Highlighting Partnerships - Arizona Achieve
Written by Ryan Barry, Lead Advisor – Seeking Equity Leading to Fairness (SELF), The Arc of Tempe
Arizona Achieve, a statewide cross-disability coalition dedicated to promoting self-advocacy, proudly announces its partnership with the Arizona Developmental Disabilities Planning Council (ADDPC). This partnership is made possible by crucial funding to support self-advocacy within the disability community.
Self-advocacy means speaking up for yourself and others, especially on issues that matter to the disability community.
Founded by The Arc of Tempe, Arizona Achieve guides individuals with disabilities in their self-advocacy journey, helping each person find their voice, share their story, and advocate for change. This collaboration between Arizona Achieve and ADDPC signifies a commitment to empowering self-advocacy on a statewide scale.
Arizona Achieve’s activities include a range of opportunities for self-advocates to expand their skills and engage with peers:
Coalition Meetings
On the first Friday of every month at 2:00 pm Mountain Standard Time, Arizona Achieve hosts virtual coalition meetings, providing a space for self-advocacy groups statewide to actively work on solving disability-related issues. It's not just talk; it's collaborative problem-solving.
Peer-Mentorship Program
Understanding the importance of supportive friendships, Arizona Achieve pairs up self-advocates based on their needs and knowledge. In each pairing, one person serves as the mentor while the other person receives guidance as the peer. Together, they work on their self-advocacy goals. Arizona Achieve checks in regularly to monitor progress and provides extra help if needed. Arizona Achieve creates a friendly space for everyone, whether guiding or being guided, to learn and grow on their leadership journey.
Self-Advocacy Leadership Training Program
The Self-Advocacy Leadership Training Program at Arizona Achieve equips individuals with the understanding and tools to become strong self-advocate leaders. Soon, free lessons will be available on our website, featuring videos and activities for members.
For more detailed learning on self-advocacy topics, Arizona Achieve hosts in-person Self-Advocacy Training sessions around the state. Join Arizona Achieve in January for a session on knowing your elected representatives! This hybrid event will provide essential skills to identify and connect with lawmakers. Whether participating in person or virtually, the session promises valuable insights and strategies to make a tangible difference in the community. Don't miss this opportunity to elevate your advocacy skills and make a positive change!
- When: Thursday, January 4th
- Time: 1:00 to 3:00 PM
- Where: Hybrid (In-Person: Pinal County Arc, 316 W Alder Rd, Kearny AZ 85137; Virtual: On Zoom)
To stay connected and be part of this growing community, visit achieve-tempearc.org. Sign up for our newsletter, become a member, and receive the latest information on upcoming events. Your voice and story matter, so together with Arizona Achieve and ADDPC, let's continue achieving more for self-advocacy.
For more information and to register for Arizona Achieve’s self-advocacy training sessions, follow this link:
To learn more and become a member, visit azachieve-tempearc.org or thearcoftempe.org.
