July is Disability Pride Month; for some, it is an exciting time. For others, it is filled with mixed emotions. Join the Arkansas Alliance for Disability Advocacy as we explore righteous rage, joyful defiance, shame, and the spectrum of emotions that come with disability pride. This month is about all of us, and we are holding space for the good, the bad, and the ugly.

We are all in this together.

Guests: 

• Sage Hooks, SAND Project Coordinator
• Wensday Kraemer, Advocate

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Funding for the described program provided under Public Law 106-402 as administered by the Governor's Council on Developmental Disabilities for the State of Arkansas. Its contents are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of the GCDD.

Self-awareness is the foundation of self-advocacy; there is no way to advocate for yourself unless you truly understand what you want, need, and desire. No one knows you like you do.  Listen to the latest episode to understand more about self-awareness and how to grow this personal tool.

Helpful Links:
One-on-One Self-Advocacy and Self-Awareness Session
Self-Advocacy and Awareness Training
Arkansas Alliance for Disability Advocacy Website
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Funding for the described program provided under Public Law 106-402 as administered by the Governor's Council on Developmental Disabilities for the State of Arkansas. Its contents are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of the GCDD.

Is it really important for Arkansans to be knowledgeable about restraint and seclusion? Do we as a people need to understand what this truly is and how it impacts students with disabilities across our state? Well, the answer is YES. In this episode, we are joined by Guy Stephens of The Alliance Against Restraint and Seclusion and Kyla Bishop of Disability Rights Arkansas to speak about restraint and seclusion and the impact these dangerous interventions are having on our students. Join us as we dig deep into this tragic topic and gain the knowledge you need to advocate with action.

**Trigger Warning: Restraint, Seclusion, Child Trauma**

Thank you to our guests Kyla Bishop and Guy Stephens, @endseclusion.

Helpful Links:
Alliance Against Seclusion and Restraint
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Funding for the described program provided under Public Law 106-402 as administered by the Governor's Council on Developmental Disabilities for the State of Arkansas. Its contents are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of the GCDD.

If you have ever wondered what goes on behind closed doors at the Psychiatric Residential Treatment Facilities (PRTFs), this is the episode you don't want to miss.

**Trigger Warning: Suicide, Rape, Child Abuse and Neglect**,

"It is unconscionable to have these repeated abuse and neglect incidents occurring and every person/department responsible for oversight has failed to hold these facilities accountable.  Every incident involves people pointing fingers at each other, while the youth entrusted into the care of these facilities lies in jeopardy.  At what point will Governor Hutchinson and Secretary Gillespie instruct the members of the Child Welfare Agency Review Board to do their jobs and begin sanctioning these facilities?  Despite repeated notifications and letters over the past three years, the state continues to turn its head and look the other direction.   How many more youth need to get chemically restrained, arms and legs broken, or beaten up for the state to do something?  If the current members of the Child Welfare Agency Review Board refuse to do their job, replace them.  We don’t need the fox guarding the hen house!" - Tom Masseau

Helpful Links:
Suicide & Crisis Hotline - 988
Child Welfare Agency Review Board (CWARB)
PRTF Database
Report a Concern
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Funding for the described program provided under Public Law 106-402 as administered by the Governor's Council on Developmental Disabilities for the State of Arkansas. Its contents are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of the GCDD.

It is so hard to become a leader on your own or even create change by yourself. One good thing about Arkansas Alliance for Disability Advocacy is, we don't ever want you to have to. Partners in Policymaking is a national leadership and disability advocacy training program for individuals with developmental disabilities and their families. In this episode of We Should Talk, Ally Thomlinson sits down with Molly Cole from Connecticut to speak about her experience developing Partners in Policymaking within her state and the positive impacts she has seen from the intensive leadership training. If you are searching for a way to further your leadership skills, impact policy, and directly create change, take a listen. This opportunity might just be the one you are looking for!

Helpful Links:
Apply to become a Partner by June 1 on our website.

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Funding for the described program provided under Public Law 106-402 as administered by the Governor's Council on Developmental Disabilities for the State of Arkansas. Its contents are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of the GCDD.

On this episode, we are diving into The Arkansas Primaries. We introduce Christian Adcock, Disability Rights Arkansas' Voting and Public Policy Specialist, and hear our host, Ally Thomlinson, forget how to correctly use verbs. What can we say? You win some; you lose some. Don't miss out on this episode filled with everything you need to know about the primaries, why they are essential to Arkansas, and how to prepare and take action.  Take a listen, and let us remind you why your vote is important! 

Show Notes: 
Sample Ballot: https://www.voterview.ar-nova.org/VoterView

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Funding for the described program provided under Public Law 106-402 as administered by the Governor's Council on Developmental Disabilities for the State of Arkansas. Its contents are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of the GCDD.

Catch the latest episode of We Should Talk, the podcast hosted by Arkansas Alliance for Disability Advocacy with Ally Thomlinson. This month's episode is all about The Annual Pie Day at the Capitol; how it started, why it's important, and how to participate! 

After listening to We Should Talk be sure to join Arkansas Alliance for Disability Advocacy on Monday, March 14 at 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM at the Arkansas State Capitol for advocacy and pie with our state leaders and community members from around the state! 

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Funding for the described program provided under Public Law 106-402 as administered by the Governor's Council on Developmental Disabilities for the State of Arkansas. Its contents are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of the GCDD.

We are talking all things waiver, waiver waitlist, and what is keeping us from making this a sustainable infrastructure. People with disabilities deserve to live their lives in their communities, full of quality, choice, and dignity of risk. It's time to close the front door of institutions and clear the waiver waitlist for good!

Music by Lesfm from Pixabay

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Funding for the described program provided under Public Law 106-402 as administered by the Governor's Council on Developmental Disabilities for the State of Arkansas. Its contents are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of the GCDD.