History and Background

Allies in Advocacy started in 2012, when a team of advocates and service providers, were invited to a Self-Advocacy Summit in Seattle, put on by the Administration on Developmental Disabilities, and its three network partners, the University Centers for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities, the State Developmental Disability Councils, and the Protection and Advocacy Centers. This was one of many summits across the United States bringing groups of advocates from multiple states together to discuss how to improve the lives of people with disabilities. It was a very successful event for Washington State in that it brought us together. The event made us realize we could do a lot of good if we stuck together and worked on a plan. We have held monthly meetings ever since in Sea Tac fighting for the Civil and Equal rights of people with disabilities. Allies members and leaders are required to have disabilities. Our members either represent other disability organization or are strong individual state self-advocates.

The Proclamation
One of the first goals for Allies was drafting a values statement which after some intensive meetings and some discussion became the document we call The Proclamation for the Dignity and Rights of All Human Beings. This proclamation, states that all people, including people with disabilities, should have equal rights. That we should be able to direct our own lives in whatever way we see fit. That we have the right to succeed and to fail. When we fail, we like all humans, can change course and learn from those experiences. That we have the right to live free from abuse, neglect and exploitation. That we have the right, to access all parts of our community like all other human beings. That we have the right, to lead full meaningful lives and not exist in segregated settings. Finally, we have the responsibility to share these rights with the next generation, and use these rights, so that we become productive citizens. The key to the proclamation is letting everyone know, we people with disabilities, are human beings like everyone else. Allies is dedicated to presenting this Proclamation with everyone in our community.

Allies Projects

In addition to creating and distributing The Proclamation for the Dignity and Rights of All Human Beings we have done the following:

• Helped provide technical and advocacy assistance to Equal Partners Interstate Congress (EPIC) a new multi-state collaboration which builds up self-advocacy.
• Provided advocacy assistance to the King County Developmental Disabilities Board so that their advisory board would have more people with developmental disabilities on it.
• Working with King County and other municipalities to eliminate sub minimum wage.
• Presented at several conferences on the importance of advocating, voting and remembering disability history.

Our Future

The future is bright for Allies in Advocacy. We will be continuing to promote and have people and organizations sign on to the Proclamation. We will be advocating for systems change at the local, state, national, and international levels. We will be starting the process to become a non-profit organization so that we can be more effective. Allies and other partnering organizations will be working with federal leaders to create a 4th Developmental Disability Network Partner focusing on Civil Rights and creating more leadership opportunities for people with developmental disabilities.