CSA

The Center for Self Advocacy (CSA) is a place where people with developmental disabilities go to meet, organize, work and train others on how to improve their quality of life. Our goal is to help and support people with developmental disabilities in making their own decisions, speaking up for themselves and others, taking control of their own lives, creating awareness about disability issues and achieving maximum independence and quality of life.

The self- advocates are currently mentoring the ACCESS summer students in topics that include: Knowing your rights, self-advocacy, changing attitudes and leadership. The self -advocates are also learning self defense with the Isshin Ryu Club. Their Sensai teaches them to be aware of their surroundings and how to react if in a threatening situation. The Center also purchased a Smart Board, and self-advocates are in the process of learning how to use it as an interactive tool for presentations and workshops. Other self-advocates are improving their reading skills with a summer "love to read" program taught by Edie Allen, SLP.

Throughout the summer and fall self-advocates will have presented at the Taos Transition Conference, the Summit on Equality Conference, the SABE conference, El Poder de los Jovenes, UNM, the ARC in Farmington, and presented Steps to Success and at the Southwest Disability Conference.

Connie Deherrera, CSA Coordinator
505-341-0036
Connie.deherrera@state.nm.us