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ALASKA ADVOCACY ANDLEADERSHIP OPPORTUNITIESShare your voice and perspective with your community!Self-Advocates have the opportunity to be involved in organizations that they love, by joining boards or becoming members oforganizations. Some examples of Alaskan organizations that are related to advocacy or disability rights in Alaska, are listed below. If anorganization you know of is not listed here, we encourage you to check with the organization to find out how you can become involved.DISABILITY-RELATED BOARD OPPORTUNITIESCHALLENGE ALASKAImproves the lives of people withdisabilities, their families and the wholecommunity through adaptive sports,therapeutic recreation, and education.They reach individuals in Anchorage, theMat-Su, and the Kenai Peninsula. www.challengealaska.org www.facebook.com/challengealaska/PEER POWERThis organization’s purpose is to helpSelf-Advocates become empowered. Theorganization is Self-Advocate led, andconnects people from all over Alaska. peerpower907.wixsite.com/peer-power www.facebook.com/PeerPower907/KEY COALITIONA grassroots organization that helpspeople with developmental disabilitiesbecome educated and empowered,through policy change and access to policymakers. Their mission is to promote thedignity, status, and equality of Alaskansfrom around the state who experiencedisabilities as valued, contributingparticipants in a shared community. keycoalitionofalaska.wordpress.com www.facebook.com/keycoalitionofalaska/STONE SOUP GROUPA non-profit that provides information,support, training and resources to assistfamilies caring for children with specialneeds. They reach individuals all over theState of Alaska. www.stonesoupgroup.org/ www.facebook.com/stonesoupgroup/
DISABILITY-RELATED BOARD OPPORTUNITIESTHE DEVELOPMENTALDISABILITY SHAREDVISION COLLABORATIVEA group of Self-Advocates and communitymembers who take action to make sure theDD Shared Vision is met, and that peopleare able to live their lives as they see fit. Theyreach individuals all over the State of Alaska. www.facebook.com/groups/DDSharedVisionAlaska/ utus.aspxWALLBUSTERSAn advocacy group for people withdisabilities, to advocate for the removal ofbarriers to independence for people withdisabilities. They have chapters in Homerand Fairbanks. www.facebook.com/WallBusters/DISABILITY LAW CENTERAn independent nonprofit law firmproviding legal advocacy for people withdisabilities anywhere in Alaska. www.dlcak.org/dlc-board/board-service/ ANKSPEOPLE FIRSTFairbanks People First is a group ofindividuals who experience Intellectual/Developmental Disabilities. We meetmonthly to discuss current issues thateffect our lives and encourage ourmembers to speak up for themselves. Wealso enjoy doing fun activities together. For more info contact Angela McArdle atangela@fra-alaska.net, Meghan Heimat mheim@infiniteoptionsak.com, orfairbankspeoplefirst@fra-alaska.net
SPECIAL OLYMPICSALASKASPECIAL EDUCATIONSERVICE AGENCYAn organization that aims to changeattitudes towards people with I/DD, and totransform lives through the joy of sport,every day, and everywhere. They reachindividuals all over the State of Alaska.Provides consultation and training tosupport the unique educational needs ofindividuals and the Alaskan communitiesthat serve them. They reach individuals allover the State of Alaska. www.specialolympics.org www.facebook.com/SpecialOlymAK/ sesa.org aska-10150155078110227/INDEPENDENT LIVINGCENTERS (SAIL, ILC)Independent living centers promote aphilosophy of consumer control, peersupport, self-help, self-determination,equal access, and individual and systemsadvocacy in order to maximize theleadership, empowerment, independence,and the full inclusion of individuals withdisabilities. They support individualsthroughout the Southeast region of Alaska,the Kenai Peninsula, Anchorage, and otherAlaskan communities. Check out the mapbelow for a location and agency closest toyour location. ation-directory-results/AK www.sailinc.org 7609731/DISABILITY PRIDEOccur each July nationally. Eachcommunity organizes their Disability Prideevents differently, and through differentleadership. Alaska has had Disability Prideevents in Anchorage, Soldotna, Fairbanks,Juneau, and Kodiak. ty-PrideAlaska-201291947145967/
DISABILITY-RELATED BOARD OPPORTUNITIESRAINBOW CLUBA social/educational support group forLGBTQ adults 18 and up, who experienceintellectual or developmental challenges. identityalaska.org/about/support-groups/ALASKA ASSOCIATIONON DEVELOPMENTALDISABILITIES (AADD)The largest network of agencies servingthe community members who experiencedevelopmental disabilities in Alaska. Theyhave formed strategic alliances betweenproviders, national associations, the Stateof Alaska, the Governor’s Council onDisabilities and Special Education, thepeople they serve and their communities. www.aaddalaska.org/about-us/CONSUMER ADVISORYCOUNCIL FOR THECENTER OF HUMANDEVELOPMENTThe University of Alaska’s Center forHuman Development (CHD) is a UniversityCenter for Excellence in DevelopmentalDisabilities (UCEDD) authorized in theDevelopmental Disabilities Act of 2000.It conducts interdisciplinary training;provides community service programsincluding training, technical assistance,and direct service; conducts research;and disseminates information aboutdisabilities. CHD has a CommunityAdvisory Council that must consist ofmore than 50% who are individuals withdevelopmental and related disabilitiesand family members. The Council advisesand guides the work of the CHD, helpscreate and move toward CHD’s vision, andserves as an informal bridge between thecommunity and the University in Alaska. www.alaskachd.org www.facebook.com/alaskachd/
DISABILITY-RELATED STATE BOARD OPPORTUNITIESSTATEWIDEINDEPENDENT LIVINGCOUNCILThis nonprofit is a self-advocate led,non-Governmental organization whichdevelops, monitors and evaluates thefederally mandated Alaska State Plan forIndependent Living. The SILC promotes theindependent living philosophy statewide,reaching individuals all over the State ofAlaska. www.alaskasilc.org www.facebook.com/SILCAK/STATE VOCATIONALREHABILITATIONCOMMITTEEThe State Vocational RehabilitationCommittee (SVRC) works with the Divisionof Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR) tohelp Alaskans with disabilities achievequality employment outcomes. They reachindividuals all over the State of Alaska. labor.alaska.gov/svrc/GOVERNOR’S COUNCILON DISABILITIES ANDSPECIAL EDUCATIONThe GCDSE’s mission is to create changethat improves the lives of Alaskans withDisabilities. The Council uses planning,capacity building, systems change, andadvocacy to create change for people withdisabilities, all over the state. They reachindividuals all over the State of Alaska. www.dhss.alaska.gov/gcdse/ www.facebook.com/GCDSE/
DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITY SERVICE PROVIDERAGENCY BOARD OPPORTUNITIESThere are many service providing agencies that welcome and encourage involvement of people with disabilities. These agenciesexist in communities all over Alaska. They provide Home and Community Based Services to people with disabilities, and also fosterindependence through advocacy work. To see if an agency has involvement opportunities, you may contact them directly, and inquireabout board positions, or other volunteer leadership opportunities.OTHER BOARD OPPORTUNITIES (NOT DISABILITY SPECIFIC)It is important to note that boards and involvement can expand beyond those related to disability advocacy for Self-Advocates.Anything you want to become involved with probably has associated nonprofits, including hobbies, interests, spirituality, sports,animal advocacy, outdoorsmanship, art, lifestyle, and more. There are over 8,000 nonprofits around Alaska, that a Self-Advocate maybecome involved with. Popular nonprofits in Alaska include The American Heart Association, The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty toAnimals (SPCA), Bean’s Café, Straw for Dogs, Friends of Campbell Creek Science Center, Habitat for Humanity, and more. It is importantthat organizations include members of all-abilities, so that unique perspectives are able to be heard. To find out how you can becomeinvolved in an organization in your community, you may contact the organizations directly. For a list of organizations please see thelink: 501c3lookup.org/state/AK?pagenum 2&sortby o name&sortdir ascThere are also many State of Alaska Boards which are not specific to disability, which you can apply to be on and bring your perspectiveto broad community work. These are wide ranging, but include the Subsistence Resource Commission, Roadless Rule Citizen AdvisoryCommittee, Pioneer’s Homes Advisory Board, Pacific Salmon Commission, Board of Game, Council on the Arts, and many more. For acomplete list of State Boards, and more information, see the s/active-boards-commissions/This project was supported, in part by grant number 90DNIQ0005-01-00, from the U.S. Administration for Community Living,Department of Health and Human Services, Washington, D.C. 20201.Grantees undertaking projects with government sponsorship are encouraged to express freely their findings and conclusions. Points ofview or opinions do not, therefore, necessarily represent official ACL policy.
A social/educational support group for . LGBTQ adults 18 and up, who experience . and guides the work of the CHD, helps create and move toward CHD's vision, and . independence through advocacy work. To see if an agency has involvement opportunities, you may contact them directly, and inquire .
