Service From the Heart is Universal

Dear Friends of Full Access:

We recently had two guests in our home from Pakistan, who were in Oregon for a special program sponsored by the U.S. Embassy in Islamabad and delivered by Mobility International: USA.   These women with and without disabilities in leadership positions have been changing the face of women’s rights in Pakistan, and shared their expertise, efforts and experiences with the U.S. community in Eugene from May 8-22, 2014.  The program was designed to build the capacity of women leaders to promote the inclusion of women and girls with disabilities in the mainstream women’s rights movement, as well as the disability rights movement, in Pakistan.

Delegation of women from Pakistan sharing their stories

Our two guests were Najma Shakur and Saira Shams.  Even though we are from vastly different cultures and locations, we found much in common personally and in our commitments to advocacy and service.  We also discovered how differences are easily worked through with enough communication and a bit of patience.  Often times Saira served as our translator, since she speaks three languages including English!  In addition to that, we used our body language a lot more, looked things up on the internet together and used the tools MIUSA provided for communicating.  We sure enjoyed the conversations, sharing meals, and driving around sharing our community.  I especially appreciated Najma’s gift of making a traditional Pakistani supper one night!

Najma (on the left) and Saira at our home

There was so much I valued in this experience that relates to my work at Full Access.  Saira and Najma work tirelessly to ensure people with disabilities and others are fully included in their communities and important decision making for the future of their Country.  One of Saira’s goals is to be a member of Parliament, and I am convinced she will achieve that!

Najma is the Founder/President of the Women Welfare Organization Poonch (WWOP).  She founded this organization in 1995. The mission of WWOP, a grassroots women’s organization, is to enable and assist marginalized, underprivileged, and underserved populations to achieve their development goals and rights in society. As the President, Najma oversees program development and management, and spearheads initiatives to ensure that women with disabilities are included in her organization’s programs and activities. Currently, WWOP is working on policy reform for inclusive education in the AJK province, and conducting a research and advocacy project on education for people with disabilities with a specific focus on continuing education opportunities for girls with disabilities.

Saira Shams is the Coordinator of Women with Disabilities Group, Special Abilities Development Association (SADA).  This organization is a disability rights organization focusing on advocacy, awareness campaigns on the implementation of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), and policy reform. In her role, Saira networks and mobilizes community members and educates the public on the rights of women with disabilities through radio and TV talk show.   It is quite obvious she has the energy and charisma for her public role!

Pakistani guests getting a tour of the Full Access offices with CEO, Margaret Theisen

When listening to anyone’s story, it is an opportunity to discover how apparent differences can become strengths.   In a short visit with these two women leaders, it gave me such inspiration for the work we do.  Whatever the struggles or challenges, it’s important to notice the bigger and broader picture.  And also, the deeply personal journey each of us has in our work toward justice.

MT, CEO

Israel Partners Continue Positive Change

Dear Friends of Full Access:

Israel partners in Washington DC

Many of you may remember our partnership through MIUSA, involving an organization called Bizchut from Jerusalem, Israel and Ono Academic College.  Once our exchange was finished, one organization from our team was given the opportunity to receive a grant to fund a project that involved expanding advocacy work for people with disabilities.

Bizchut was chosen to receive this small grant, and has made strides in the goal of placing independent advocacy for persons with intellectual disabilities on the agenda in Israel.  In other words; having people with intellectual disabilities lead the way advocating for civil rights as well as the right to make the choices affecting their lives.  It is advocacy for the same rights of all people with disabilities in Israel.

A self advocate that was a part of our team, Shmulik, is heading up this project.  He has the support of someone that works at Bizchut, but he is blooming into a strong advocate and leader.  His primary goal is to create his own organization that supports social change for people with intellectual disabilities and is run by people with disabilities. With consistent support, Shmulik has gained understanding of what it will take to do this and continues to work toward this goal.

Shmulik

Shmulik and his support person participated in a conference that was organized by the Commission for Equal Rights of Persons with Disabilities, which was attended by 700 people.  This conference supported the opportunity to network and learns more about the barriers faced by people advocating for disability rights.

Shmulik and his support person also gave a lecture at the conference for social workers who work with people with disabilities.  His lecture focused on what he learned from his trip to the United States and participating in the exchange with Full Access.  Specifically, how our brokerage system allows people receiving supports to choose what they would like to get for supports, but more importantly how they want to live their life.  Currently in Israel, individuals do not get any say in what supports they receive.  They are given a guardian who makes all the decisions for them, with the person needing support getting no say in the decisions that affect their life.  This is the exact thing that our partners are trying to change.

Shmulik is attempting to build relationships with other organizations in Israel.  Many of his outreach attempts have been successful.  A challenge in the future is getting a large parent organization to see the benefit of letting their “children” with intellectual disabilities make decision for themselves (good or bad).  A lot of fear is going to have to be addressed, and it will be a long, challenging journey.  However, if Shmulik and his team are successful, they will have an important ally in changing the entire system.

A lot of progress has been made, and there will be lots more to come.  Shmulik is building his core group of leaders, all of whom have a disability, to lead this movement of new activists.  He continues to teach advocacy and social justice at the teacher training college in Jerusalem.  He has developed a Facebook page to expand his group and communicate with individuals interested in his organizations work.  Over time his group will grow and blossom into an organization, and that organization will continue to make waves of changes for the benefit of people with disabilities in Israel.

I feel honored to have met these people and to have had a tiny part in such a hugely important movement for the rights of persons with disabilities.

-Stephanie Blum, Personal Agent at Full Access

Stephanie in Israel with Naama, Naama, and Shmulik

A Look Back

Dear Friends of Full Access:

As I mentioned last week, my blog during this month will include some of the “best of” from 2013.  Below is one regarding the visits we had from friends in Israel.  I am happy to report they have kept in touch with us!  They have also been connecting with one of our clients about our Look Me In The Eye campaign.  It is very exciting to be bridging our relationships to the Middle East!

 

Dear Friends of Full Access:

You will see by the logos above that Full Access is involved with a program funded by the US Department of State through a grant with Mobility International: USA.  We are privileged to provide the third leg of this partnership reaching out to people in Israel on a professional exchange for self advocacy.

The Empower Partnerships program is a prestigious, two-way international exchange program for organizations working on or interested in working on disability-related issues and inclusion as articulated in the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. This program aims to create sustainable organizational partnerships between organizations in the U.S. and overseas, expanding the capacity of each organization to promote disability inclusive communities, and to advance disability rights.

Margaret Theisen, Naama Lerner, Shmulik Kanner and Naama Katz in front of the Oregon State Capitol.

Our friends from Israel, Naama, Shmulik and Naama, were able to join me at a state committee meeting and then have a tour of the State Capitol.  They were quite impressed with the beauty of the building and the opportunity to have a tour led by our self advocate friend, Susan.  They also appreciated that we have access to our legislators in our state and it was a welcoming experience.  We saw the House and Senate Chambers, the Governor’s office and spoke about the many days of advocacy we had shared there.

We were also privileged to have time with State Representative Sara Gelser, who spoke of her work as a legislator.  Rep. Gelser talked about the process of decision making in our state and the many bills she has worked on that have been successful in helping children and families through Oregon.

State Representative Sara Gelser explaining the legislative process to our delegates.

In addition to many other activities, our delegates wanted to meet with people Full Access works with who are couples, so we invited four guests for a panel and informal discussion with them.  This was an opportunity for our couples to share how they met, what things come up for them in their relationship and how support is available to them in their lives.  We also acknowledged the challenges our benefits system causes for people wanting to marry and that it can actually be a disadvantage.

Hannah, Zack, Kerri and Devin sharing their stories about their lives as couples.

What is next for our guests?  Over the next few days they will be meeting with other people and preparing for a final gathering in Washington, D.C. where they will meet with embassy staff and present information on what projects they will pursue after returning home.  We at Full Access have appreciated this exchange and how much we learned from our guests.  As they go forward to build their own self advocacy efforts, we are confident they will be successful!!  And we will continue to be in touch with them for many years to come.

Shalom!

MT, CEO

From International to National to Local Projects, Full Access is Involved!

Dear Friends of Full Access:

You will see by the logos above that Full Access is involved with a program funded by the US Department of State through a grant with Mobility International: USA.  We are privileged to provide the third leg of this partnership reaching out to people in Israel on a professional exchange for self advocacy.

The Empower Partnerships program is a prestigious, two-way international exchange program for organizations working on or interested in working on disability-related issues and inclusion as articulated in the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. This program aims to create sustainable organizational partnerships between organizations in the U.S. and overseas, expanding the capacity of each organization to promote disability inclusive communities, and to advance disability rights.

Margaret Theisen, Naama Lerner, Shmulik Kanner and Naama Katz in front of the Oregon State Capitol.

Our friends from Israel, Naama, Shmulik and Naama, were able to join me at a state committee meeting and then have a tour of the State Capitol.  They were quite impressed with the beauty of the building and the opportunity to have a tour led by our self advocate friend, Susan.  They also appreciated that we have access to our legislators in our state and it was a welcoming experience.  We saw the House and Senate Chambers, the Governor’s office and spoke about the many days of advocacy we had shared there.

We were also privileged to have time with State Representative Sara Gelser, who spoke of her work as a legislator.  Rep. Gelser talked about the process of decision making in our state and the many bills she has worked on that have been successful in helping children and families through Oregon.

State Representative Sara Gelser explaining the legislative process to our delegates.

In addition to many other activities, our delegates wanted to meet with people Full Access works with who are couples, so we invited four guests for a panel and informal discussion with them.  This was an opportunity for our couples to share how they met, what things come up for them in their relationship and how support is available to them in their lives.  We also acknowledged the challenges our benefits system causes for people wanting to marry and that it can actually be a disadvantage.

Hannah, Zack, Kerri and Devin sharing their stories about their lives as couples.

What is next for our guests?  Over the next few days they will be meeting with other people and preparing for a final gathering in Washington, D.C. where they will meet with embassy staff and present information on what projects they will pursue after returning home.  We at Full Access have appreciated this exchange and how much we learned from our guests.  As they go forward to build their own self advocacy efforts, we are confident they will be successful!!  And we will continue to be in touch with them for many years to come.

Shalom!

MT, CEO

Full Access Personal Agent Heading to Israel!

Dear Friends of Full Access:

Stephanie Blum

One of our Personal Agents from Eugene, Stephanie Blum, is heading to Israel for part of an exchange program for people with disabilities!  Stephanie and other professionals world-wide will be participating in the Empower Partnerships for Inclusive Communities Program, administered by Mobility International USA (MIUSA) and sponsored by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.

There are two programs in Israel she will be on exchange with.  The first is The Israel Human Rights Center for People with Disabilities (Bizchut).  They are a disability rights advocacy organization that monitors, challenges, and changes discriminatory policies and practices. They are located in Jerusalem.  The second is the Research Institute for the Health and Medical Professions at Ono Academic College, Occupational Therapy Program.  This is an academic institute that works to change the face of Israeli society by addressing social issues, striving for academic excellence, and promoting access to higher education for all sectors.  They are located in Kiryat Ono.  We are very excited that Stephanie is going to represent us.  This exchange will also involve three people from Israel coming here, including a person with an intellectual disability, which is why Full Access is involved.  The visitors coming to Eugene will be here for their exchange in October.

To say more about the overall program, Empower Partnerships brings emerging leaders from around the world to the U.S. for an intensive program designed to broaden their professional expertise to create disability inclusive communities and advance disability rights.  Full Access is one of 20 U.S.-based organizations and institutions competitively chosen to host overseas professionals from 40 organizations in 20 different countries.

The Empower Partnerships program supports international cooperation and builds networks of people and organizations working on critical issues worldwide. During the three-week program, participants will work alongside American counterparts and gain first-hand experience as to how issues in their field are addressed in the U.S.  The participants will also gain an understanding of American culture through site visits and community-based events.

To conclude the U.S. program, participants will gather in Washington, D.C., to take part in closing conference with all Empower Partnership participants.  The conference provides a forum for participants to network and discuss best practices with other leaders in their profession and to share projects that will be implemented upon their return home.

The U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Exchange supports exchange programs that increase mutual understanding between the people of the United States and other countries.  Approximately 50,000 individuals take part annually in exchange programs managed by the U.S. Department of State.

For more information, please visit:

http://www.miusa.org/exchange/currentprogs/empower  or

http://eca.state.gov/programs-initiatives/disabilities-exchange-programs. 

We are honored to have been chosen to participate and are grateful Stephanie volunteered to do this on our behalf!  This weekend she will leave for a week in Israel to participate in a preliminary exchange visit to build the foundation for a collaborative project and effective international relationship.  She will be blogging about her experience while there, so be sure to check our Facebook page for updates!

MT, CEO