Systems Change and Advocacy

1. Systems Change and Advocacy

2. What we do We provide core Independent Living Services including assisting individuals with disabilities with individual advocacy and groups of individuals with systems change/advocacy.

3. Training Objective: This training is here for you to see how different approaches can be used to change systems to better meet the needs of People with Disabilities who many times face obstacles or are told NO when trying to get their needs met by the programs and services in your area. The different approaches will vary from very subtle to very in your face tactics to create these changes.The focus of this training is to provide you with the basic model so your organization and the people with disabilities you work with can design and implement action/advocacy plans to change the systems in your service area using strategies which fit your organization.

4. Where are you from and what do you do? How do you get input from consumers on issues, system problems? What advocacy efforts can you use in your organization? What is your #1 system change success story?

5. Steps to an Advocacy Plan, based on the Multipartite Advocacy Model developed by Dr. Elisabeth Monroe Boggs in the 1970’s Identify the Problem: Problem Statement Desired outcome of decision: Goal Statement Who can make the decision to implement the goal? Strategies Consequence Determining when it is time to escalate

6. Grand Forks Swimming Pool • Options monitored local swimming pools. Following 1997 one pool was reopened, after major remodeling to the pool, accessible access not provided and shower/bathroom area not made accessible. • 2nd Pool was in process for major remodel in 2008. • Worked with local UND Student Group as part of their class work in Social Work • Provided information on requirements for accessibility. • Meetings were held to discuss how to advocate and for what to advocate.

7. Letters written to park board asking to address issues and requested accessibility changes and updates at both pools. • Letters were written to local disability groups. • E-mails sent to area people with disabilities. • On-line and hardcopy petitions put together including social media such as facebook. • Legal opinion obtained from UND Law School supporting requests • Students send letters again to Park Board and met with Park Board and City Council (Who). • Park Board implemented changes to make accessibility changes at both pools.

8. Social Security Services in Grand Forks, ND Office • People with Disabilities on SSI and SSDI talked to Options Staff during Open Forums to discuss problems with local Social Security (SS) Office services and staff • Consumers and staff members had problems with SS and came to Options for assistance • Helped people with SS problems file appeals and complaints • Options met with Social Security administrators • No Changes were made, administrator said SS staff was busy

9. Options planned how to implement a advocacy plan. • Protested local Social Security Office • Collect Stories from Consumers • Referred consumers to Bemidji, MN and Fargo, ND office for better customer service from SS. • Options Staff went to Washington D.C. as part of the National Council on Independent Living (NCIL) and brought stories and complaints issues to state representatives from MN and ND • Options requested state representatives close Grand Forks SS Office

10. Grand Forks administrator reassigned and changes made at Grand Forks Office • Regional SS Supervisor met with Options staff to work together on how to help Options and SS Office work better together for people with disabilities. • Options staff were provided direct lines for SS staff to better assist consumers with resolving issues.

11. MN Accessibility Code • Numerous people with disabilities and without have contacted Options to discuss inaccessible businesses, parks, resorts and parking. • Options has provided and coordinated trainings and mailings to various cities and businesses telling them about accessibility requirements and resources. • We also developed trainings and visited areas such as Lake of the Woods to talk with businesses and officials about accessibility and offered trainings. Trainings at Lake of the Woods were not completed as there was only one resort owner interested.

12. We found ways to address some accessibility issues by contacting the state Building Code department and they would require cities with building inspectors to enforce the accessibility code. • We have written letters to cities and businesses requesting they make accessibility changes per code. • For cities who did not have building inspectors, the MN State Building Code regulations said the cities still had to enforce the accessibility code. When we requested the state code officials to enforce the codes we were told they could not enforce their own codes. • We are working with the MN Council on Disabilities to try to get legislation adopted to provide for enforcement of the MN Accessibility Code.

13. Mentor Housing Advocacy • Program was offered through HUD for People with Disabilities to use vouchers to purchase homes. • Options staff researched and provided training on how Housing Authorities HAs could adopt the program locally • Some HAs adopted program and some did not. • Consumers in our area have purchased homes using voucher system. • Some consumers with disabilities in NW MN were denied ability to use housing vouchers to purchase housing because the HAs did not want to adopt program • We met with Consumers to Discuss Issues and developed an advocacy plan with a local ADAPT Group in Crookston, MN

14. What is ADAPT ADAPT is a national grass-roots community that organizes disability rights activists to engage in nonviolent direct action, including civil disobedience, to assure the civil and human rights of people with disabilities to live in freedom.

15. ADAPT from MN Contacted Mentor Housing Authority to Discuss Issues • Meetings • Lip Service • Protests • Housing Voucher System in Place some Has • Further advocacy pending at other HAs

16. ADAPT Tactics and Planning

17. PITCHFORK APPROACH TO ADVOCACY A MULT-PRONG STRATEGY TO SOCIAL CHANGE 1.     Direct Action 2.     Legal 3.     Political 4.     Media/Education 5.    System/Administrative

19. Review and Discussion 1. Define and Identify the Problem2. Analyze the Problem (cause of problem, how to fix and who it impacts) 3. Identify Possible Solutions and Select Best Solution (What you want to have happen)4. Develop an Action/Advocacy Plan to stimulate change (Who to contact, how and when to escalate)

20. Action Planning: Who, what, where, when and how Recruit Members Define Possible Advocacy Approaches or Strategies to use (Pitchfork) Discuss Pros and Cons of Each Strategy or Approach (Letter writing to Civil Disobedience) Do you need to go back and discuss with your co-workers and supervisors what strategies are right for your organization and each individual Take it home and try it out, assign tasks to members and implement action plan. Evaluate Effectiveness of Strategies

21. Additional Resources at: http://systemsadvocacychangewikispaces.com/ http://www.adapt.org

22. Thank YouIf you have any questions please feel free to call Options 218-773-6100