Fifteen Years of Advocacy

October marked a special milestone in my work as an advocate. It’s been 15 years of service to my peers at Far Northern Regional Center. In reality my work as an advocate has spanned the entire state of CA. So what exactly is a Peer Advocate? I am a person with disabilities who helps other people with disabilities find their voice and use it.  It’s been an evolving opportunity that has connected me with my family, neighbors, my community and abroad!

As an advocate I’ve been able to wear a lot of different hats while helping my peers to find their voice. I have worked as an actor, presenter, editor and now a writer.  I have been able to travel as far South as Fresno and as far North as Yreka. Now with Zoom, YouTube and Cory’s Corner my advocacy can reach the entire world.

It’s an exciting future looking forward as the door to the Self-Determination Program is opening for all the people I support here at Far Northern Regional Center. I have also witnessed the closing of workshops and sub-minimum wage work. To see the pendulum now swing to an increasing number of my peers who work in their community. Another exciting event that happened during my 15 years is the closing of the last of the Institutions here in California.

One of my greatest concerns is the newer generation and hoping they don’t forget the struggles and hardships we endured to help them have their current rights and privileges. Prior to the Pandemic I helped create my own presentation series called “Dream Big” where I took a look at our past and shared with my peers what it was like to live in Developmental Services. It made it even more substantial when I had audience members who had witnessed first hand living in institutions. “Dream Big” also took a look at working in the community and the incredible contribution we can all make as we look for opportunities of employment within the very communities we reside.

As we all look forward to the future there has been one thing that has remained constant and that is change. I have seen important legislation passed like SB639 that made it illegal for employers to pay my peers sub-minimum wage!  As mentioned earlier, Self Determination is opening up some incredible doors as now we have more control and say as to what we want to do with our funds and services through Far Northern Regional Center. This coming March is the approaching deadline for Home and Community Based Services where my peers can expect such opportunities as being in a day program that is more closely integrated with their community. With such services as the Internship program here at Far Northern I’m seeing more doors open for my peers to work in the job of their choosing. Truly with all of these exciting changes and happenings never has it been more important to let my peers know about their rights, their opportunities and most of all that all that has happened because of the incredible work of advocates who came before us laying the foundation. I’m also excited for an incredible milestone that will happen in 2024 when People First celebrates 50 years of advocacy across the globe. We have come a long way since our peers organized their first group of advocates and formed their own group for and led by people with developmental disabilities. As we look at our modern world where schools have gone from integration to where our peers are now receiving college degrees it is truly remarkable how far we have come. Thanks to everyone who has shared my journey of advocacy these past 15 years. I can’t wait to see what comes next!