility call Cindy Freshour at the Regional Self-Advocacy Project, 530-223-7771 or email cfreshour@wecarealot.org

     FNRC received a grant from the State Council on Developmental Disabilities (Cycle XXVI awarded to FNRC for their proposal, "Abuse Free by Design.") to help individuals with personal care needs to develop and implement a Personal Care Protocol. This grant will train 3 teams who will facilitate the process and help 30 individuals needing personal care to develop their own Protocol.
     A Personal Care Protocol is a living document created by and for consumers who have personal care needs. It describes in detail the procedures and steps preferred by the individual receiving the care to complete personal hygiene tasks.
     For more information about this project contact Sara Carroll at 877-7320.

FNRC believes that people with disabilities need basic information about their bodies and their sexuality. Ignorance does not protect cons

umers; it leaves them vulnerable to exploitation and abuse.
     The Respect training series will help consumers develop skills to live a healthy adult lifestyle, maintain and improve sexual health, prevent pregnancy and disease, and recognize abuse and exploitation. There are separate classes for men and women.
     Each workshop includes plenty of interactive exercises and discussion and practical examples. The curriculum includes the following topics: Self-Esteem, Human Anatomy/Sexual Life Cycle, Hygiene/Self and Medical Care, Sexual Expression, Pregnancy/Parenting and Abuse Prevention.
     The Respect series is free to men and women with developmental disabilities, over the age of 18, living in the FNRC catchment area. Participants must agree to attend all 9 sessions to register in this program.
     For more information, call Becca Finn, 530-893-8003 or email bfinn@wecarealot.org

Press here for a printable flyer about this project
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PathFinders is FNRC's approach to person-centered planning. PathFinders helps consumers create a life plan that reflects their individual needs, preferences, and desired outcomes. The life plan will be included in the IPP, and services and supports will be provided accordingly. The project is facilitated by the four self-advocates pictured on the right. For more information,
call Barbie Sartain 223-7771 or email bsartain@wecarealot.org

     The Center for Disease Control reports that hand washing is one of the "most important means of preventing the spread of infection." The simple act of washing your hands can stop infectious diseases, the third leading cause of death in the United States.
     The Clean Hands presentation uses Glo Germ to illustrate how easily germs are spread. Glo Germ, actually a fluorescent powder that glows under a black light, also provides a visible demonstration of when improper hand washing has taken place.
     Shelly Anderson project presenter tells us about the project: "I'm hoping this project will help consumers to realize how important it is to wash their hands throughout the day. If people washed their hands more often there would be fewer colds and flu. My goal is to teach consumers how to prevent illnesses so that they can have better lives. This project is very special to me."
     For more information call Shelly or Cindy at 223-7771, or email clean_hands@hotmail.com or visit the web site: http://www.farnorthernrc.org/selfadvocacyrocks

     Drama Extraordinaire is an acting company which focuses on giving live performances to elementary schools. This year marks the 7th school tour production. The goal of the troupe is to raise disability awareness and show people with disabilities as positive roll models.
     This year the troupe launched a new play about victimization of people with disabilities and abuse prevention. The production, Just Say Know, is a series of vignettes inspired by a book, of the same title, written by Dave Hingsburger. This year the group received a grant from FNRC to take the show on the road. They made a total of 10 performances before closing the curtain for the last time.
     For more information about joining the troupe contact the director, Natalie Valencia, at 343-6055 or email nataliev@ewtc.org.

SAY Speakers

     "We all want the teasing to stop!" This is the message SAY Speakers want
everyone to hear. The SAY Speakers are adults with various disabilities. They want to increase understanding and acceptance of people who have disabilities. The SAY Speakers want people to see how all people are more the same than they are different and to respect and celebrate those differences. Our main focus is to encourage people of all ages and abilities to treat each other with dignity, acceptance, respect, and kindness.
    SAY Speakers go into classrooms, children or adult groups, and agencies to talk with people of all abilities. Many of the SAY Speakers were teased and tormented in school and discouraged from having dreams of living independently, working in the community, or ever marrying. Despite this, they have gone on to achieve their hopes and dreams. They have a powerful message to share with us all. All SAY presentations are free of charge.
     SAY is a project of People First and the Regional Self-Advocacy Project. The SAY Speaker's Bureau is funded by a generous grant from Far Northern Regional Center. For more information call Cindi Freshour at 530-223-7771 or email cfreshour@wecarealot.org

Source: The Same As You Brochure, by the SEA Center and the Regional Self-Advocacy Project