Students in Daemen University’s ASCEND (Academic Success & Career Exploration for New Directions) program and People Inc.’s YALT (Young Adult Life Transitions) program participated in the Self-Advocacy Association of New York State’s (SANYS) first session of “SANYS U,” a multi-session leadership course that teaches individuals with developmental disabilities and their support staff about self-advocacy.
The training, which took place on February 10 in the Center for Interprofessional Learning and Simulation (CILS)—a fully-accessible training space—covered topics including the history of the self-advocacy movement, rights and responsibilities, self-advocacy skills, self-advocacy groups, and leadership skills.
Lisa Casper, ASCEND program director, and Renee Rudniski, director of day services for YALT, brought their students together to collaborate and engage in this interactive program.
“Students are proudly participating in the SANYS U self-advocacy program to grow in their ability to ‘accept yourself, affirm yourself, respect yourself’ while building leadership skills, confidence, and a strong voice for their future,” said Casper.
The program is already empowering students, with one sharing, “I am valued in my community” during a training exercise. “We are excited to see early engagement like this from our students, especially since self-advocacy is such an important life skill for them to develop,” added Casper.
Each workshop session ends with the group proclaiming “Speak up!” as they learn about advocating for their individual needs, as well as building tools for establishing their own community self-advocacy groups and systemic change.
This multi-week program, presented by local SANYS regional office staff, including Organizer Mike Rogers and Regional Coordinator Sophia Roberts, provides advocacy through interactive and dynamic discussions and activities.
There will be a leadership celebration on April 9 where students are encouraged to share their individual leadership projects that reflect how they express their advocacy voice, including art, poetry, song, dance.
Attendees will receive a participation certificate upon completion of the program.