“Disability is not an obstacle; it is an asset.” — Victor
People with disabilities have valuable perspectives to share—and when they have opportunities to develop their voices and use them, those perspectives can help shape communities, workplaces, and policies.
This year, Victor attended the Community Employment Alliance Conference, where he joined other self-advocates to strengthen their advocacy skills and learn new ways to make their voices heard.
During the conference, Victor practiced digital advocacy, storytelling, and talking with legislators. These experiences gave him opportunities to build skills, connect with other self-advocates, and learn how to communicate his experiences and perspectives more effectively.
Victor left the conference with more confidence to speak up for himself and his community.
Self-advocacy is about more than speaking up.
It is about having the tools, knowledge, and opportunities to participate in decisions that affect your life and your community.
For people with disabilities, developing these skills can create opportunities to challenge assumptions, influence conversations, and advocate for greater inclusion in employment and community life.
Victor’s experience at the CEA Conference is one example of what can happen when people have access to opportunities that help them build those skills.
But conferences, advocacy training, and leadership opportunities are not always covered by traditional funding sources.
Community support can help make these opportunities possible.
Give More 24 Early Giving is an opportunity to support the opportunities that help people with disabilities build skills, share their experiences, and take active roles in their communities.
Your support helps Trillium continue creating opportunities for clients to participate in advocacy, leadership, training, and other experiences that recognize the value of their voices and lived experience.
For Victor, the CEA Conference provided an opportunity to learn, practice, connect, and grow more confident in his ability to advocate.
His experience reminds us that when people have the opportunity to strengthen their voices, they can become powerful advocates for themselves and others.
And the impact can extend beyond one person.
Every time a self-advocate speaks with a legislator, shares a story, participates in a conference, or challenges an assumption, they contribute to a broader conversation about what inclusion should look like.
This Give More 24 Early Giving, give more to advocacy. Give more to leadership. Give more to opportunity.
Together, we can help create more opportunities for people with disabilities to use their voices, share their expertise, participate in their communities, and help shape a more inclusive future.
Click here to learn more about Give More 24!
