The goal of Advocacy is to assist persons with disabilities to achieve maximum participation in their lives. Self-Advocacy, which is considered a nationwide movement and the last civil rights movement, provides assistance to persons with disabilities by teaching them the skills they need to become active in their lives and communities.

There is a self-advocacy group that meets at UCP in Hauppauge and they are affiliated with the Self-Advocacy Association of New York State. The group addresses issues such as legislation, housing, employment, and transportation.

UCP has employed an Advocacy Assistant since 1997; the role of the Advocacy Assistant is to provide training and guidance for staff and consumers on everybody’s rights and responsibilities. The Advocacy Assistant serves on various country committees, including the Long Island Developmental Disabilities Advisory Committee, Suffolk County Community Mental Health, Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities, Alcohol and Substance Abuse Services Planning and Advisory Board.

In 1995, UCP of Greater Suffolk was designated the Agency of the Year by the Self- Advocacy Association of New York State, Inc.

Self Advocacy Group

Sincerity Chapter: Members are from UCP’s Vocational Rehabilitation Division, Community Day Habilitation, Day Treatment and Independent Living Programs. Persons with disabilities from the community are welcome to attended.

Several previous Sincerity Chapter members have been Self-Advocacy Association of New York State Inc. board members. At UCP Suffolk, there is a Regional Advisor for the Self-Advocacy Association of New York State, Inc. The Regional Advisor is a volunteer position. Their role is to work with the self-advocacy leaders, Long Island Regional Board Members for Self Advocacy of New York State, and the liaison between the Self Advocacy Association of New York State and the Long Island Developmental Service Office. UCP Suffolk provides office space for the Field Assistant who works for the Self-Advocacy Association of NYS, Inc. The job of the Field Assistant is to educate and support Self-Advocacy groups in Nassau and Suffolk Countries.

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