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 one 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

    The Me and You series is a 5-week course that teaches adults with disabilities about healthy relationships. The series is a part of the Respect Yourself program. Each week the instructors talk about a different topic, and use movies, class exercises and role-plays to help show the class how to have healthy relationships.
    This series is great for anyone with a disability over the age of 18 who wants to learn how to have healthy relationships with everyone from strangers to staff and true friends to romantic partners. To do this, the class learns about privacy and boundaries, self-esteem, and different types of relationships they may have in their lives. Respect Yourself is the next series you can take to learn even more about relationships and your own body.
    The Me and You series is open to both men and women. The series can be held at sites such as self-advocacy groups, care homes, day programs and work centers. They also offer community series in Redding and Chico that are open to anyone in the community with a disability. The Respect Yourself program can travel to any of the 9 counties served by Far Northern Regional Center.
    For more information about upcoming classes, call Becca, 893-8003 or email: bfinn@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 Angela Agostino

sexuality. Ignorance does not protect consumers; it leaves them vulnerable to exploitation and abuse.
     The Respect training series will help consumers develop skills to live a healthy adultlifestyle, 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

PathFinders is FNRC's approach to person-centered planning. The Pathfinders project helps consumers create a life plan that reflects their individual needs, pre Lifeguides

ferences, 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 self-advocates pictured
on the right. For more information, call Kathy Bogue at 223-7771 or email kbogue@wecarealot.org wecarealot.org

Pr   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

Clean Teeth is an interactive presentation that teaches proper dental care. Consumers learn how to brush, floss, and when to go to the dentist. The presentation focuses on taking better care of your teeth to maximize health. For more information about upcoming classes, call Crystal: 893-8003 or email cgertsch@wecarealot.org

Theatre in the Now, located at the 7^th St. Centre for the Arts in Chico, is a program designed to provide performance opportunities and artistic instruction in the performing arts for individuals with cognitive or intellectual disabilities. Our objective with our workshops is to offer each individual an opportunity to do rather than be done for and performance pieces showcase issues that people with disabilities face in their communities.

Emergency preparation. For more information and to schedule a presentation call Cindi at the Regional
Self-Advocacy Project, 530-223-7771 or email cfreshour@wecarealot.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.orgreshour@wecarealot.org

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