This practicum was designed to provide teaching professionals with advocacy information, skills, techniques, and resources in order to increase participant awareness and self-confidence, and, ultimately, their community involvement. The primary method used to address this goal was the development and presentation of three workshops. These were…

This paper presents results from interviews with 48 New York families of children with severe disabilities or chronic illnesses who were served by Sick Kids (need) Involved People (SKIP) of New York, Incorporated, a case management and advocacy service. The report is divided into sections on the families and their children, daily routine,…

One of six projects funded by P.L. 93-247 state grant money, the Foster Child Advocate Services (FOCAS) Project established a guardian "ad litem" program in which court-approved members of the community volunteered to visit children in Texas State Department of Human Resources Conservatorships. Part I of the report, describing the…

This project was implemented in 1982 as a result of legal action taken against the Texas Department of Human Resources (DHR) by clients of child protective services (CPS) who alleged that they were not given notice of all services available or of their right to a fair hearing. The goal of the project was to determine whether special fair-hearing…

Discusses the influence that parents have had on state agencies in developing services for children and adolescents with severe emotional problems through the Family Input Program in Kansas. The program provides a forum for parents to meet together and decide what actions to take in advocating for particular issues. (BB)

Partners in Policymaking is an ongoing, federally funded empowerment and self-advocacy education program for individuals with developmental disabilities and their families in Minnesota which is being replicated in other states. A survey of 130 program graduates indicated satisfaction with the program and the presence of many active citizen…

Creating coordinated, comprehensive, integrated children's policy requires breaking the mold of political convention. The system of political rewards and incentives must be revamped so that interest groups are encouraged to cooperate rather than compete. California's 1992 Healthy Support Services for Children Act (and accompanying $20 million…

Describes parallel persuasive processes between social or political activism and personal self-advocacy in a study of AIDS activism and communication patterns between people with HIV or AIDS and health care personnel. Encourages greater patient education about the illness and treatment options. Promotes a more assertive stance toward health care,…

A special project was designed to develop and implement an inservice training strategy for community and school recreation on the inclusion of visually impaired children into existing community recreation programs. The project resulted in inservice workshops for 90 trainer/consultants, a book, and a self instructional study guide. Listed among…

This article describes the work of the Supported Learning Project (SLP), a program that provided personal support and development in self-advocacy to 31 British mothers with learning disabilities. The learning gains made by the mothers, the obstacles they encountered, and the project's success are discussed. (Contains references.) (Author/CR)

Uses the 1988 film "A World Apart" as a focus for commentary on the controversial topic of involving children in political activism. Analyzes Hannah Arendt's writings for opinions on childhood activism, contrasting Arendt's views with those of Robert Coles. Gives examples from the desegregation crisis in the United States, China's Maoist…

The report describes the achievements of a project designed to promote vocational and career development of bilingual handicapped students in inner city high schools through training their parents to be both career educators and advocates for improved services and opportunities. The program used co-trainers who were bilingual/bicultural to conduct…

The document presents partial recommendations of a Pennsylvania State University Study Group on the Status of Women at the University. Recommendations concern: family care policy, women's curriculum and programs, non-tenure track policy, staff exempt and staff nonexempt employees, the leadership share, and advocacy for women. Among specific…

This history of the rehabilitative services offered by the New York State Division for Youth (DFY) is reviewed to show how the DFY has evolved from its inception as a Youth Services Commission in 1945 to a major state agency with a primary responsibility to provide youth services. The role and problems of the agency are discussed in terms of its…

The report details the design, the implementation, and evaluation of three workshops on the role of the disability rights movement attended by 48 vocational rehabilitation (VR) state agency decision makers. Among the goals of the project listed were to make state VR agencies more familiar with the skills and potential of disabled self-advocacy…