Collaboration & Outreach
Quality Trust's motto is "Powering Change Through Partnerships" and we work collaboratively with our members; self-advocates, families, government officials, and disability providers to address on-going systemic issues and concerns that act as a barrier for families to access the quality supports and services they desire.
Some of our collaborative efforts include:
Disability Support Professionals Conference
In October, 2008, Quality Trust partnered with the DC Coalition of Service Providers for Persons with Intellectual and other Disabilities and the Department on Disability Services DC Disabilities Council, to host an annual conference to recognize the work done by disability support professionals for District residents with disabilities and to offer professional development opportunities through panels and breakout sessions.
District of Columbia Annual Developmental Disabilities Awareness Event
Quality Trust partners with DC Disabilities Council, Georgetown University Center for Excellence in Disabilities, Project Action and The Arc of the District of Columbia to recognize the contributions and achievements of people with developmental disabilities in the District each March, which is Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month.
Life Choice Planning
Quality Trust undertook an effort in collaboration with key stakeholders to develop a planning process where people with disabilities could plan for their future and end of life the same as most everyone else does; in a thoughtful dialogue with people who know them best. Quality Trust led a year long learning project planning with people and developed a manual to guide families and support professionals through the planning process for people with the guidance and expertise of noted disability gerontologist Leigh Ann Kingsbury. Through this collaboration a manual, People Planning Ahead, was developed and published by the American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (AAIDD) and can be purchased at www.aaidd.org/publications. The Life Choice Planning training is now offered by Quality Trust staff and DDA training specialists for all service coordinators, staff, families, and service providers to learn how to effectively do life choice planning for District residents with disabilities.
Project ACTION!
Quality Trust partners with the District's self-advocacy coalition, Project ACTION! to host a variety of forums to get the opinions from the people who use the services of the District's disability community each and every day. The group's motto, "Nothing About us without Us," is one Quality Trust fully endorses as the District's independent advocacy organization, our members voices and concerns are what drives our work and focus each day. Quality Trust supports District residents with disabilities and families who have a child or member with a disability to attend local and national conferences where they can learn new advocacy skills, present to others about what they've learned to effectively advocate for themselves and how they've become a recognized presence in the District's legislative process. We also support self-advocates to be trainers for other self-advocates, DDA staff; and service provider staff.
To learn more about our Collaboration and Outreach initiatives and to get involved please contact: pholton@dcqualitytrust.org.
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