Kentucky Self-Advocates For Freedom, Inc.
PO Box 4004, Winchester, Kentucky 40392-4004
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KY-SPIN, Inc. is pleased to host this Self-Advocacy page for Kentucky Self-Advocates for Freedom, Inc. (KYSAFF). Kentucky Self-Advocates for Freedom is a newly formed state-wide non-profit organization led by and for people with developmental disabilities in the Commonwealth of Kentucky.
The mission of Kentucky Self-Advocates for Freedom is:
“Kentucky Self-Advocates
for Freedom is a statewide organization directed by
Kentuckians with
disabilities committed to working in partnership to
promote equal rights,
inclusion, self-advocacy, support and education in all realms of life.”
The goals of Kentucky Self-Advocates for Freedom are:
A. Self-Advocates speaking up for themselves and to teach, coach and support other self-advocates to speak up for themselves;
B. Self-Advocates knowing and exercising their rights;
C. Educate people to gain a better understanding of self-advocacy and why self-advocacy is important;
D. Informing and educating the general public about rights, needs and issues regarding people with developmental disabilities to live, work and be included in the community;
E. Informing and educating lawmakers and public policy makers regarding the needs of people with developmental disabilities;
F. Involvement in decision making forums regarding policies that impact people with developmental disabilities; and
G. Advocating for funding for services and supports on behalf of people with developmental disabilities
Kentucky Self-Advocates for Freedom Officers:
Jim Chesser, President
Elvis Smallwood, Vice President
Cathy Jo Edwards, Secretary
Reba McDonald, Treasurer
Self-advocates who have a developmental disability and are interested and committed to self-advocacy and willing to work on the development of a statewide organization, work on the establishment of a local chapter in your area or getting involved in already established local chapters are encouraged to participate.
For people interested in the state-wide organization contact:
Vicki Cooper, vcooper4@juno.com, 859-273-1242
Cathy Jo Edwards, Secretary: 606-474-2596 Or
Trudy Fletcher, Tfletch100@aol.com, 585-230-0313 or
Jeff Keilson, jakeilson@aol.com, 781-910-7216
Local Chapters of Kentucky Self-Advocates For Freedom
Several areas within Kentucky have already established local chapters of Kentucky Self-Advocates For Freedom, Inc. Many more areas are in the process of developing local chapters.
For local chapter information contact:
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Chapter: Greater Lexington
(Greater Lexington area/counties: Fayette, Scott, Jessimine, Madison, Bourbon, Woodford)
Host Agency: Bluegrass Technology Center
Advisor(s): Debbie Sharon, Jan Richards
Address/Phone/E-Mail:
395 Redding Road
Unit 180
Lexington, KY 40517
859.552.9898
Dsharon@bluegrass-tech.org
Meetings: 1st Thursday of each month. 5:00-6:00, social.
6:00-7:30, business
Dues: $2.00/month
Officers: P: Amber Allphin, VP: April Sharon, Sec: Jana Arvin, Treasurer: Chrystal Patton, Leg. Liaison: Jim Chesser, Social Dir: , Bill Mazzoleni
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Chapter: Self-Advocates Connection of Metro Louisville (Metro Louisville area)
Host Agency: Leadership Institute of CMR
Advisor(s): Beth Richardson
Address/Phone/E-Mail: 101 Witherspoon
Louisville, KY
502-587-6500
Meetings: 2nd Wednesday each month 6:30-8:30
Officers: Pr: Kelly Knoop VP: Trish Sec: Sally Johnstone Tres: Donna Caudill
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Chapter: Lake Cumberland
Host Agency: BRASS
Advisor(s): Cindy Coomer
Address/Phone/E-Mail: 671 W. Hwy 80
Somerset, KY 42501
606-678-4660
Cindy.Coomer@cchk.org
Dues: $1.00/ month
Officers: Officers not elected yet.
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Chapter: Southeast Kentucky People Who Care
(Counties: Knox, McCreary, Laurel, Whitley)
Host Agency: CAPRICE
Advisor(s): Debby Nolan
Address/Phone/E-Mail: PO Box 1390
Corbin, Kentucky 40701
(606) 523-5732
Meetings: 3rd Thursday each month.
Officers meet monthly in addition to group mtg
Dues: $20.00/yr to be voting member or officer. Dues are payable quarterly
Officers: Chair: Denise King VC: Elvis Smallwood Sec: Wanda Scalf Tres: Joe Trammell
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Chapter: Winchester
Host Agency: KY STRIDE
Advisor(s): Paul McNeil, Brigitte Ferguson
Address/Phone/E-Mail: PO Box 643
120 S. Main St-2nd Floor
Winchester, Kentucky 40392
(859) 744-0370
Meetings: Monthly
Dues: $2.00/month payable every 6 months
Officers: Pr. Bradley Lane VP. Leslie King Sec. Eric Blythe Tr. Fannie Stonestreet Pub. Relations: Reba McDonald
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Chapter: A.I.M.E., Bowling Green
Host Agency: LifeSkills, Inc.
Advisor(s): Dawn Belek , Crisis/ISG Coordinator
Address/Phone/E-Mail: Dawn Belek work number (270) 901-5000 ext.1076 dbelek@lifeskills.com
Meetings: HillVue Height Heights Church at 3219 Nashville Rd. The first Tuesday of each month from 4:30-6:00 p.m.
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Chapter: Northern Kentucky
Contact: Marie Braun
For areas not mentioned, please contact:
Vicki Cooper, vcooper4@juno.com, 859-273-1242;
Trudy Fletcher TFletch100@aol.com, 585-230-0313; or
Jeff
Keilson,
JAKeilson@aol.com, 781-910-7216
Self-Advocacy...What is it?
* A civil rights movement for every person to have control over one’s life so people with disabilities are treated the same as everyone else.
* Beliefs and Values
· Being a person first
· Being able to make our own decisions
· Believing in my value as a person
· Having other people believe in you as a person
What would you do as a Self-Advocate?
· Know your rights
· Speak up for yourself
· Express your feelings
· Solve problems, get things done
· Make choices and make your own decisions
· Decide how support is given
· Have influence over your own life
· Help each other to express your feelings and
thoughts
· Take control over your life
· Take part in things that effect your own life
· Be allowed to make your own mistakes
· Form groups
What do Groups do?
· Help people get support from each other
· Bring people together to share ideas and gain
strength from each other
· Learn from friends and support each other
· Help people be listened to
· Make it easier to make changes
· Influence decisions that effect people’s lives
· Meet, have fun and make friends
People participating in Kentucky Self-Advocates for Freedom must meet the criteria for having a developmental disability.
Definition of Developmental Disability:
"DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITY, (A) IN GENERAL. The term "developmental disability"
means a severe, chronic disability of an individual that (i) is attributable
to a mental or physical impairment or combination of mental or physical
impairments; (ii) in manifested before the individual attains age 22; (iii) is
likely to continue indefinitely; (iv) results in substantial functional
limitations in 3 or more of the following areas of major life activity: (I)
Self-care. (II) Receptive and expressive language. (III) Learning. (IV)
Mobility. (V) Self-direction. (VI) Capacity for independent living. (VII)
Economic self-sufficiency; and (v) reflects the individual's need for a
combination and sequence of special, interdisciplinary or generic services,
individualized supports, or other forms of assistance that are lifelong or
extended duration and are individually planned and coordinated. (B) INFANTS
AND YOUNG CHILDREN. An individual from birth to age 9, inclusive, who has a
substantial developmental delay or specific congenital or acquired condition,
may be considered to have a developmental disability without meeting 3 or more
of the criteria described in clauses (I) through (v) subparagraph (A) if the
individual, without services and supports, has a high probability of meeting
those criteria later in life."
Funded
by the Kentucky Council on Developmental Disabilities
Click Here to fill out the Self-Advocacy Interest Survey Online
