The FL SAND Monthly Self-Advocacy Call is a great way to make sure your voice is heard and learn about new laws and other disability issues across the state of Florida.
The FL SAND Fellows host these calls on the first Monday of every month at 7 PM (Eastern), joined by members of FL SAND, the state’s network of self-advocacy groups. Calls cover a wide range of topics including mental health, hot-button state legislative issues, and more.
For example, the December 2023 call featured passionate discussion regarding use of the term “unique abilities” by the Agency for People with Disabilities to refer to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The discussion continued on the January 2024 call as self-advocates were encouraged to provide comments to the federal government regarding a proposal to include “unique abilities” in the name of the iBudget Waiver. On these calls self-advocates from across the state expressed their frustration with this term for a variety of reasons. These meetings spurred numerous emails and phone calls to dissuade the organization from using the term.
On the May 2024 call, in the spirit of Mental Health Awareness Month, self-advocates shared how they take care of their mental health to minimize stress and maintain wellbeing. The monthly call is truly a place for self-advocates to find encouragement as well as again information.
The next call is June 3 at 7 PM (Eastern time). Callers can dial in or connect via virtual meeting. June topics include emergency and disaster planning and the July 26 ADA anniversary. Check out the FL SAND monthly call page for instructions and email us at contactflsand@gmail.com if you’d like to be added to our monthly call email reminders.
The July 1 call will provide information on the FL SAND Fellows Leadership Program. Regardless of the scheduled topic, hosts extend an invitation for callers to share ideas for topics of interest to them.
Another opportunity to connect with self-advocates at the national level includes the Self-Advocacy Resource and Technical Assistance Center (SARTAC) advocacy call each Thursday at 1 PM (Eastern). The link and call in number are always the same: https://zoom.us/j/324815633 / call-in only 1-929-436-2866 (then add the Meeting ID: 324 815 633 when prompted). Another way to access the call is to go to Zoom.us, click “Join a Meeting” and enter 324-815-633.
Self-advocates are strongest when they work together and are encouraged by each other. Regular calls like FL SAND's Monthly Self-Advocacy Call and the weekly SARTAC call are two excellent opportunities for building this strength.
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