Self Advocacy from Home: The Basics and Beyond presented by Leanne Mull, Blue Towers Solutions, Inc., Jesus (Chuy) Campuzano, Richard Hollenbeck, Becca Burrow, Da Wen Mei on Friday, March 19, 2021 from 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm.
REGISTER NOW! Free 2 CEUs for LSW/LPSW & LPC/LCPC
Summary: Although the pandemic has changed the way we advocate for people with disabilities advocacy is continuing to happen in new and different ways. Join us as we talk about different ways to support people with disabilities to advocate for themselves. In addition, we will talk about the many virtual events happening in the disability community in Illinois and the country.
Bios: Leanne Mull has been supporting people with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities to achieve their dreams since 1999 when, after her work as a corporate trainer, she hired someone with a job coach to work in a store she managed. She spent the next 15 years at a traditional agency in a variety of roles including Director of Employment and Advocacy, and QIDP. Leanne believes that the key to meaningful lives for people who receive services is to encourage, empower and enlighten the staff who work for them. As co-director of Blue Tower Solutions, Leanne fulfills that dream as a national speaker and consultant improving organizations and systems supporting people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Jesus (Chuy) Campuzano is an experienced self advocate leader from Chicago. He is active with Access Living in Chicago advocating for choice in housing and more funding for disability services among other things. Chuy is a member of the Going Home Coalition and chairs the leadership committee. As a member of the WOW team Chuy plans and co-hosts the meetings and created the WOW Facebook Group. Chuy is a regular presenter at the Speak Up Speak Out Summit and runs a weekly Disability Check-In Zoom meeting.
Da Wen Mei was 3-years old when he came from China, where he was told he could not receive education due to his disability. Da is now a high school graduate and works with the Artfully Gifted Foundation as the E-Commerce Manager. Since joining the WOW team Da has worked on the group Facebook page, assisted with managing the Zoom meetings and presented with the WOW team. Da Wen also participates in the Going Home Coalition.
Becca Burrow is a self advocate and experienced presenter from the Chicago area. Becca works as a receptionist for Garden Center Services where she also leads the organizations self advocacy group. Becca is an enthusiastic public speaker who is part of the Blue Tower Solutions, Inc. WOW team presenting weekly virtual meetings. Additionally, Becca services on the Going Home Coalition as Chair of the communications committee and has presented in person and virtually at the Speak Up Speak Out Summit.
Richard Hollenbeck is a self advocate from Central Illinois who is a founding member of the MRI Empowerment group. Additionally, Richard served on the board of the Illinois Self Advocacy Alliance and graduated from the Alliance Ambassador program. Richard has been part of the Blue Tower Solutions, Inc. WOW team since we started, planning presentations running Zoom for all of the meetings and sending out notifications. Richard has also worked with the Envision Illinois group working on Domestic Violence prevention for people with disabilities.
