Marci W

I have friends who are very hurt when someone says they are the r-word. Learn why & how to stop it. Don’t laugh along if someone uses it. Be kind.

Listen to our self-advocate experts teach real-life skills. Share it with everyone.

Different Ideas of Soulmates: Love, Friendship, and Support Last week, we talked about relationship myths. This week, we’re talking about soulmates. Movies often show only one kind of relationship. But real life is not that simple. People with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) want relationships. They want to feel cared for, supported, and valued. But what a soulmate looks like can be different for each person. Different Ideas of Soulmates…

Learn how different ideas of soulmates can all be healthy and true. Gift this post to someone you love!

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#IDD #Neurodiversity #SelfAdvocacy #SharedGoals #HealthyRelationships #Soulmates

Busting Myths About Relationships and People with IDD February is Disability Awareness Month. It’s also the month of Valentine’s Day. This month is a good time to talk about relationships. Today, we’re going to bust some myths. Some people have wrong ideas about what people with IDD want, need, and deserve from romantic relationships. We talked with three people with IDD about these myths. Here’s what they had to say.

Help us bust some myths! Learn how to support people with IDD and their relationships.

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#IDD #Neurodiversity #SelfAdvocacy #DisabilityAwarnessMonth #Inclusion #Relationships

How Old Social Security Rules Hurt People With Disabilities Many people with disabilities use Social Security to help pay for basic needs. This includes SSI and SSDI. These programs are meant to help people live safe and healthy lives. But old Social Security rules can make life harder instead of easier. This week, we talk with our friend Logan about why these rules need to change. We talk about how fixing them can help people with disabilities…

Learn what Logan has to say about ending Social Security caps and penalties. Share this message with your network!

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#IDD #Neurodiversity #SelfAdvocacy #DisabilityRights #SavingsLimit #MarriagePenalty #PolicyChange

The Network - Self-Advocate Network The Network Nothing About Us Without Us People with IDD have valuable lived experience. They should work on projects about their lives. Most project staff want to work with people with IDD. But findin...

Self-Advocate Spotlight! Anand is a self-advocate with experience in peer support, technology, employment, and social media.
You can learn more about Anand in the Self-Advocate Directory.
selfadvocatenetwork.com/the-network
www.youtube.com/watch?v=p2ex...
#IDD #SelfAdvocateNetwork #Neurodiversity

Remembering Bob Kafka: Fighting for Disability Rights Together Last week, James shared his thoughts about Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. He was a hero of the civil rights movement. The disability rights movement has many heroes, too. Some are well known. Others worked behind the scenes for years to make change happen. Last week, we honored Dr. King and his call to serve others. This week, James reflects on another leader who lived those values every day: Bob Kafka.

Share this with those who knew Bob Kafka and anyone who can learn from his wisdom!

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#IDD #Neurodiversity #SelfAdvocacy #BobKafka #DisabilityRights

Honoring Dr. King: A Legacy of Service In January, we honor Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. on his birthday. Dr. King worked for civil rights, fairness, and dignity for all people. He believed that change happens when people come together and take action. That is why Martin Luther King, Jr. Day is also known as the Day of Service. We do not honor Dr. King only with words.

Join us in honoring Dr. King by volunteering in your community!

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#IDD #Neurodiversity #SelfAdvocacy #DisabilityRights #MLKDay #Volunteering

Self-Advocate Spotlight! Charles B. (Lee) focuses on research, social justice, and human rights. He has worked in the legal field and earned multiple degrees.
You can learn more about Charles (Lee) in the Self-Advocate Directory.
selfadvocatenetwork.com/the-network
youtu.be/sD5jtUVZhpA

Kindness in Action: How to Be a Strong Ally Last week James asked us to resolve to be kinder in 2026. This week we are talking about a special way of being kind: being a strong ally. We hear from our friend Pauline Bosma about ways you can be a strong ally. What Makes a Strong Ally? Pauline is part of the LGBTQ+ community and has IDD. She tells us that being an ally to both groups starts with listening.

Learn how you can be an ally with these tips from Pauline Bosma!

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#IDD #Neurodiversity #SelfAdvocacy #DisabilityRights #InclusiveCommunities #Ally #LGBTQ #Kindness

Look Back at 2025: Our Work, Our Team, Our Impact The end of the year is a good time to think about what you have done. You can look back at the goals you met. Or you can think about what you finished. Self-Advocate Network did a lot this year. So the team has a lot to be proud of. We talked about what we are most proud of doing in 2025.

Learn about the exciting work Self-Advocate Network did in 2025!

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#IDD #Neurodiversity #SelfAdvocacy #2025Highlights #DisabilityAdvocacy #EndOfYearReflection #InclusiveLeadership

Resolve to Be Kinder in the New Year It's the start of a new year. Many of us are making New Year’s resolutions. We think about the things we want to do better in the year to come. Resolve to Be Kinder In a new video, James talks about some of the typical resolutions we make. James then challenges us to resolve to be kinder in 2026. Being kinder can change how people feel, how they are treated, and how safe they feel in the world.

This year, let’s all resolve to be kinder! Learn why and how.

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#IDD #Neurodiversity #BeKind #IndependentLiving #SelfAdvocacy #Resolutions

The Network - Self-Advocate Network The Network Nothing About Us Without Us People with IDD have valuable lived experience. They should work on projects about their lives. Most project staff want to work with people with IDD. But findin...

Self-Advocate Spotlight! Paz G. is a self-advocate who speaks up about mental health, LGBTQ+ issues, and healthy sexuality. They openly share their experiences living with autism and mental health care.
Learn more:
selfadvocatenetwork.com/the-network
#IDD #SelfAdvocateNetwork #Neurodiversity

Look at all our team did in 2025!

Caregivers need support too!

Get ready! We’re rolling out a fresh way to discover advocates who can help bring your project to life. Every week, we’ll highlight a new advocate you should know! Head over to selfadvocatenetwork.com/the-network to check it out.

Signs of Substance Use in People with IDD Guest Post with Kim Fulda, DrPH, Professor, Executive Director of NorTex, UNT Health Last month, we talked with Dr. Kim Fulda about substance use disorder (SUD). It can affect people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). We’re heading into the holidays. This is a time when people feel stress. It might cause them to start or increase substance use. So this month, Dr.

Learn to spot the signs of substance use in people with IDD. Hear from the experts!

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#IDD #Neurodiversity #SubstanceUseDisorder #Addiction #Recovery

Breaking Myths About IDD and Employment: Building an Inclusive Workforce Work is more than a paycheck. It gives people purpose and independence. It helps them build connections. But for many people with IDD, myths and stereotypes get in the way of getting jobs. It’s time to break those myths about IDD and employment! Cynthia Burrow is the owner of Strategic Education Solutions (SES). James Meadours is SES’s Advocacy and Outreach Lead.

Bust some myths! Find out why hiring people with IDD is great for everyone.

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#IDD #Neurodiversity #SelfAdvocacy #OvercomingStereotypes #InclusiveEmployment

Your voice always matters. Voting makes an impact.

Inclusion Beyond the Classroom: Homecoming Edition It’s homecoming season. Across the country, people are cheering for their teams. They are celebrating “Friday night lights.” It’s a fun time for students to come together. But for many people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), those moments of celebration never happen. They may be included in the classroom. But they are left out when the bell rings. They deserve inclusion beyond the classroom.

It’s homecoming season! Let’s think about ways to push inclusion beyond the classroom.

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#IDD #Neurodiversity #SelfAdvocacy #SpecialEducation #MeaningfulInclusion

Supporting IDD and Mental Health: Beyond the Basics for Complex Needs World Mental Health Day was October 10. We can use this time to remember that mental health is a human right for people with IDD. To support IDD and mental health, going beyond the basics includes care that is fair. It should be respectful. It should center on the whole person. IDD and Mental Health Needs Mental health is important for everyone.

Share this message to support complex mental health needs!

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#IDD #Neurodiversity #SelfAdvocacy #WorldMentalHealthDay #ComplexMentalHealth

Substance Use Risk Factors for People with IDD Guest post with Kim Fulda, DrPH, Professor, Executive Director of NorTex, UNT Health October is Substance Abuse Prevention Month. We’re learning more about IDD and substance use. Last month, we learned that people with IDD can have substance use disorder (SUD). We learned the truth about some harmful myths.  UNT Health is leading a project in Texas to share the truth about SUD.

Learn the risk factors of substance use in people with IDD. Learn from the experts!

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#IDD #Neurodiversity #SubstanceUseDisorder #Addiction #Recovery

Myths About People with IDD and Substance Use Guest post with Kim Fulda, DrPH, Professor, Executive Director of NorTex, UNT Health September is National Recovery Month. Some people think that people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) don’t use substances. This is not true. We’re learning more about IDD and substance use. Some people with IDD have substance use disorder (SUD). SUD is when using drugs or alcohol creates serious problems in your life.

Help us bust some harmful myths about IDD and substance use. Learn from the experts!

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#IDD #Neurodiversity #SubstanceUseDisorder #Addiction #Recovery

Informed Consent: What is it? YouTube video by Self-Advocate Network

Informed consent means you get the information you need, and you make your own choice. Your voice matters, and your choice matters.
Learn more: www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wco-...

sanetwork.learnworlds.com/participator...
#PAR #IDD #Neurodiversity #OnlineCourses #SelfAdvocate

Know someone with a developmental disability who has experienced substance abuse? They can talk anonymously about their experience and get paid for their time.

Informed Consent: Why is it important? YouTube video by Self-Advocate Network

Projects work best when everyone agrees and understands. That’s informed consent. Let’s talk about why it’s key to success.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ko3a...
Start learning today: sanetwork.learnworlds.com/participator...

#PAR #IDD #Neurodiversity #OnlineCourses #SelfAdvocate

The Rehabilitation Act of 1973: Disability Rights and Inclusion In 1973, Congress passed the Rehabilitation Act. It’s sometimes called the Rehab Act for short. It helped clear a path for disability rights and inclusion. Before this law, many people with disabilities didn’t have rights in schools and at jobs. They were left out of public life. The Act helped change that. It made sure people with disabilities had more equal rights.

Share this message about disability and inclusion with your network!

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#IDD #Neurodiversity #SelfAdvocacy #InclusionInEducation #DisabilityRights

Boundaries: Why are they important? YouTube video by Self-Advocate Network

Boundaries protect your time. They save your energy. They lower stress. They prevent burnout. They make work more respectful.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=j36F...
: sanetwork.learnworlds.com/participator...
#PAR #IDD #Neurodiversity #OnlineCourses #SelfAdvocate

Found Family: Celebrating Love, Support, and Chosen Family September 22 is National Family Day. But we’re taking it over! We're calling it “National Found Family Day.” For many, family is a source of love and support. But for some, family relationships are hard. Families may not accept people as they are. When that happens, a found family can be life changing. Found family is a group of trusted people who care for you.

Having a found family can be life changing. Read about Pauline’s experience.

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#IDD #Neurodiversity #SelfAdvocacy #FoundFamily #ChosenFamily #LGBTQ+ #SupportAndBelonging

Boundaries: What are they? YouTube video by Self-Advocate Network

Boundaries are like a fence—you decide what’s okay and what’s not. They protect your time and energy, so you can focus on what matters most.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=DpJy...
Start learning today: sanetwork.learnworlds.com/participator...
#PAR #IDD #Neurodiversity #OnlineCourses #SelfAdvocate