The Connector Speaking Up For Us of Maine

In This Issue: Leadership Training Reflections of 2023 Jon's Corner Looking back New Chapter Statewide Meetings Employment Opportunity 

December 2023 What a year! We are so grateful to take time at the end of the year to look back on all that has been accomplished. We are also excited for the coming year! 

Leadership Training Leadership training continued in December. The second class is about asking questions and decision making. Asking questions is something that takes practice and the group was able to see that asking questions is important. In January the group will complete the leadership training. If you are interested in participating in leadership training in the future please email info@sufumaine.org

Reflections of 2023 from Stacy Giberson The year 2023 has come to an end and it is a great opportunity to look back on our achievements at SUFU. We have grown as individuals, as an organization, and as a team. As a chapter advisor for Downeast, Northern Penobscot, and Aroostook County, I have been honored to witness the amazing journey of self-advocacy that our members have embarked on. Self-Advocates have explored various topics of interest this past year. Some self-advocates have completed leadership training, gained self-guardianship, secured employment, spoken in front of legislative committees, engaged with their representatives, and become experts in self-advocacy. Some topics SUFU members requested were civil and voting rights, supported decision-making, inclusion, employment goals and barriers, exploring self-advocates of different eras and cultural backgrounds, understanding the legislative process, and more recently examining social norms. Each season we dedicate a meeting to brainstorming topics, discussing disability issues, and sharing experiences.

Jon's Corner Hello and Happy Holidays! This was a very good year.  We started off in February at the Statehouse for Disability Awareness Day. We had a table set up at the Hall of Flags I was able to go around talking to different people and Many of the legislators at the Statehouse came to see us then One person that stopped by was Austin Theriault and I was able to talk with him.  March brought Disability Awareness Month Started 36 years ago and it’s about Pride and Joy and Determination and our Voices need to be heard. In April I was able to go Advocacy Day at the Statehouse I was able to talk with Senator Joe Baldacci and Joe Perry. We were able to sit in the Gallery at the beginning of the House Session where a proclamation was read about Judy Heumann. If you do not know who Judy Heumann is, here is a brief video about her. In May I was working on the Lifespan Waiver Work Group and a lot to learn and understand this, and I like the idea that they are going to start at the age of 14 years old so people with disabilities can think about what choices they want and this will be a hard choice for everybody with disabilities because it’s going to be something new for people. June was an opportunity for many of us to learn about Juneteenth. I saw the different ways people Celebrate the Holiday Juneteenth on TV and got to know what Juneteenth really was from other people’s perspective. July brought Disability Pride Day in Augusta.  Check out the video link for the highlights. Augusta celebrates Disability Pride Month (wabi.tv)  In August I was able to go with Brian Harnish to speak on Voting. Voting matters to everybody, your VOTE counts always.    In September we had our Conference celebrating 30 years of SUFU! I was able to help with the Board Elections, participate in a workshop that Janet May put on and even surprise Monique.  In November I was given an award from Disability Rights Maine. This is called the Helen M. Bailey Advocacy Award. It was given to me for the work I have done not only for SUFU, but also with all our other allies and on behalf of all self-advocates.  I am getting ready for the next Legislative Season and am looking forward to working on LD 1666. It is important that we continue to work on this bill as it addresses SSI and the marriage penalty in Maine for Maine’s portion of SSI.

Looking Back from Laurie Coldwell As 2023 comes to a close we all take a moment to reflect back over the year and what has been accomplished.  As advisor to Western Foothills, York County and Discussion and Action chapters I’ve seen them grow as groups and individuals. Members pushed this year to constantly be learning as it was recognized that our learning never ends!  We explored a variety of topics relating to self-advocacy, being in control of our own lives, and decision making.  Members were given the opportunity to practice their decision-making skills not only as a group, but as individuals.  Civil Rights was a topic we came back to on numerous occasions and as part of it we learned more about Juneteenth, Native Peoples to Maine, and Native American Heritage Month.  Members took steps in their own lives also!  Self-Advocates took steps to be board members, or officers, be their own guardians, and speak up for what they wanted!   As SUFU continues to grow I look forward to 2024!

We're Growing! Speaking Up For Us is hiring a Chapter Advisor. This position has been updated to Full-Time for 35 hours. For more information about the position please see the job posting. Questions about this position can be sent to Monique Stairs at mstairs@sufumaine.org

Statewide Meetings Are Back Our Statewide Meetings have restarted at 1:00 pm on Zoom. https://us04web.zoom.us/j/911978966 Please note the Legislative Advocacy Meetings will begin in January! January 9th join us as we hear from Mad Hatter Wellness as they share about the upcoming series: Empowered Together

Finally We invite you to check out our website . Read our most recent blog post and subscribe to future blogs. You can also find the list of our chapter meetings, or follow us on Facebook. If you are a SUFU member we want you to join our members only Facebook Group. To do that please email Laurie Coldwell or Jon McGovern. We don't want you to miss anything.

‌

Have an Idea for Something to be in The Connector? Contact: Laurie Coldwell Program Manager (207) 956-1004 / Ext. 1 lcoldwell@sufumaine.org

SUFU CONNECTOR Speaking Up For Us of Maine 207-956-1004 www.sufumaine.org