THE SEVEN PRINCIPLESOF EFFECTIVE

SELF-ADVOCACY

Chuck CollinsChuck Collins

Regional AdvocateRegional Advocate

Office of Human RightsOffice of Human Rights

(540) 332-8321(540) 332-8321

WHOWHO – Personal Background – Personal Background

WHATWHAT – Purpose of the Presentation – Purpose of the PresentationAn Eclectic Mix of InformationAn Eclectic Mix of Information

WHENWHEN – Developed in early 2000 – Developed in early 2000

WHEREWHERE – DMHMRSAS licensed, funded, – DMHMRSAS licensed, funded, or operated programsor operated programs

WHYWHY – Inspired by Steven Covey’s – Inspired by Steven Covey’s(7 habits of highly successful people)(7 habits of highly successful people)and adapted to a new audienceand adapted to a new audience““Give a fish/teach to fish theory”Give a fish/teach to fish theory”

DISCLAIMERCORE BELIEFSCORE BELIEFS

“ “ We hold these truths to be self-evident, that We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.”Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.”

Thomas JeffersonThomas Jefferson

Declaration of IndependenceDeclaration of Independence

July 4, 1776July 4, 1776

PRINCIPLE 1

CHANGE YOUR CHANGE YOUR ATTITUDEATTITUDE

1)1) Start with an honest self assessment, an Start with an honest self assessment, an examination of conscience – what are your examination of conscience – what are your corecore beliefs ?beliefs ?

2)2) Your attitude is the key – it is the only variable Your attitude is the key – it is the only variable you control.you control.

3)3) Are you a person who sees him/herselfAre you a person who sees him/herselfas a as a victimvictim ? ?

4)4) If so, change your attitude!If so, change your attitude!5)5) Think positively: If you think you can,Think positively: If you think you can,

you can. If you think you can’t, you can’t,you can. If you think you can’t, you can’t,even if you could !even if you could !

6)6) Thinking positively leads to empowerment Thinking positively leads to empowerment which leads to success. (Taking part & fighting which leads to success. (Taking part & fighting back, Dr. Lynn Sanders, UVA)back, Dr. Lynn Sanders, UVA)

7)7) Empowerment = taking part and fighting backEmpowerment = taking part and fighting back

KNOW YOURKNOW YOUR

RIGHTSRIGHTS

PRINCIPLE 2

1)1) ““Knowledge is power”Knowledge is power”

2)2) Know your rights and you will enhance Know your rights and you will enhance your power i.e. your ability to be your power i.e. your ability to be successful, to accomplish your goals, to successful, to accomplish your goals, to get the most out of the experience.get the most out of the experience.

3)3) ““People will only protect what they love, People will only protect what they love, and only love what they know.”and only love what they know.”

Jacques CousteauJacques Cousteau

ASSURANCE OF RIGHTSASSURANCE OF RIGHTS

DIGNITYDIGNITY

CONFIDENTIALITY & ACCESS TO CONFIDENTIALITY & ACCESS TO RECORDSRECORDS

INFORMED CONSENTINFORMED CONSENT

PARTICIPATION IN TREATMENTPARTICIPATION IN TREATMENT

The law requires that every person be The law requires that every person be treated without discrimination and with treated without discrimination and with equal protection and due process. Federal equal protection and due process. Federal Law and the 14Law and the 14thth Amendment Amendment

PRINCIPLE 3

KNOW THE KNOW THE SYSTEMSYSTEM

1) What is due process?1) What is due process?

2) There are several systems.2) There are several systems.

(DRVD, Courts, Other Governmental (DRVD, Courts, Other Governmental Agencies, Court of Public Opinion – Agencies, Court of Public Opinion – Media)Media)

3) No retaliation is permitted.3) No retaliation is permitted.

4) Informal Process4) Informal Process

5) Formal Process5) Formal Process

6) Remedies/Specific Relief6) Remedies/Specific Relief

YESYES NONO

Investigation DamagesInvestigation Damages

Acknowledgement TerminationsAcknowledgement Terminations

Apology ClosureApology Closure

Changed CircumstancesChanged Circumstances

Assurances/MonitoringAssurances/Monitoring

A SHORT COURSE IN NEGOTIATION

1) Know the facts1) Know the facts

2) 2) Know the lawKnow the law

3) Know what you need3) Know what you need

4) Conduct yourself professionally4) Conduct yourself professionally

5) If the other party is unreasonable, leave5) If the other party is unreasonable, leave

6) Appeal to a higher authority6) Appeal to a higher authority

PRINCIPLE 4

PRACTICE PRACTICE KINDNESSKINDNESS

(and Forgiveness)(and Forgiveness)

1) Who are the people you remember most in your 1) Who are the people you remember most in your life?life?2) What do you remember about them?2) What do you remember about them?

Kindness is a strategy. Kindness is not weakness. Kindness is a strategy. Kindness is not weakness. How you present yourself is how you will be How you present yourself is how you will be perceived.perceived.

Treat the other person as you would want them to Treat the other person as you would want them to treat you.treat you.

Are the above statements true? Why or Are the above statements true? Why or why not.why not.

THESE STATEMENTS ARE TRUE BECAUSE:

1) They have proven to be effective with 1) They have proven to be effective with others.others.2) You disarm your opponent.2) You disarm your opponent.3) You are being intellectually consistent 3) You are being intellectually consistent with how you want to be treated.with how you want to be treated.4) It’s a good place to start. If you begin 4) It’s a good place to start. If you begin with hostility and are unsuccessful, there is with hostility and are unsuccessful, there is nowhere else to go.nowhere else to go.5) What goes around comes around.5) What goes around comes around.

PRINCIPLE 5

DON’T BE DON’T BE DISCOURAGED, DISCOURAGED,

INTIMIDATED, OR INTIMIDATED, OR AFRAIDAFRAID

Don’t allow fear to stop or control you.Don’t allow fear to stop or control you.

I’m afraid of lots of things…I’m afraid of lots of things…

I ask for the courage to face those things I ask for the courage to face those things that make me fearful.that make me fearful.

Self respect comes from getting up when Self respect comes from getting up when you fall.you fall.

There is no shame in falling down, only in There is no shame in falling down, only in not getting up.not getting up.

““When you’re going through hell, keep When you’re going through hell, keep going.” Winston Churchillgoing.” Winston Churchill

PRINCIPLE 6

ACCEPT & EXPECTACCEPT & EXPECT

ACCOUNTABILITYACCOUNTABILITY

Just as you have rights, you also have Just as you have rights, you also have responsibilities.responsibilities.

Live up to your agreements, and expect Live up to your agreements, and expect others to do likewise.others to do likewise.

This is the balance which must be struck.This is the balance which must be struck. An ITP is a contract, a reciprocal agreement An ITP is a contract, a reciprocal agreement

with rights and responsibilities which flow with rights and responsibilities which flow in both directions.in both directions.

Who is responsible for what you say and Who is responsible for what you say and do?do?

PRINCIPLE 7

DO YOUR BESTDO YOUR BEST

TODAYTODAY

Who knows how long any of us Who knows how long any of us will live?will live?

Who can change the past?Who can change the past? Who can tell the future?Who can tell the future? So, all we really have is today, this So, all we really have is today, this

moment, right now!moment, right now! If you do your best today, you If you do your best today, you

won’t be disappointed.won’t be disappointed.

Tempus Fugit, memento mori .Tempus Fugit, memento mori .

REVIEW THE PRINCIPLESREVIEW THE PRINCIPLES

1) Change your Attitude1) Change your Attitude

2) Know your Rights2) Know your Rights

3) Know the System3) Know the System

4) Practice Kindness4) Practice Kindness

5) Don’t be Afraid5) Don’t be Afraid

6) Accept & Expect Accountability6) Accept & Expect Accountability

7) Do Your Best Today7) Do Your Best Today

CONCLUSIONCONCLUSION

SELF-ADVOCACYSELF-ADVOCACY

SELF-EMPOWERMENTSELF-EMPOWERMENT

SELF-RESPECTSELF-RESPECT

HOPE!HOPE!

The Meaning of Life =You get what you give!The Meaning of Life =You get what you give!