People First Aktion Club
LIFE Mower County's self advocacy group is People First Aktion Club.  People First Aktion Club is an self-advocacy and self-help club for adults (Ages 18 and Older) with disabilities who want to make their own choices, speak up for themselves and be independent.  Members work on developing skills such as:
  • Speaking for themselves
  • Making decisions for themselves
  • Supporting each other
  • Finding answers to unmet needs
  • Working for independence and self-sufficiency
  • Helping people in the community understand and accept individuals with disabilities
  • Volunteer opportunities

​People with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities (I/DD) must have the right to and be supported to act as self-advocates.  Self-advocates exercise their rights as citizens by communicating for and representing themselves, with supports in doing so, as necessary. This means they have a say in decision-making in all areas of their daily lives and in public policy decisions that affect them.

People First Aktion Club activities include:
  • SAM (Self Advocates Minnesota)
  • Monthly meetings, Usually held on the 2nd Monday of the month from 4:00 - 5:00 at LIFE Mower County
  • Community Service Projects (Food Drives for The Salvation Army, Supply Drives for the Mower County Humane Society and the Ronald McDonald House, Etc.)
  • Conferences (State Self-Advocacy Conference, Self Advocates Minnesota SAM Conference, Etc.)
  • Fundraisers (Fudge Sale, Chicken Dumpling Soup and Chili Supper, Etc.)
  • ​Disability Day at the Capitol
We learn:
  • To find our voices
  • To stand up for ourselves and our peers
  • Leadership skills
  • To run our own meetings
  • To identify and history
  • To make system wide changes
  • To be involved in our own neighborhoods
  • How to make friends
  • How to organize chapter functions and conferences
  • How the political system works
  • Respect and kindness for each other
History of Self-Advocacy

​The beginning of the self-advocacy movement dates back to the 1960’s.

Visit Parallels in Time: A History of Developmental Disabilities by the Minnesota Department of Administration Council on Developmental Disabilities to read a timeline of self-advocacy and the People First movements.
In the United States, there are more than 1200 local self-advocacy groups. Groups are run by people with intellectual disabilities. People join groups to connect with their peers. Self-advocates give and get advice.  People feel free to say what is on their mind. They feel supported.
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Click here to find a self-advocacy group near you.

Self Advocacy Is...

Self-Advocacy is A civil rights movement for people with intellectual disabilities; Self-Advocacy is NOT A program.
 
Self-Advocacy is People speaking-up for what they think is important, Self-Advocacy is NOT People sitting around and complaining.
 
Self-Advocacy is something everyone is capable of; Self-Advocacy is NOT Only for people who can talk.

Self-Advocacy is Making your case and negotiating for what you want, Self-Advocacy is NOT Keeping everything the same.

Self-Advocacy is Realizing you are not alone, joining a self-advocacy group Self-Advocacy is NOT Keeping to yourself.

Self-Advocacy is Knowing your strengths, being proud and feeling strong, Self-Advocacy is NOT Putting yourself down.

Self-Advocacy is Taking risks, trying new things, Self-Advocacy is NOT Playing it safe, doing the same stuff.

Self-Advocacy is Going after your dreams, Self-Advocacy is NOT Sleeping through your dreams.

Self-Advocacy is Making decisions, Self-Advocacy is NOT Other people making decisions for you.

Self-Advocacy is Making mistakes and learning from them, Self-Advocacy is NOT Not taking any chances.
 
Self-Advocacy is Being part of your community, Self-Advocacy is NOT Staying home.
 
Self-Advocacy is Managing your emotions so others can hear what you have to say, Self-Advocacy is NOT Staying angry.

Self-Advocacy is Being curious and asking questions, Self-Advocacy is NOT Being questioned.