the best of speak up & speak out! - · pdf filethe best of speak up & speak out! ......

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The Riot! Best of 2004 to 2014

The Best of

Speak Up & Speak Out!

10 Year Anniversary!

Mark Oliver Handicapped Mind

SPOTLIGHT STUDIOS

To order, check out www.theriotrocks.org/spotlight-studios

Celebrating artists with intellectual & developmental disabilities!

The Riot!

10 Year Anniversary Edition

Best of 2004-2014

Speak Up & Speak Out!

The Riot! is a publication of

the Human Services Research Institute (HSRI)

Portland, Oregon

Prepared by:

Risa Rojas & Yoshi Kardell of HSRI

And our hard-working interns from

Tualatin High School

SPOTLIGHT STUDIOS Cover art:

Ian Dottin Lightbulb

2014

Acknowledgements

Do You Love The Riot! ? We do and we love our readers

too! We hope you enjoyed reading The Riot! over the years

as much as we enjoyed putting it together.

The Riot was born in 2004 and was never your typical

policy rag. We published The Riot! as a quarterly

newsletter for many years. We imagined a newsletter that

would make noise about tough issues but also focus on

everyday living. We wanted to be edgy, informative, and

fun– pie in the face fun. Yes, you might notice that we were

influenced sometimes by Mad Magazine. Humor, after all,

sometimes helps us discuss hard things.

Most of all we thank so many people over the years that

helped make The Riot! great.

So here is a THANK YOU!!! to:

Betty Williams

Byron Murray

Chester Finn

Cindy Helvington

Dayna Davis

Drew Smith

Elizabeth Pell

Eric Matthes

Eric Yeary

Erica-Rachael Fiel

Jaime Daignault

Jazmyne Johnston

Jeff Ladd

Jennifer Negus

Joe Meadours

John Agosta

Julie Petty

Kerri Melda

Marion West

Michael Fodge

Nancy Ward

Rebecca Cokley

Rebecca Hare

Ricky Broussard

Teresa Moore

Finally, in memory of her extraordinary commitment to self-

advocacy, we offer a special thank you to Reena Wagle.

The Riot! is a publication of the Human Services Research Institute (HSRI)

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Advocacy &

Support

4

Advocacy & Support

April 2005: Can You Hear Us Now?

Ask these questions at your self-advocacy meeting…

and STIR THINGS UP!

Think about your life. Think about the lives of other self-

advocates in your town and in your state. Ask some

tough questions about how things are. What do you

and others think?

Well… how did things turn out? Is everyone happy

with how things are going? If not, what can you do to

change things?

Talk it up! Have yourselves a regular Riot!!

1. In your state, how many people live in institutions?

How many live in group homes? How many

people work in sheltered workshops or “day

habilitation centers?” Is that where they would

choose to live or work?

2. Do people in “the system” (like case managers and

staff) respect you? Do you feel like they listen to

what you say?

3. Who’s the boss of your life? Are you? Or do you

feel like other people, like case managers or staff,

are the boss of you?

4. Are there any silly rules where you live or work that

control you and don’t make sense?

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Advocacy & Support

October 2006: Silly Rules

Self-Advocates Speak Up! And Speak Out!

Rules tell us what to do or not do. Some rules are

good. Some are just plain silly because they do not

make any sense. And they may force us to do things

we don’t want. These are Silly Rules. Are there Silly

Rules in your life?

At your next self-advocacy meeting, talk about the

RULES in your life. You may need some help to think

about it. Work together! Answer some questions.

Then take ACTION!

Can you name any Silly Rules in your life? Rules that

just don’t make sense? If you can, make a list of them.

For each Silly Rule, decide who you think can change

the rule. Is it worth talking to the person?

If so, make a plan to go talk to that person. Then ask

him or her to GET RID OF THE SILLY RULE! How did it go?

Did the rule change?

Talk it up… Have your selves a regular riot!

What is a “Rule?” What is a “Good Rule?” What is a

“Silly Rule?”

Name 10 good rules that tell you what to do. These

are rules that keep you safe or healthy, or that tell you

how to do something correctly.

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Self-advocates around the country have done great

things by working together for change. You can too!

Discuss the question below at your next self-advocacy

meeting.


Advocacy & Support

April 2007: On A Roll

1. What are the burning issues in your state? Make a list

and vote on the top three. Then, choose the most

important one.

2. Set a goal about what you want to change about your

most important issue.

3. List people and organizations that will support your

goal.

4. Make a plan and take action! Meet regularly to discuss

issues and report progress on your goal.

5. Make a difference by working together!

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Advocacy & Support

January 2008: Friendship & Loneliness


Self-advocacy groups can help people find friends, build stronger

friendships and get connected in their community.

Here are 5 ways to do it!

Make sure your meetings are FUN! What can be done to make

your meetings more fun? Maybe try eating some different foods,

or having a story telling night. Make it interesting!

Plan fun events for the group. How about going to a ball game? A

club to dance? Anybody up for cooking classes? Skydiving?

A rodeo? Plan FUN events!

Help people develop hobbies. People like doing all sorts of things.

They like to fish, sing in a choir, read books, race model cars or…

the list goes on and on. Find out what people like to do. Then

your group can help people get connected with others in the

community who like doing the same things.

Get involved in your community! Your group can help out with

community projects- park clean ups, music festivals, and more!

What can you do to join in and help?

Do advocacy work! Don’t forget that your group can work hard to

make sure the service system helps you to live the life you want!


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Would you like to build your own advisor? Wow! An

advisor who will do everything exactly as you want.

Imagine that! We asked some self-advocates to help

us build an advisor.

They said a good advisor:

Advocacy & Support

July 2008: Ask, Don’t Tell Us

Listens to what you want

Is willing to learn from self-advocates

Helps you figure out the supports you need

Knows when you need support but stays in the

background when you don’t

Doesn’t tell you how to do things or make decisions

Is reliable and trustworthy

Is one who stays with the group for a while

Has a good sense of humor, is fun to be around,

and easy to talk with

Does not vote when the group makes decisions

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Advocacy & Support

July 2008: Ask, Don’t Tell Us

What do you want your advisor to do for you? Here

are some ideas to help you get started.

Fun to be around

Makes meeting arrangements

Listens

Gives lots of help

Willing to learn

Drives you to meetings

Talk it up… Have yourselves a regular Riot!

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Action Page by Erick Yeary

Times are tough and they’re getting even tougher!

Between talk of budget-cuts to paying for groceries,

we’re all feeling the pinch. Self-advocates should

work together NOW to make sure we don’t get lost in

the economic shuffle.

Here are some good things that you and your self-

advocacy group can talk about. Mix it up. Share your

ideas with one another and see what you can

accomplish!

Advocacy & Support

January 2009: Living On A Dime

Create a personal budget to help see where you can

save money. Simple things can help a lot. Maybe you

spend more money in one area than another? See

how you can cut back.

Groups can pool their money together to help fund

important activities like attending an out-of-state

conference.

Send a letter to your local and state agencies. Let

them know how important it is that they continue to

fund services. Be nice, never rude, when writing your

letter- communication is key.

Swap your skills with one another for free! Do you

know how to do something but maybe not something

else?

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Advocacy & Support

January 2009: Living On A Dime

Times may get worse before they get better but by

working together, cutting back on daily costs and not

panicking, we can succeed!

Talk it up… Have yourselves a regular Riot!!!

Try matching what you need with someone in your

group that could use some help from you. And it’s

totally free!

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April 2009: You Can Make A Difference

Volunteer to Make a Difference in Your Community

by Ricky Broussard

People around the country are responding to tough

times by volunteering to make a difference in their

communities. You can too!

Volunteering is a way to share your talents and skills to

help others for free. You can volunteer in pairs, as a

group, or as individuals. Volunteers are often needed

at schools, summer camps, senior centers, park

clean-ups, the library and community organizations.

Here are some steps you and your friends can take to

volunteer in your community.

Advocacy & Support

1. Plan a meeting with your friends or members of

your self-advocacy group.

2. Use the Jabbers Gifts ’n Giving game to identify

talents and skills people want to share.

(Get Jabbers at www.theriotrocks.org.)

3. Make a list of places to volunteer.

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Advocacy & Support


April 2009: You Can Make A Difference

4. Decide where people want to volunteer. You can

volunteer by yourself, in pairs or small groups, or as a

whole group!

5. Contact each place to find out when volunteers

are needed.

6. Check your schedules, then...

7. Volunteer!

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April 2011: Digital Divide

Closing the Gap by Teresa Moore

The digital divide is about the gap between people

who have computers and the internet, and people

who do not. With this technology advancing at a fast

pace, the gap is growing for many people - especially

people with disabilities. Many people think people

with disabilities do not need to use computers. This is

not true! Having a disability or not being able to read

does not keep you from using a computer. These

days, computers have accessibility tools built in. You

can use these tools to make your computer work with

your disabilities. What can you and other

self-advocates do? Make a list of places in your

community where you can use the internet for FREE.

Try schools, colleges, government offices, libraries,

Independent Living Centers, and Native American

chapter houses.

You can also try these ideas:

Advocacy & Support

Ask family, friends and neighbors if they have a

computer with internet you can use.

Ask your family or roommates to put their money

together to pay for internet service.

If you get Vocational Rehabilitation services, ask to

take computer classes.

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Advocacy & Support

If you have a computer goal in your ISP, your plan can

pay for programs or accommodations to make your

computer easy to use.

If more people get technology, we can close the

gap!

April 2011: Digital Divide

If you get disability services, set a computer skills goal

in your Individual Service Plan (ISP).

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Advocacy & Support

January 2007: Youth Rules!


Look around at your self-advocacy meeting. Are

there any young people there? Anybody there who is,

say 16 to 25 years old? Do you think you should have

young people in your group but don’t know how you

can recruit young self-advocates?

Check out other groups that already work with youth

with disabilities. They may be in your area.


Here are three steps you can take:

Take a look at your group. Ask yourselves: “Why

would a young person want to join our group?” Do

you have a good answer?

If you want young people to join, you have to do

things that young people like too. Think hard. Make

your group attractive to youth.

Talk with youth at local high schools. Many of these

youth may want to join. Talk to their parents too

because they’ll need a ride!

Check out:

Kids as Self-Advocates at www.fvkasa.org

The National Youth Leadership Network at

www.nyln.org

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January 2012: Let’s Do This Thing!

Self-advocates are tired of hearing stories about real

jobs, real homes and being in charge of their own

lives. They want to experience these things in their

own lives. This year, we are challenging

self-advocacy groups to take on an important issue

and work together to make things better.

Advocacy & Support

Here are some ideas to help your self-advocacy

group get started.

1. Create a list of issues at your next self-advocacy

group meeting.

2. Choose an issue that your group would like to work

on. (Example: Abuse)

3. Set a goal to do something about the issue. Then

make an action plan to list the steps you will take to

reach your goal.

4. Ask each person in the group to choose a step he

or she can work on.

(Example: Help members develop personal safety

plans.)

5. Get educated. Ask an expert from the community

to talk to your group about the issue.

(Example: Invite someone from your state’s adult

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Advocacy & Support

January 2012: Let’s Do This Thing!

protection unit to share information about how to

keep yourself safe and how to report abuse.)

6. Contact a national self-advocacy organization like

Self-Advocates Becoming Empowered (SABE), the

National Youth Leadership Network (NYLN), or the

Autistic Self-Advocacy Network (ASAN) to find out

what they are doing about the issue.

7. Join another group in your state that is already

working on the issue.

(Example: Join a statewide committee working on

abuse prevention.)

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Get a Job!

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October 2007: Jobs, Jobs, Jobs


What do you do during the day? Are you doing what

you want? If you are working, do you like your job?

Are you getting paid enough? What kind of job do

YOU really want? If you are still in school, maybe you

wonder what you will do after you graduate. What

will you be doing then?

Now, think about what people said. Is everyone really

doing what they want? If the answer is “YES” that’s

great!

If the answer is “No,” then ask, “what can WE do

about it?”

Get some help to answer this question, “Is everyone

Get A Job!

At your next meeting, ask yourselves these three

questions.

Let everyone get a chance to talk!

1. What do you do during the day right now?

Make a list of what people say they are doing.

2. Do you like what you are doing?

Hear what everyone says. Some will like what they

do, and some won’t.

3. What kind of job would you REALLY like to do?

Let it rip! Listen to what people say!

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Get A Job!

really doing what they want?” Parents, case

managers, teachers, and staff might be able to help

you. The important thing is for people to get real jobs

that they are happy with!


October 2007: Jobs, Jobs, Jobs

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July 2011: Real Jobs for Real Pay

Want a Job? Do Something About It!

Contribution by Avery Olmstead

Self-advocates can work at real jobs. Yet, we are

often told we can’t work because we have disabilities.

This is not true - we can work! Are self-advocates you

know happy with what they do during the day? If not,

you can help each other. Talk about these ideas at

your next self-advocacy meeting.

Get A Job!

1. Make a list of things people in your group like to

do.

Then, look for opportunities to get experience.

Look for job ads in the newspaper or online. Find

volunteer info here: www.handsonnetwork.org.

2. Build your resume to share your interests and skills.

Check with your local library or employment office

to find a class. Go together for moral support.

3. Role play to practice interview and self-advocacy

skills.

Talk about your strengths and what you bring to the

job. Practice asking for supports to get the life you

want at your next service planning meeting. Want

a cool life? Speak up!

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Get A Job!

4. Network - tell people you want a job.

Tell friends, family members, and others you want a

job. Make a list of places you can go to meet

people or hand out resumes.

5. Share success stories.

Do some members in your group have jobs they

like? Ask them to share their story.

6. Interview people that have jobs you like.

Talk to them so you can learn more about their

work or to introduce yourself to a place you want

to work at.

7. Help each other prepare for an interview.

Make a list of things you should do to look and feel

great during an interview. How you will get to and

from the interview? What should you bring with

you?

8. Get advice from experts.

Invite a guest speaker to talk about programs that

help people work and keep their benefits.

July 2011: Real Jobs for Real Pay

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Living Life

29

July 2009: Happy 5th Birthday to The Riot!

Local Pride in Our Community

by the Community Transition Program

from Portland, OR Public Schools

The Community Transition Program is a group of

students ranging from 18-21 years old that have

developmental disabilities. We asked them what they

thought about disability pride and what it means to

them. Here are a few things they are proud of:

Daniel’s proud of the things he’s learned from his class

including how to budget and use things from the class

garden to cook with. He’s most proud of the

friendships he’s made.

Ruth is most proud of sponsoring a little girl in Mexico.

She knows she’s helping with her education, food,

healthcare and clothing.

Liz is most proud of graduating from high school,

becoming independent, confident riding Tri-Met

public transportation, and planning trips for the class.

Elizabeth is most proud of the movie the class is

making on people with disabilities. They’ve

interviewed students and people in the public. The

class will show the movie at a fundraiser to educate

people about people with disabilities.

Living Life

30

Living Life

Ways that you can volunteer and give to your

community:

Contact a local thrift store or bike shop and offer to

volunteer your time.

Donate time or money to your favorite charity.

Are you good with spelling but know someone who

isn’t? Offer to help teach them.

Start a community garden.

Never doubt your abilities.

July 2009: Happy 5th Birthday to The Riot!

31

October 2009: Monsters Are Real

Living Life

No Bullying Allowed! by James Meadours

Once in a great while I don’t feel safe at a bus stop.

Sometimes, I may even get bullied. I ignore what the

bully says to me. I stay as far away from the bully as I

can. If I feel really unsafe, I will get away from the

bully and go inside a public place nearby and tell

someone that I need help.

Last July, I was waiting for the bus. A man who was

drunk was also at the bus stop. I stayed as far from

him and his buddies as I could. He was picking on

other people at the bus stop too. He bothered a lady

and her baby. Lucky for me, his bus was the first one.

After he and his buddies were gone, we all felt safe

again.

I really enjoy living in the community, but sometimes I

get bullied around and it makes me feel scared.

Bullying can happen to anyone but it doesn’t mean

that we shouldn’t access the community. I still enjoy

the freedom of being able to do the things I like to do.

Some Tips to Remember:

Keep a cell phone with you at all times.

When you can, ride the bus with a friend.

Know your comfort zone and recognize when you

don’t feel safe.

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Living Life

October 2009: Monsters Are Real

If someone is really bothering you, get away from

them.

Tell someone and find a safe place to wait.

Don’t give up!

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October 2010: Big Houses Gotta Go!

Living Life

Groups are taking action by:

Gathering information about institutions in your state.

How many institutions are there? Where are they

located and how many people live there? Are there

plans to downsize or close them?

Starting self-advocacy groups in institutions.

Supporting the transition of people who live in an

institution back into their community.

Educating people who live in institutions about living

in the community.

Talking with people who live in institutions about what

they want to do and how your self-advocacy group

could help them. Make sure the meeting you have

with them is in a safe place to talk.

Brainstorming in your self-advocacy group about

what you can do to help people move back into the

community. Then choose a goal and follow through

Self-Advocates Speak Up! and Speak Out!

Where Do You Want to Live?

Many self-advocacy groups agree that people with

disabilities should live in the community with the

support they need - not in institutions.

34

Living Life

with it. That means listing the steps to reach your

goal, who will work on each step, and set dates

when you want each step done.

Thinking of others who can help. There may be

other organizations that will support your goal.

Meeting regularly to keep everyone going. Don’t

stop until everyone is back in the community.

Celebrating and sharing accomplishments!


October 2010: Big Houses Gotta Go!

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January 2011: The Art Issue

Living Life

Are you an aspiring artist? Here’s what you can do!

1. Get as much education, training, or mentorship as

you can. Meet other artists who create the same type

of art you do. Create art with other artists to help

you be productive. Find art classes or ask your day

program to offer studio art classes. Some day

programs do arts and crafts, but that may not suit you

if you are a serious artist.

2. Make as much art as you can.

Have a portfolio professionally made to show your

best work. Include an art resume that lists your

experience and accomplishments.

3. Market yourself!

Show your portfolio to theatres, cafes, and business

offices, they may be looking to hang art in their

space.

Attention Artists with Disabilities!

By Teresa Moore

Being an artist is hard work. When the Riot asked VSA

for advice, they said aspiring artists with disabilities

must compete on the same level as any artist. They

also shared lots of ideas to help artists build their

careers.

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Living Life

4. Make it easy for people to find your work and

contact you. Some useful websites are:

www.flickr.com

www.deviantart.com

www.facebook.com

the free Artists Registry at www.vsarts.org

January 2011: The Art Issue

37

April 2012: We Are Family

Living Life

Here is a list of ideas to get you started. Have you tried

any? If you have, talk about what happened. What

other ideas do you have? We understand that many

people do not have siblings. These ideas apply to

friendships too.

Invite your sibling to a self-advocacy meeting,

conference or disability event.

Talk about your hopes and dreams so you can

support each other to reach them.

Share your problems and offer ideas or advice.

Tell your siblings how much you care about them.

Siblings Supporting Each Other

Contribution by Julie Petty

Everyone needs support sometimes. For many people,

this support often comes from siblings. In a way, sibling

relationships are just like self-advocacy. Whether you

are peers, brothers, or sisters, it takes at least two

people to give and receive support from each other

to make life better.

People with disabilities give support too. Sometimes

siblings without disabilities forget this. Talk about how

siblings support each other at your next self-advocacy

group meeting. How do members of your group give

and receive support from siblings?

38

Living Life

Make time to visit or talk to your siblings as

frequently as possible, especially if you live far apart.

Take a trip or go on vacation together.

Just be a friend. Don’t boss each other around.

Look out for each other - always have your brother

or sister’s back.

Have fun! Go to a movie and dinner together.

April 2012: We Are Family

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Voting &

Representation

41

Voting & Representation

October 2008: Time to Vote


When I was old enough to vote, I voted the same way

my family did because I didn’t understand the issues.

When I learned about the issues and that I could make

my own decisions, I changed parties.

How can you do this? You’ve got to ask for help. Staff

and family can help us without influencing our

decision. We can help each other too.

How can you help other self-advocates in your group

to vote?

Self-advocates have the right to vote whether they are

their own guardians or not. But, we are often told we

cannot vote because we have a disability. This is

simply not true! I would say that many of us are well

informed. No one can tell you how to vote. Voting is

about your opinions and decisions. This is why it is

important to know the issues and candidates.

Here are three things you can do.

• Talk about the issues that are important to you in

your meetings. This will help you decide who to vote

for.

• Learn about the voting process such as completing

a ballot so you know what to do on November 4th.

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Self-advocates who understand their right to vote

treasure this responsibility. It is a privilege!


October 2008: Time to Vote


• Try to find ways to get to the voting booths. You

may take the bus together or one of you may drive

a car and take others with you.

43


April 2010: Upside Down Issue

We Want Change and We Want it Now!

by Teresa Moore

Self-advocates want change! To make that happen, we

can reach out to our state legislators and say what’s on

our minds. Here are some steps that your self-advocacy

group can take to make sure your thoughts are heard.

1. Meet as a group. Make a list of things that are

important and that you want to talk about.

2. Go online with a computer to find the contact

information for your state’s legislator.

3. Practice as a group the things that you want to talk

about. Have one person pretend to be the

legislator while another asks questions.

Every call to your legislator is important.

Here’s a sample script that you can use:

Hello. My name is:__________ and I live in ________

(legislator’s district).

Is the legislator in? May I talk to them?

(If they are not in, leave a message with their

assistant). May I leave a message?

I would like the legislator to _____

(list your 3 biggest concerns and how you would like

them to vote on your issues).

Thank you very much!

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Celebrate each one because it’s a step towards a

better future. A future where every self-advocate

feels stronger and knows that they can be in charge of

their own lives.


April 2010: Upside Down Issue


45


October 2011: Ready… Aim… Fire!

Here are some ways that self-advocacy groups can

push for real jobs for people with disabilities. Talk

about these ideas at your next meeting and create an

action plan to make it happen.

Work to change attitudes and stereotypes.

Get the message out that people with disabilities have

a right to equal opportunities to work.

Keep demanding real jobs.

Tell your family, case manager and staff that you want

to work.

Educate policy makers and legislators.

Tell them to stop funding sheltered employment and

sub-minimum wages and fund supported employment

instead. Meet with sheltered workshop providers and

tell them how you want things to change.

Learn about services that provide individualized

employment.

Invite a guest speaker to talk to your group about new

ideas in customized employment.

Get involved with your state Employment First Initiative.

If you don’t have one, talk to people about starting

one.

Believe in yourself!

Remind each other that it is possible to get a job you

want and like.

46


July 2012: Voting Rocks

There’s a big race for president this year, but don’t

forget that local elections are important, too.

Senators, governors, city council, and school board

members shape policies that affect your life. But who will

you vote for? Follow these steps to help you decide.

Bring it up at your next self-advocacy meeting and think

of ways you can help each other be informed voters! A

candidate is someone who is trying to get voted into

office like president, senator, representative, city council,

etc.

Step 1: Decide what you are looking for in a

candidate. Think about issues that are important to you

and the qualities you like to see in a leader.

Step 2: Find out about the candidates. Go to

www.VOTE411.org to find out who is running for office in

your state.

Step 3: Gather materials about the candidates. Get

information through www.VOTE411.org, newspapers, TV,

and mailing lists. Watch the speeches and debates.

Step 4: Think about what the candidates say about the

issues. Keep a journal of what you learn about each

candidate.

Step 5: Learn about the candidates’ leadership abilities.

Find out about their job history and leadership

experience.

Step 6: Learn what others think of the candidates. Ask

others who you trust for their opinion of the candidates.

Step 7: Sort it all out!

John Kelting V

SPOTLIGHT STUDIOS

To order, check out www.theriotrocks.org/spotlight-studios

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