Cynthia Burrow - Self-Advocate Central

Lift Up Self-Advocate Voices at SXSW EDU 2023!

Thanks for joining us for Amplifying Self-Advocate Voices with Storytelling by James Meadours. We are thrilled to be a part of SXSW EDU 2023.

We are building a community of self-advocates. We want people with disabilities to share their experiences. We are teaching them to use social media to do that.

Please join our social media community to help us reach our goals.

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Tag us in self-advocate videos you create. Use the hashtag #SelfAdvocateStories
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Thank you for your time. We look forward to connecting with you!

#SelfAdvocateStories #SXSWEDU #Neurodiversity #IDD #txcdd

Build Your Life with Virtual Peer Support!

Our peer support specialists have been hard at work. We’ve posted three new videos to our YouTube channel. Check out our Virtual Peer Support playlist:

Intro to Peer Support
Employment Peer Support
Transportation Peer Support

You’ll learn how these things can help you build the life you want. You’ll learn how to get services in Texas. Most of all, you’ll be inspired by our team’s stories!

While you’re there, be sure to subscribe to our channel. That way, you’ll be the first to see new videos.

Special thanks to Cara Weber, Shelbi Davenport, James Meadours, Anand Iyer, and Adrean Avilla!

Lessons from the Peer Support “Dream Team”

Peer Support Specialists Ashley Sattler, Katie Sheffield, and Lisa Simmons presented with Project Director Cynthia Burrow at The Arc of the US’s 2022 National Convention in November. The session was titled “Building Better Lives Together: Peer Support that Works.” We shared our successes and challenges with a packed room. Many people were already working to bring peer support to their states. Many were excited to start the process.

If you missed our session and want to learn more, visit the Our Resources page and download our PowerPoint presentation under the “Peer Support” category. Or, email Cynthia Burrow to learn more.

Get Inspired in Denver!

The Peer Support Specialists team is presenting at The Arc’s 2023 Annual Convention in Denver, CO this week. Our session is called Building Better Lives Together: Peer Support that Works! We will share our challenges and successes. We hope to inspire others to try peer support.

Our session is Friday, 11/11, at 10:15 AM. If you can’t make it, you can view our slide deck on our Resources page.

The Latest from Seen and Heard: IDD Community

This month, James taught us about:

Recovery

– How relationships for survivors can be hard.

Unsupportive Family

– Why survivors might be afraid to tell their families about their assault.

– How it feels when your family doesn’t believe or support you.

– Healing from a broken family relationship.

Subscribe to our YouTube channel for more great videos! Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok.

#SexualAssaultSurvivor #IDD #txcdd

See You at The Arc’s National Convention

We’re thrilled to announce that we’ve been invited to present at The Arc’s National Convention in Denver, CO. The conference takes place November 10-12, 2022, at the Sheraton Denver Downtown Hotel.

Our session is called Building Better Lives Together: Peer Support that Works! We’ll be sharing some of the great work being done by peer support specialists at our Beaumont pilot site. Senior Peer Support Specialists Lisa Simmons and Ashley Sattler and Peer Support Specialist Katie Sheffield will lead the team. Hope to see you there!

Help amplify self-advocate voices!

Our Seen and Heard: IDD Community team has submitted proposals for SXSW and SXSWEdu 2023. Community voting is an important part of getting picked. Please support us by clicking the links below, voting thumbs up, and leaving a comment. Comments help evaluators know that this topic is important and interesting. Voting closes August 20, so vote soon. Thanks!

SXSW: http://panelpicker.sxsw.com/vote/121432

SXSWEdu: https://panelpicker.sxsw.com/vote/121420

#txcdd #DisabilityAwareness #advocacy #SXSW #SXSWedu