Larry Bissonette and Tracy Thresher helped tell the personal stories of six men and women, allowing us a view of the “global face of autism.” Both Larry and Tracy and others in the movie were able to provide others with a glimpse of their inner lives through the use of communication devices. We learned a lot from seeing people typing to each other. “We are the perfect example of intelligence working out itself in a much different way,” says Tracy Thresher. All of our group members can speak but we welcome any and all to join our cause and group. Phil Dashnau, John & Erin

Henderson, Lynette Dellahunt, and Michelle Wolf had the honor of presenting to a SRO

(Continued on page 2)

We are the Madison County Motivators Self-Advocacy Group

The Power of Our Voices CNY Self-Advocates Speaking Out Volume 2 , Issue 5/6

1005 West Fayette Street, Suite 1A, Syracuse, NY 13204 (315) 473-6927 Fall 2012

What’s Inside Remembering Lisa Obrist

The World According to Dan

Report on the 2012 SABE Conference

Spread the Word to End the Word Campaign

Sound Off Voting: Why Should Self-Advocates

Vote?

ADA March and Rally 2012

We, the Madison County Motivators were 11+ individuals strong at the Central New York Self Advocates Regional Conference on May 19 at Carnegie Conference Center at Drivers Village. Here we were able to join other regional groups in celebrating 25 years of Self-Advocacy in Central New York with the leadership of SANYS! At the conference we were

very fortunate to watch the new movie, “Wretches and Jabberers: And Stories from the Road.” This is a true story of two men with autism and limited speech who, with their support team, joined forces with Academy Award-winning filmmaker Geraldine Wurzburg, and producer, Douglas Biklen, and visited 6 countries.

The Power of Our Voices 2

crowd, about choices they have made in their lives. Phil shared that he has designed his own tattoos and the story they represent about him. John and Erin discussed their life together as a married couple living independently in the community of their choosing. Lynette told the group how much her living situation, her job, and most importantly her SC are in her life. She is one gal who knows how important advocacy is! Michelle shared how much it means to her to be able to live in the Family Care home of her choice. We are so proud to have

won second place (and a trophy) for our float and effort at the Oneida Memorial Day Parade this year! Of course our theme was Stars and Stripes Self-Advocacy. In addition to winning second place, this is our second year marching in the Oneida Parade. We plan to march every year in an effort to “Spread the Word to End the (R) Word!” and to bring the self-advocacy movement to the general public. The New R Word is Respect!

(Continued from page 1)

Members during their presentation at the 2012

regional conference

Madison County Motivators at the Regional Conference in May, 2012

We also want to say that our friend and former member, Claud Snyder, who passed away this spring, marched in the parade with us last year. Claud also attended SANYS conferences regularly and was the Self-Advocacy representative on the CNYDSO Everyday Heroes Committee. We miss you Claud and appreciate all you did for self-advocacy! Our group sends a special

thank you CNY Friends in helping to defray the cost of the regional SANYS conference for some of our members. Erin Henderson, President;

Esther Dygert, Vice President; Shelly Corolla, Secretary; John Henderson, Treasurer; and Sergeant at Arms, Darlene West. Additional group members: Douglas Lenning; Joe VanGelder; Michael Morgan; Ted Nicholson; Shelly Wheeler; Michelle Wolf; Theresa Gildersleeve, and John Gildersleeve.

Madison County Motivators at the 2012 Oneida Memorial Day Parade

“The New R Word is RESPECT” says their sign!!!

The Power of Our Voices 3

On May 25, 2012, Lisa Obrist, a long-time member of the Self-Advocacy Network, died of a sudden heart attack. She was a courageous woman with a loving heart and wonderful spirit who contributed much to self-advocacy in Central New York. She helped to start SANYS,

the state self-advocacy organization, serving on its board when it was created and again recently. She advocated for people

with developmental disabilities and lived her life true to her values. Lisa spoke about her life saying, “I want people to know that people with disabilities can be very smart in their own ways. I want people to see how hard I have worked to be where I am. I have felt before that I would quit if things didn’t get better, but I didn’t give up. I had wonderful parents and grandparents who cared a great deal for me…. With the right support, we can all achieve success.” We will miss you, Lisa!

Lisa was a good advocate for us. We will miss her and I am so sorry she won’t be around anymore. I helped her at the self-advocacy S.A.L.T meetings on Mondays and she would always come into the self-advocacy meetings with her happy face. Lisa used to ride Call a Bus with me. And I talked to her on Mondays. We will miss Lisa a lot at Self-Advocacy! Lisa was good friends and family with us. We will continue to spread her message of advocating for ourselves and others.

Jordan Poissant

The many faces of Lisa Obrist

REMEMBERING LISA OBRIST

The Power of Our Voices 4

The World According to Dan

On June 14, 2012 life changed for Dan Cuddy. Dan was

brutally assaulted outside his apartment. He was returning home from the store when he was attacked. His roommate, Tom, witnessed the attacked and by his opening their front door, the two men stopped attacking Dan and ran down the road. Tom is Dan’s guardian angel and helped save his life. Dan made his way back to his apartment and called 911. Later that night, he had emergency surgery to repair the damage caused by four knife wounds. Dan spent well over a week in the hospital recovering and was determined to get back on his feet and return to his life of living independently with Tom, working and resuming his self-advocacy activities. And he was able to do just that. Later this month, Dan and Tom will be moving to their

new apartment in a much safer part of town. Dan has returned back to work at National Grid and recently returned from a trip to Minneapolis, MN to attend the annual Self-Advocates Becoming Empowered Conference.

(Continued on page 5)

My Time at New Visions I took computer classes

and exercise classes at OCC during the New Visions program this summer. We also had classes on Health and Safety, how to take care of ourselves when we are home alone, and working in the kitchen. Channel 9 News came over

and talked to my friend, Amy Grealish, about Self-Advocacy. What is important about it, how does it work, and what does it do for its members. She spoke very well and I

participated in the questions, too. They also asked about

Special Olympics. What kind of games do we do? I like the ones that I have played: floor hockey, power lifting, bocce ball, track and field, and soccer. The night before it was

over, we had a dance. Amy and I danced a lot. We made new friends. The last night was our graduation. We all wore caps and gowns and marched in to the music of “Pomp & Circumstance.” It was very impressive.

Dan Cuddy is the President of the Syracuse USA Self-Advocacy Group and a member of the Self-Advocacy Network. He volunteers regularly at the Information Station.

The Power of Our Voices 5

Report on the 2012 SABE Conference

SAVE THE DATE! The 2012 Statewide Self-

Advocacy Conference Ride The Waiver, Our Voice

Our Choice! October 25-27, 2012

Albany Marriott Visit http://www.sanys.org for

more information.

By Dan Smith I went to the SABE conference in Minnesota with Chris Paronis, Dan Cuddy & Cyndy Colavita. It was a good conference. I took classes on Fairness, Who Wants to be a Millionaire Advocate and Personal Safety. I introduced myself to lots of new people and made new friends. I met people from other states, like Florida, North Dakota & Massachusetts. I liked learning about my rights at the Human Rights Fair. I answered questions and I played “War” on Fairness card game. I voted for our regional representative for SABE. Max Barrow from Vermont won the election for Region 8. I liked him. I

went in the hot tub and it felt good after all that walking. I did not like all the walking between the two hotels. I went to the dance, but I didn’t dance. At times the conference was very noisy and the food was not very good. Going home we had a long wait in New York City. I used the free iPads and looked up the weather, baseball scores and old cars. On the plane coming home, we met a musician, Candy Coburn. She was coming to Syracuse to sing at Chevy Court at the NYS State Fair! If the plane ride is not too long, I would like to go to the SABE Conference in Oklahoma in 2014.

There was an article written about Dan in the Post Standard on June 22nd. Donations came pouring in for Dan. Over $1,400 was raised, and Dan wants this money be used to be fund self-advocacy activities in the CNY region. Dan’s attack got members

of the Self-Advocacy Network to think about personal safety. They have invited a member of the Syracuse City Police Department to their November meeting to talk about personal safety. Keep on trucking Dan!!!!!!

(Continued from page 4)

Dan Cuddy (on right) and friend at New Visions

The Power of Our Voices 6

The Power of Our Voices 7

Spread the Word to End the Word Campaign

Sound Off For Self-Advocates To Talk About Whatever They Want

People are Beautiful once again went up to Herkimer Community College in March to spread the word to end the R-word. This has become one of our rituals that we really enjoy. The self-advocates get really empowered by doing this. It also gets us out into the community to us some of our well learned skills. It gives a strange sensation knowing that on the same day a lot of colleges are getting introduced to self-advocacy. The Herkimer college

students tend to be very busy and fast, but we don’t

let that intimidate us at all. We come with a plan. This last time we had 5 self-advocates plus our trusty advisor Craig. Brian and Anthony were set at the front doors to try to catch the students who are just coming to college or getting off the bus. Lynn and Billie Jo were set up by the back doors and the stairway that the students use to go to the cafeteria. As for myself (Letisia) I helped man the table and gave helped where I was needed. I also had my computer set up so people could log on and take the pledge to stop

Jordan Poissant and her friend, David

When I moved into Nob Hill apartments I met David. He is a good staff for me. We hang out a lot. He and I go out to dinner and shopping which I love to do. I’m happy to have his help with these things. He is my friend for life. We are family and I will miss him a lot when he moves to Denver, Colorado. I will miss David picking me up at my mom’s house. If I am down he makes me happy. I will miss my friend and his cooking. I like him and he is fun to be with. He helps me a lot at nob hill apartments. I will be ok but I will miss David.

Jordan Poissant

using the R-word right then and there. This year we had over 80 people log on that was from Herkimer College. The best part of this adventure for me was watching some of the self-advocates, overcome and fears or issues that they may have, to do one thing. The key to change...is to let go of fear. Rosanne Cash

Written by Letisia

Comstock

The Power of Our Voices 8

The Power of Our Voices 9

The National Technical Assistance Center for Voting and Cognitive Access assists protection and advocacy systems, election officials and people with disabilities to make voting accessible for all citizens. The Center is managed and operated by leaders in the self-advocacy movement.

Carrie Bergeron named one of Mohawk Valley’s Most Interesting People!

Want to read more? Go to this website: http://www.uticaod.com/

news/x1931755186/Most-Interesting-People-Down-Syndrome-

not-a-disability-for-Bergeron

Project Vote Toolkit The Project VOTE! Voter Education Toolkit is a guide created by leaders in the self advocacy movement to help people teach voter education trainings in their communities. The Voter Education Toolkit includes 8-10 hours of training about registering to vote, voter rights and responsibilities, how to learn about candidates and issues, different ways that people vote, and how to increase partnerships between self-advocacy groups and protection and advocacy organization. All of the Project VOTE! Voter Education Toolkit and Training Materials are online and you can download them for FREE.

For more information and to watch the projects Public Service Announcement, visit http://www.govoter.org/!

The Power of Our Voices 10

absentee ballot budget candidate democracy Democratic election November politician register rights Republican vote

The Power of Our Voices 11

Shquira and Nicole Spear also served as members of the Minority Network Conference Committee. The 2012 Central New York Minority Network Conference will take place on October 19, 2012 and the theme will be “The New Wave: Choices in Changing Times.” For more information on this conference contact Shirley Goddard at 315-472-5110 x307.

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) 22nd Anniversary Celebration & March, July 12, 2012

Carrie Bergeron (left) with OPWDD Commissioner Courtney Burke (right)

Congratulations to Shquira Velez for graduating from the PEACE Inc. Food Service Training Program—next stop, a job!

The Power of Our Voices 12

Syracuse University The Power of Our Voices 805 S Crouse Ave Syracuse, NY 13244-2280

Non Profit Org US Postage

PAID

Syracuse University Syracuse NY

The Power of Our Voices, formerly The Voice of Freedom, is a newsletter by and for self-advocates in the Central New York Region. We encourage contributions to the newsletter. Let us know if you have a suggestion, would like to write an article, or have ideas to make it better. Contact us at (315) 473-6927 or (315) 443-3851. The Power of Our Voices is published four times a year (July, October, January, April). Opinions expressed in The Power of Our Voices represent the views of the authors.

The Power of Our Voices is supported by the Self-Advocacy Association of NYS and the Center on Human Policy through a subcontract with the RTC on Community Living and Employment at the University of Minnesota. Editorial Staff: Cyndy Colavita (Editor), 315-443-3851; Dan Flanigan (Regional

Coordinator SANYS), 315-473-6927; and Nicole Spear (Regional Organizer SANYS), 315-473-6927. Special thanks to Rachael Zubal-Ruggieri for the design of this newsletter.