THE ARIZONA COALITION FOR FAMILY SUPPORT, SELF-DETERMINATION AND DISABILITY

FROM THE PROJECT COORDINATOR

November 15, 2003

Greetings,

The Arizona Coalition for Family Support, Self-Determination and Disability was established in September 2001 through a grant from the federal Administration on Developmental Disabilities. Although our first year of funding officially ended in August 2002 we were able to continue some of the Coalition’s training and networking activities through an extension of our first year funding. We are pleased to announce that we have received new federal funds that will support our work for another year through September of 2004.

I began working as Project Coordinator for the Arizona Coalition for Family Support, Self-Determination and Disability Project in October. I am pleased to be a part of the Coalition team and would like to share a few highlights of the Coalition’s 2003-04 planned activities.

One of the first things we will work on this year is expanding our Coalition Policy Council (In collaboration with the Arizona Disability Advocacy Coalition). We hope to eventually include a representative from each legislative district in Arizona. This year our Policy Council will provide us with their perspective and recommendations about the activities of our grant. We hope that as the Council grows they will continue to come together as a powerful resource and provide support for each other across the state. Policy Council members will also participate in a policy study on the new Division of Developmental Disabilities Qualified Vendor System in Arizona (through the University of Arizona, Arizona University Center on Disabilities program site).

We will also be presenting another Family Support and Self-Determination conference (in collaboration with Pilot Parents of Southern Arizona) as well as several trainings for self-advocates in high schools. The high school trainings will bring the expertise of self–advocates from People First of Arizona, Inc. and the knowledge and experience of representatives from the Arizona Center for Disability Law and Raising Special Kids.

We will continue sending out information on our Coalition NEWSWIRE. Our Coalition NEWSWIRE (a one-way list serve) will provide Arizona self-advocates, family members of persons with disabilities, and others with timely information on local and national disability issues; opportunities to be involved in legislative action; and training events. There are currently over 200 subscribers to the NEWSWIRE list. Subscribe online by clicking on NEWSWIRE or by contacting Diane Lenz at (928) 523-7040 or Jocelyn van Belle at (928) 523-5115.

Our support group database continues to grow. We are especially interested in hearing from those smaller grass-roots groups that might be forming and would love to include your group on our site if you are not already listed there. Just follow this link http://www.nau.edu/ihd/family_support/database.html and click on the Arizona map for information about local family support and self-advocacy groups in your county.

We will provide updates on our current events as the year progresses. We welcome your input and ideas and encourage you to become involved in any way you see fit. Join our Policy Council, attend a conference or training, and explore our website to find out about support groups, events, legislative alerts and happenings in your area or just e-mail us with your concerns.
Please be in touch with us, and with each other. There is power in coalition.

Jocelyn van Belle
Project Coordinator

visitors since January 24, 2002.