San Diego People First and Imperial County People First
People speaking up and making a difference!
In 1988, a small group of self-advocates met at Area Board XIII to discuss organizing and establishing a chapter of People First. People First is an international organization of self-advocates speaking for ourselves. We voice our rights and responsibilities and contribute to our communities in important ways.
This self-help group for self-advocates decided to hold meetings every other month on the second Saturday at the Balboa Park Club Room in Balboa Park from 10:00 a.m. to noon.
The group has matured over the past 19 years growing from a social group to an organization of more than 35 members with the accepted role of being the voice of advocacy in the San Diego community for persons with developmental disabilities. At our meetings we stress that we are people first. Our disabilities come second!
Since 1988, San Diego People First has accomplished the following:
- developed a Speaker's bureau
- encouraged and facilitated the development of local community chapters and self-advocacy groups
- participated in public forums regarding the San Diego Regional Center's Performance Contract
- tracked legislation and conducted letter writing campaigns to politicians on issues of concern to us
- provided on-going education to its members and the community
- planned and hosted annual Self-Advocacy Conferences
- supported consumers to participate in their IPPs as effective self-advocates
- produced the video San Diego People First: Walking the Talk
Officers and members are encouraged to become personally involved in the self-advocacy movement by working on a community project or volunteering to be a committee or board member on agencies such as the San Diego Regional Center, Area Board XIII, IEP DAY, and the Disability Awareness Network (DAWN). As a holiday group project, members donate personal care items--shampoo, hair combs and brushes, toothbrushes and toothpaste, mouthwash, dental floss, and lotion to the Rachel's Women's Center--a shelter for low-income women.
Imperial Valley People First had their first conference in 1993 and not long after that a group formed and began meeting in the community on a monthly basis. Currently 25-35 people attend and participate in the monthly meetings.
The mission of Imperial Valley People First is to be full participating community members. We will make our community a better place to live by fulfilling our commitment to: teaching ourselves about self-advocacy, discussing then creating action plans to address issues that affect our lives, and encourage helping and sharing with our neighbors.
