1. What is People First^®?

People First is a self-advocacy and self-help organization of people who have developmental disabilities. Self-Advocacy means that the members are learning how to speak for themselves and make decisions about what they want to do with their lives. Self-Help means that the members are helping each other with their problems, making friends and reaching out to people with severe disabilities. The members also plan fund-raisers and social events like dances or picnics or other activities.

2. What are the benefits of being a People First chapter?

Being a People First chapter gives self-advocacy groups more visibility and credibility. It helps more people with developmental disabilities connect with each other and learn about self-advocacy. Chapter members learn *how to speak for ourselves, *what our rights and responsibilities are, and *how to solve our own problems and make decisions for ourselves. We also contribute to our communities, meet great people and make good friends.

3. How does a self -advocacy group become a People First chapter

Most importantly, the group should always be started and run by people with developmental disabilities. People with developmental disabilities must always be the leaders of any People First chapter. Most People First chapters elect officers to run their meetings, and most have helpers or advisors, who support the chapter members.

To be a People First Chapter a self-advocacy group must:

1. Speak up for ourselves,
2. Solve our own problems and make our own decisions,
3. Know our rights and responsibilities,
4. Contribute back to our communities

If a self-advocacy group is willing to do or is doing these things and they have at least 5 members, they can call themselves a People First chapter in California.

4. What is the role of the helper or advisor?

The role of the advisor is to help the chapter members accomplish the goals of the chapter. The advisor is not a member, does not vote, and does not make decisions for the group. Advisors (or helpers) help chapter members work together to get things done.

5. Does it cost anything to become a People First chapter?

No, there are currently no fees, but local chapters can decide to have dues or fundraisers if they want.

6. If a group has their own name, should they change it to become a chapter?

To get the full benefit of the People First name, self-advocacy groups wanting to become People First chapters must add People First to their current name or add a reference that they are affiliated with PFCA.  By using the name People First your group agrees it follows the principles of People First stated above.

7. What is the mission of People First?

The mission of People First of California to help start, inform and support local chapters so that we, and all people with developmental disabilities, are able to speak for ourselves, know our rights and responsibilities, and are respected, valued members of our communities.

8. Value Statement.

9. How did People First get started?

The People First organization was born in 1974 when a group of people, many of whom lived in an institution in Oregon, went to a conference about "self-advocacy" in Canada. When they got back and talked about the conference, they were upset because professionals had run all the sessions. They thought that people with disabilities should have run them. They decided to organize their own conference and run it themselves.

One of the first things they needed to do was come up with a name. At a large meeting, at the Oregon institution, people with developmental disabilities got together to pick a name. After several suggestions, Judy Cunio, a woman with a developmental disability, spoke up and said,

"We are people first, our disabilities are second. Why can’t they just call us People First." As the name People First was whispered from person to person, everybody liked it and chose it as the name for their self-advocacy group. There are now People First chapters across the United States and around the world.

 

10. Where can I find out more?

    Check out our web site at www.peoplefirstca.org or call us at (916) 552-6625.

 

We are People First

Our Disabilities are Second

© 2007 People First^® of California, Inc.