At AbilityFirst, participants are encouraged to be involved in opportunities to shape, influence, and contribute to their program experience. Maintaining and growing the person-centered programs tailored to the individual interests and needs requires every voice to speak up.
Enter Social Advocates for Change, a Participant Advisory Council created for and by AbilityFirst adult participants and dedicated to empowering individuals to self-advocate and elevate their own voices.
Advocates meet twice a month, every 2nd and 4th Thursday to discuss topics that are important to them and for them, with a focus on developing leadership skills to represent their voice and the voices of their peers, learning how to work and collaborate as a team and how to share with programs on changes and improvements needed. The benefits of Social Advocates for Change are already proving to be enormously impactful. In addition to helping to grow together as a community, these adult participants are learning to become active decision-makers in their own lives, in programs, and in their communities. This is another big step closer to realizing their goals of social and career independence and reaching their full potential. For more information email Araceli.Gonzalez@abilityfirst.org
Advocacy Resources & Legislative Updates
Access the latest information on disability rights and legislative priorities through our trusted network of advocacy partners.
- The Arc of California Human rights and policy advocacy
- Disability Rights California Legal advocacy and protection
- Lanterman Coalition Developmental services funding
- SCDD Federal and state policy planning
- California DSA Provider and service advocacy
- AB1900 CalCare proposal for universal health plans in California