When we speak together, our voices are louder. When we work together, we cover more ground.
Advocating for myself changes things for me, but advocating together changes things for everyone.
The Arkansas Alliance for Disability Advocacy (The Alliance) educates and empowers disability advocates, builds awareness about the issues people with disabilities face every day, and fosters collaboration between advocacy programs to give self-advocates, peer advocates, parent advocates, and legislative leaders the tools they need to be active participants in the disability rights movement.
Power in Numbers
The Alliance provides oversight, administrative support, and technical assistance to three advocacy projects:
Self Advocates Network Development (SAND)
Provides advocacy training and leadership development to people with disabilities across Arkansas.
Community of Champions
Educates youth with and without disabilities, parents, community members and legislative leaders on the need for disability advocacy and how to be active in advocacy activities.
Partners in
Policymaking
Educates participants on effective ways to develop relationships with elected officials in order to directly influence public policy impacting people with disabilities.
How will the Alliance help me be a better advocate?
We’re working to make Arkansas a place where every person is fully included in the life of their communities. People with disabilities have the tools and the freedom to live life on their own terms. And policymakers hear and understand the needs of Arkansans with disabilities.
The Alliance trains self-advocates, family members, and supporters in leadership, voting, and public policy advocacy, so that they can participate fully in making the decisions that affect their lives. The disability rights movement needs YOU!
Get Involved
Are you interested in putting your disability advocacy leadership skills to work? Arkansas Alliance for Disability Advocacy Advisory Council Applications are now open for the 2023-2024 advisory year.
Council members will be responsible for attending quarterly meetings (in person and virtual options) to assist in building strategies to meet program goals and objectives and supporting staff in ensuring the program continues its mission of supporting a diverse population and reaching rural Arkansas. Council members should be prepared to offer assistance to aid program staff in keeping up with community events to get involved in and attend program-hosted events.
Deadline to apply: June 15, 2023
We Should Talk
We Should Talk is the new podcast hosted by Arkansas Alliance for Disability Advocacy with Ally Thomlinson in conversation with special guests who have something to say about the big issues impacting the disability community every day.
We are talking independence, employment, safety, discrimination and so much more. We should talk about it, and you should hear-
So Subscribe for monthly episodes, and don’t miss out! You can download or listen below.
Connect with Us
Find us on Facebook @ARAllianceforAdvcocacy
For more information about the Arkansas Alliance for Disability Advocacy, contact AADAteam@DisabilityRightsAR.org.
Funding for the described programs and this publication provided under Public Law 106-402 as administered by the Governor’s Council on Developmental Disabilities for the State of Arkansas.
Its contents are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of the GCDD.