Advocacy and Public Awareness

Giving families the keys they need to open doors, and through community involvement, giving individuals with disabilities the opportunities they need to experience life to the fullest.

The Challenge
"At the heart of helping people with disabilities move toward lives of self-determination, companionship and contribution is the need for effective skills in person-centered planning, facilitation of circles of support, and other tools that define vision, invite collaboration, and build the energy and commitment necessary to work together on complex problems and issues."
Dave and Faye Wetherow

What is the "Advocacy and Public Awareness" Partnership Project?
The "Advocacy and Public Awareness" program is a statewide project of The Arc of Tennessee, that is funded under an agreement with the State of Tennessee. The program was established to:

• Individualize the service system to better meet the needs of people.
• Ensure that individuals spend their days in meaningful ways.
• Design services and supports that enable people with intellectual and developmental disabilities to lead lives similar to people without disabilities.
• Increase access to meaningful services and supports.
• Provide advocacy intervention services.
• Provide information and referral to families seeking help.
• Provide PATH person-centered planning - Planning Alternative Tommorrows with Hope.
• Provide law enforcement training.
  

What are our expected outcomes?
We focus on providing follow-up to agencies in designing and providing meaningful days (including mentoring and assistance on a case-by-case basis), providing individual assistance to families, attending circles of support meetings, providing person-centered planning, and providing training as new needs are identified. Training presentations and opportunities offered are:

• The Basics of Self Determination
• Best Support Practices - How does our System Work
• Teaching Individuals about Self-advocacy and Choice
• Assisting People to Build Capacity
• PATH - Planning Alternative Tommorrows with Hope (for individuals and organizations)
• New Non-profit Agency Start-up
• Training for Law Enforcement Personnel and Agencies
• Human Relationships

Who can volunteer?
We need volunteers who would be willing to:

• Become members of a focus group in each region of the state.
• Establish "host sites" for the training sessions.
• Identify individuals who you believe would benefit from the "Advocacy and Public Awareness" project.

Whom do I contact?

Middle Tennessee - Steve Jacobs
Office (615) 248-5878 or 1-800-835-7077
Fax (615) 248-5879
e-mail sjacobs@thearctn.org

East Tennessee - Mary Ann Schenk
Office (423) 267-0500
Fax (423) 267-9550
e-mail maschenk@bellsouth.net

West Tennessee - Treva Maitland
Office (731) 559-4187
Fax (731) 559-4173
e-mail tmaitland@thearctn.org