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Get to the Core of It, Part IV: Individual Advocacy

Presented by Greg Jones, Director of Advocacy, and Brad Brooks, individual advocate, Southeast Kansas Independent Living (SKIL) on June 6, 2010

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About the Training

Get to the Core of It is an on-demand training series on the four-core services of Centers for Independent Living. Each presentation in the series features CIL staff and programs that are especially successful at providing excellent services to their communities. The five-part series explores best practices and innovative approaches to the four core services and is presented as follows:

• Part I: Information & Referral
• Part II: Peer Support
• Part III: Independent Living Skills Training
• Part IV: Individual Advocacy
• Part V: Systems Advocacy

This fourth episode looks at Individual advocacy as a primary mechanism for community building and one that is essential to protecting the civil rights of all people with disabilities. Two staff members from SKIL, Southeast Kansas Independent Living, share their approach to introducing consumers to independent living and helping them find their voice and power as advocates. In addition to sharing their philosophy and approach, the presenters share specific tips for connecting with all kinds of consumers, helping them navigate and fight barriers and injustice, and developing leadership and advocacy skills.

Learning Objectives:

Upon completion of this on-demand training, participants will have knowledge and resources which will enable them to:

• Explain the philosophy and role of individual advocacy as a core service that changes people’s lives through empowerment and choice.
• Describe elements of a best practice advocacy model.
• Describe effective methods for assisting their consumers in dealing with the many bureaucracies they face.
• Explain skills and strategies for building relationships with consumers that nurture trust and accountability.

About the Presenters

Greg Jones

Originally from South Dakota, Greg Jones, Parsons KS, is the director of advocacy for Southeast Kansas Independent Living(SKIL). Greg Jones entered the IL movement in 1995 when SKIL was only a couple of years old and served a handful of customers. Greg got involved with nursing home and rehab escapes that included bringing people into his home. Today SKIL provides unduplicated services to over six thousand people in over 100 hundred Kansas counties. Through the years, Greg has had the opportunity to sit at the feet of many of the great leaders of the IL movement--from the diplomats to the activists. After fifteen years and watching the organization grow and growing with it, Greg's preference is to still work individually with customers rather than administration. Greg and SKIL have taken individual advocacy to its limits. Greg has been recognized by both state and national organizations for what they refer to as his "unique form of advocacy". Greg was quoted in the local paper as saying, "My personal goal is to see people reach a goal that other people have told them they would never reach." Greg is convinced EVERYTHING for EVERYBODY is possible!

Brad Brooks

I am a quadriplegic of 26 years. I have spent most of my paralyzed life motivating, encouraging, and inspiring others with mobility issues, especially spinal cord injuries. I have traveled several miles just to try and lift spirits and offer words of hope to others who might be down on themselves for being in the condition they are in. I’m very proud of the fact that I have the ability to gain peoples trust which allows me to be good at what I do and that is to help people through times of crisis. Before I realized my potential working at SKIL, I had been the kind of person who felt compassion for others and would help them out any way I could if it was possible. I live my life on the belief that I was allowed to live so I could help folks out who are not as fortunate as me or others. I believe that everybody should live their life to the fullest of their potential and if you don't try, you don't know what that potential might be. I love to drive, mow lawns, rebuild cars, fish, go to NASCAR races, repair things etc. I had my accident that paralyzed me 1 month after my wedding and learned that I was going to have a child shortly after that. I feel that was destiny as it would be the only chance at children for me. My marriage didn't survive but I raised my son since birth pretty much on my own. I have rebuilt at least 15 engines and project cars since my paralysis. To me, life didn't begin until my accident as I was a person with no direction or purpose other that to wake up and see what life would throw at me. I think I am good at what I do because I have struggled through life and solved many problems on my own which made me experienced. Sometimes that is the best way to learn. The person I am most grateful for in my quest to realize my potential is Greg Jones as he is the one who discovered me and gave me the opportunity to help others at a more rapid rate. I love my job because I get a lot of satisfaction from being able to be somebodies hero on a daily basis. It's very rewarding when you can see the appreciation on peoples face when you accomplish something that nobody thought could be done. This is a little about me and what I'm about. I hope I can inspire others with our lay out of this power point presentation. The main thing to know about our work is you must have the ability to care for others to be effective. Thank You for your time.

Transcript and Resources:

• PowerPoint presentation (PPT file)
• PowerPoint presentation (Accessible HTML file)
• Transcript of the Program (MS Word doc)

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Presented by CIL-NET, a program of the IL NET national training and technical assistance project for Centers for Independent Living (CIL-NET) and Statewide Independent Living Councils (SILC-NET). The IL NET is operated by ILRU, Independent Living Research Utilization, in partnership with the National Council on Independent Living (NCIL) and the Association of Programs for Rural Independent Living (APRIL).

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