Moving Forward Conference & Self Advocate Summit

This past week is the "Moving Forward Conference & Self Advocate Summit" by The Developmental Disability Council and The Arc of New Mexico. Ron Epps, Advocacy and Education Director at the Arc, helped organize the event.

Here is his perspective on the conference.

Can you share briefly what this conference is about?

The main learning will be around Supported Decision Making. The keynote speaker is Jonathan Martinis. Jonathan Martinis is the Senior Director for Law and Policy for the Burton Blatt Institute at Syracuse University, leading its efforts to ensure that older adults and people with disabilities have access to the services and supports they need to lead independent, inclusive lives. 

In 2013, Jonathan represented Margaret “Jenny” Hatch in the “Justice for Jenny” case – the first trial to hold that a person has the right to use Supported Decision-Making to make her own life choices instead of being subjected to a permanent, plenary guardianship.

Since then, Jonathan has led SDM projects in New York, Nebraska, Ohio, California, Virginia, Vermont, Missouri, and Kansas. He has also educated and trained tens of thousands of older adults, people with disabilities, families, and professionals across the country on SDM theory and practice. Jonathan has written or co-written over 60 publications on SDM, including the first textbook and first theory-to-practice guidebook on the subject.  

What is your connection with the conference?

I am the Advocacy and Education Director at The Arc of New Mexico, and this is the annual conference provided by The Arc here in New Mexico.

How does this conference impact the disability community?

This conference will provide information, inspiration, and help build community for those with disabilities.

What do you hope people take away from this conference?

More than anything, that everyone is part of our community. We all are different; we all have different needs and abilities. And we are all better together.

Is there anything you would like the attendees to know?

The Arc of New Mexico is here to help. We don’t always have the solution; we often work with others to fill those gaps. We believe strongly in inclusion and part of that is working together.



Resources

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GCD

DDC



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