I want to congratulate Project ACTION! and the Georgetown University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (UCEDD) for a great program entitled “Project ACTION! Past, Present and Future: The Power of Advocacy” held at Georgetown on Monday, May 18.

Tawara Goode, the Georgetown UCEDD’s Director, moderated a great first panel of former residents of Forest Haven who talked about how they had to advocate for themselves after leaving the institution where they had lived most of their lives. Panelists included Donna and Ricardo Thornton, Deborah Gainer-Phillips, and Martha Woods, as well as Kim Scott, a long-time provider and advocate for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). They talked about how they want young people to speak up for themselves like they’ve learned to and “never going back.” They encouraged self-advocates to ask for help and not be afraid, because there are people who want to help you succeed. They also talked about how important work was for them and that people with disabilities can work if they have support.

Sandy Bernstein, Legal Director at Disability Rights DC, moderated the second panel which looked to the future of advocacy. Panelists included self-advocates Bernard Crawford, Thelma Green, Miriam Edelman, and Kevin Wright, as well as Linda Brown, the parent of a young person with IDD. They shared how things had improved in the last decade and that the voices of people with IDD were given more respect, but also that advocacy was still needed for education, employment, services, and especially health care where many doctors and nurses still don’t get enough education and resources on how to talk to, listen to, and meet the healthcare needs of people with IDD.

It was great to see so many long-time advocates from Project ACTION! as well as lots of new faces from Georgetown’s Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and Related Disabilities (LEND) program. With federal cuts to services and less money coming into the District, we are likely to need everyone’s advocacy in the coming years.

Finally, congratulations to all the individuals from Georgetown who will be retiring this year, including Tawara Goode, Toby Long, Rachel Brady, and Robin Shaffert, one of QT’s excellent board members! We wish you all the best!