How To Start A Local KYSAFF Chapter
Ideas for Starting a Self-Advocacy Group
- Identify the "Host Agency." Responsibilities may include: providing location for people to meet, offering to host an initial meeting, providing use of supplies and equipment and if lead support person is from host agency, allow offer time to devote to self-advocacy activities.
- Identify leaders. It is helpful to have at least one self-advocate and one support person willing to take the lead.
- Develop flyer/brochure describing initial purpose of group Identify people you want to inform about the group.
- Host an "Informational Meeting."
- Develop list of people interested in participating.
- Develop mailing list with names, addresses, phone numbers.
- Develop list of people who could support the local group.
- Schedule regular meetings - develop notice to send to people with schedule.
- Develop list of potential "guest speakers."
- Choose a group name.
- Decide on priorities for group to work on.
- Decide on need for officers, process for election.
- Keep minutes of meetings.
- Decide who will be representative (s) from the local group to statewide association.
