At the Oct. 16 Rights Rally in Brookville, over a hundred people supported by AHRC Day Services celebrated self-advocacy and self-discovery through presentations and activities exploring their interests and aspirations.
Organized jointly by the Personal Outcome Measures (POMs) and Quality Assurance (QA) teams, this year’s rights rally focused on understanding one’s role in society.
Self-advocate and QA Trainer Michelle Rudoff, Compass and QA Administrator Colleen Tapia and Personal Outcomes Department Coordinator Susan “Sue” Gil Orange led the presentation.
Presenting a Curated Person-Centered Program
Michelle and Colleen engaged the crowd with questions ranging from “who makes decisions for your life” to “what is the most important right in the world?”
Sue encouraged the crowd to think about the role they play in people’s lives and how a loved one’s life would be different if they were no longer around. This part of the presentation was a wonderful way for people with disabilities to recognize how they contribute to their family, friends, and community.
It was an empowering lesson where people gained confidence and comfort in being themselves and reflected on their impact as siblings, neighbors, or volunteers.
Michelle Rudoff discussed person-centered planning (PCP). This topic is relevant to older adults and people with disabilities because it is a facilitated life planning model that enables a person to coordinate the services and supports needed for a self-directed life.
Addressing Isolation and Transportation
Coleen Mackin, a QA trainer who also helped to organize the event, emphasized how the PCP process improved the trajectory of her life. Coleen is supported through a New York State program called Self-Direction and has access to services meaningful to her. She works three days a week, takes vocal lessons and is working toward her goal of starting a YouTube channel. She is also deeply involved in her community through advocacy and volunteerism.
“It’s important for people to use their right to speak up and find support,” said Coleen. “Have a good support team and know how to get transportation because without it you can’t get anywhere to meet anyone.”
Ensuring that people with disabilities have proper access to transportation can increase positive person-centered outcomes.
The presentation closed with an exercise for people to write down their aspirations, wants and needs to share with the POMs team. The department then shares this information with attendees’ support teams. Support teams are essential for all people who receive services through New York State including the person supported and anyone they deem important to assist them in life. Support teams may include natural supports like friends and family as well as their care manager and service providers.
The annual rights rally is among a continuum of services that provides people with disabilities with the tools and resources to access and navigate supports. It is also a fun and engaging way to build an active community of self-advocates seeking to reach meaningful goals.