Self-Determination And Advocacy

Self-determination means that a person with disabilities has the ability to make choices to control their lives, reach the goals they have set, and fully take part in the world around them. Self-determination has 4 basic rights and responsibilities: the same freedom and authority that any other individual has, control over one's own life, choosing the supports who provide assistance, and involvement in one's community. Advocacy websites listed promote, support and educate all people on the rights and responsibilities of persons with disabilities and/or special health care needs.

Southern Movement for Independence (SMI) -- This is a Florida, statewide organization that is dedicated to the self-determination of individuals with developmental disabilities. The Florida Developmental Disabilities Council funds SMI. The organization is run by and for people with developmental disabilities. The website includes information and ideas to assist people with developmental disabilities to become strong advocates in support of self-determination. The website is: http://www.southernmovement.org/index.cfm

Family Voices -- This is a grassroots advocacy organization of families who have children with special health care needs. Family Voices believes that children with special health needs face common problems caused by fundamental inadequacies in our health care system. Family Voices does not support any specific health care reform plan. Instead, the role of Family Voices is to advocate for the inclusion of a set of basic principles in every health care reform proposal. These principles include quality, accessible primary and secondary health care; health care that is family-centered, community based, coordinated and culturally competent; and strong professional-family partnership. The website is: http://www.familyvoices.org/

Kids As Self Advocates (KASA) -- KASA is a national, grassroots network of youth with special needs and our friends, speaking on behalf of themselves. They are leaders in their communities, and help spread helpful, positive information among their peers to increase knowledge around various issues. Those issues include: living with special health care needs, health care transition issues, education, employment, and many more. They also help health care professionals, policymakers and other adults in their communities understand what it’s like to live with special health care needs and participate in discussions about how to help each other succeed. They are teens and young adults with special health care needs speaking on their own behalf. Some of them may not have special health care needs, but maybe a friend, brother or sister does and they care about them and want to learn more about what it's like to have a special health care need. This website is a Family Voices project and is funded by the Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Fund (U.S.) and the Maternal and Child Health Bureau, U. S. Department of Health and Human Services. The website is: http://www.fvkasa.org/index.asp

Florida Institute for Family Involvement (FIFI) -- FIFI is a non-profit, family organized and directed project in Florida with 4 major goals: promoting partnerships and communication among FIFI, policy makers, and service providers; the development of a statewide family organization network that promotes family sharing and communication; sharing information among agencies and programs so that children and youth with special health care needs and their families have the information they need to make informed decisions; and the identification and support of new and existing family leaders by providing training, technical assistance, and resources. The website is: http://www.fifionline.org/

Florida Association of Centers for Independent Living (CIL) -- The Florida Association of Centers for Independent Living is a non-profit advocacy organization made up of Centers for Independent Living (CIL's) located throughout the State. Its mission is to support and expand independent living opportunities in Florida for persons with disabilities on issues, regulation, and legislation that impact their lives; and to promote the self-determination, access, and inclusion of people with disabilities by continuing to advance and develop the role of Centers for Independent Living (CIL's) in Florida. The 4 core services provided are: information and referral through a clearinghouse of information; assistance with specific independent living skills; peer mentoring and networking for individuals and groups; and advocacy and education on the roles and responsibilities of peoples with disabilities and the community. Each CIL has its own website; to contact the one closest to you go to the website for the Florida Independent Living Council, Inc. in Tallahassee, known as Ability 1st: www.flailc.org and click on the Contact List on the left side of the page.

The Family Network on Disabilities of Florida, Inc. (FND) -- This is a statewide alliance of individuals with disabilities, special needs, or at-risk and their families. Their mission is to provide family-driven support, training, information, and advocacy. The FND has added a transition project called TILES to their program. TILES stands for Transition/Independent Living/Employment/Support. The purpose of the TILES Project is to provide training and information to enable individuals with disabilities, their parents, family members, guardians, advocates, or other authorized representatives, to participate more effectively with professionals in meeting the vocational, independent living and rehabilitation needs of individuals with disabilities in Florida. Their website is:  http://fndfl.org/

For more information please contact your local CMS office:

• CMS Network contact list