Rights and Advocacy | Resources
ADA Live Podcast
ADA Live! is a free monthly show broadcast nationally on the Internet. Learn about your rights and responsibilities under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Leaders in the field will share their knowledge, experience, and successful strategies that increase the participation of persons with disabilities in communities and businesses.
Visit their website to learn more: https://www.adalive.org/
Election Protection
The national, nonpartisan Election Protection coalition works year-round to ensure that all voters have an equal opportunity to vote and have that vote count. Made up of more than 100 local, state and national partners, Election Protection uses a wide range of tools and activities to protect, advance and defend the right to vote. Information on their website includes resources regarding rights of individuals with disabilities and voting.
To learn more, visit their dedicated page for Missouri: https://866ourvote.org/state/missouri/
Kids Win Missouri
Kids Win Missouri is a coalition of organizations and individuals dedicated to improving the well-being of Missouri children. With a mission to further child well-being by advancing the health, education, safety and development of Missouri children and their families, especially those who are at-risk because of poverty, abuse, neglect, racial inequities or other risk factors.
Learn more here: http://kidswinmissouri.org/about/
Missouri Developmental Disability Council
The Council's Mission is: "To assist the community to include all people with developmental disabilities in every aspect of life." The Council is consumer driven and the members are appointed by the governor to plan, advocate for, and give advice concerning programs and services for persons with developmental disabilities that will increase their opportunities for independence, productivity, and integration into communities.
Learn more here: https://moddcouncil.org/
Missouri Disability Empowerment
Missouri Disability Empowerment (MoDE) advocates for change of policies and legislation which impact individuals with disabilities. While MoDE has one registered volunteer lobbyist in Missouri, many representing MoDE have taken their time to talk with lawmakers about the needs of individuals with disabilities. MoDE believes anyone can advocate and often it is a family affair!
Learn more here: https://www.moempower.com/
Missouri Voter Preparedness
The Missouri Developmental Disabilities Council has created a voter preparedness video for the general election on November 3, 2020. It features several Missourians with disabilities discussing the importance of voting and includes important information about ensuring your vote counts. It can be viewed on YouTube at the links below.
Watch the video on Youtube here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jzw1XZh6yts&feature=youtu.be
People First of Missouri
People First of Missouri is a self-advocacy organization that was formed by, is run by, and exists for people with developmental disabilities in the state of Missouri. Membership consists of local affiliated chapters. People First of Missouri is a non-profit organization that promotes equality for people with disabilities so they can live the life they want in the community.
Learn more here: https://www.missouripeoplefirst.org/
Project STIR
The Missouri Division of Developmental Disabilities regional Advocacy Specialist promotes self-determination and inclusion by coordinating Project STIR trainings in their region. The training is designed to empower people with developmental disabilities. It provides the practical, “how to” tools necessary for anyone who is interested in being a self-advocate and leader in making choices and decisions about how they live their lives.
Learn more here on our Project STIR info page
Self-Advocacy
Self-advocacy means speaking or acting for yourself. It means deciding what is best for you and taking charge of getting what you want. It means standing up for your rights as a person. The Division of Developmental Disabilities believes that all of the people served can benefit from learning and using self-advocacy skills.
In 2008, Advocacy Specialist positions were created in each region to help expand and enhance self-advocacy throughout Missouri. The Advocacy Specialists are responsible for providing leadership, coordination, role modeling and mentoring of self-advocacy to individuals in their assigned geographic area. They do this by supporting existing self-advocacy groups and helping start new self-advocacy groups; by providing self-advocacy and self-determination training to individuals, staff and families; by creating self-advocacy and self-determination materials that are written for and by people with disabilities, and by participating on division and other statewide committees to influence change that will result in the enhanced empowerment of people with disabilities.
Learn more about self-advocacy here: https://dmh.mo.gov/dev-disabilities/self-advocacy