 |
Consumer Advocacy Organizations
Speak Up brought together AAC users and community agencies
that provide support services to people with disabilities living in the
community.
Focus Group Members
Service Needs
Guidelines
Resources for Consumer Advocacy Organizations:
Focus Group Members [Top]
Lucy Nyman |
Anne Johnston Health Station |
Tim Kinney |
Ontario Federation Cerebral Palsy |
Ann Kennedy |
SexAbility Project |
Pam Gaudet |
Ontario March of Dimes, Hamilton |
John Mossa |
Centre for Independent Living, Toronto |
Antonella Paolicelli |
Harmony Place Support Services, North York |
Andrew Adams |
Family Service Association of Toronto |
Ruth Cole |
Tobias House, Toronto |
Lyndsey Reiss |
Ontario March of Dimes, Hamilton |
Anne Abbott |
Speaking Differently |
Aaron Shelbourne |
AAC User, Speak Up Project |
Donald Smith |
AAC User, Speak Up Project |
Jason Masters |
Hamilton AAC Speak Up Peer Support Group |
David Dawson |
Hamilton AAC Speak Up Peer Support Group |
Fran Odette |
Speak Up Project |
Jake Pyne |
Speak Up Project |
Barbara Collier |
Speak Up Project |
Service Needs [Top]
The following service needs were identified by adults who use AAC and relate to their experiences in accessing and participating within their communities.
- AAC users are often uninformed about community services, programs
and social events due to the lack of a comprehensive mailing list of
AAC users, the lack of access to internet and text based advertising
(e.g. brochures).
- AAC users have barriers in physically accessing and communicating
with community service providers (e.g. health, legal, entertainment,
spiritual supports etc.)
- AAC users may require independent advocates trained in communication
techniques to support them in coordinating, negotiating, dealing with
conflicts and advocating for their services.
- Many AAC users require support in finding out about, coordinating
and fully participating in social events.
- AAC users may need support in setting up circles of support, and/or
peer support groups.
Guidelines for Consumer Advocacy Organizations [Top]
The focus group made the following recommendations based on the needs identified by AAC users:
- AAC users require information about services, projects and community
events in formats that they can access.
- 1-2 key people within an organization could be trained in a range
of communication techniques to enhance their communication with AAC
users.
Agencies could have access to pertinent resources and services to facilitate
their work with AAC users.
- Agencies could support staff in acquiring the skills and resources
they need in order to address AAC users’ unique and complex needs.
Suggestions included i.e. advocacy techniques, conflict resolution,
problem solving, coordination, team management, directing attendant
services, legal matters and responding to disclosures.
- Agencies might play a role in supporting AAC users in finding out
about, coordinating and fully participating in social events.
- Agencies could support AAC users in setting up circles of support,
in accessing self-help and peer support groups.
Speak Up Resources to Support Consumer
Advocacy Agencies: [Top]
[Top]
|
|
