2022-2023 Objectives & Activites
The mission of People First of Nebraska is to teach people with disabilities how to speak out for themselves and others, make them aware of their rights and responsibilities as citizens, support their self-advocacy, and support their development as leaders in the disability community. We will achieve this mission this year by supporting local PFN chapters across Nebraska with training and technical assistance, policy advocacy at the state and national levels, and by participating in boards and work groups and collaborating on projects with other disability organizations.
GOAL ONE: People First of Nebraska, Inc. is a strong and engaged leader in disability advocacy in the region and nationally and is developing the expertise to provide unique services to build sustainability.
Goal 1: Activities
Activity 1.1. By June 30, 2023 PFN will collaborate with other self-advocacy organizations in the Heartland Self Advocate Regional Network to co-sponsor and attend at least one regional activity or event.
- PFN will participate in at least one activity in the next two years, possibly another regional conference hosted by the Self Advocate Coalition of Kansas in 2023. PFN members will submit proposals for presentations at the conference. At least 15 PFN members and coordinators will attend this conference. PFN is requesting funding from the NDDC for co-sponsorship of this event and for registration and travel expenses. PFN will also provide matching funds and will seek sponsorships from other disability related groups in Nebraska to support this event.
GOAL Two: People First of Nebraska, Inc. is a strong and engaged leader in disability advocacy in Nebraska.
Goal 2: Activities
Activity 2.1. Two PFN members and two additional self-advocates will serve as PFN Disability Policy Specialists during the next two Nebraska legislative sessions.
Activity 2.2. PFN will hold a minimum of three collaborative events or activities with the Nebraska Youth Leadership Council.
Activity 2.3. PFN will sponsor a three-day statewide convention in 2022 and 2023.
- DPS Candidates will be interviewed and selected in November of 2021 and 2022 and this program will begin in December of each year, so that the Disability Policy Specialists will be prepared at the very beginning of the new yea's legislative session.We will coordinate our policy advocacy activities with the Arc of Nebraska, Disability Rights of Nebraska, and other disability advocacy organizations.
Activity 2.2. PFN will hold a minimum of three collaborative events or activities with the Nebraska Youth Leadership Council.
- NYLC members are invited to participate in and present at our annual PFN state conventions. Another activity for this upcoming grant cycle could be a peer-to-peer mentoring program to match PFN members with NYLC members in the same communities to support transition from the youth group into PFN as members age out of the NYLC program.
Activity 2.3. PFN will sponsor a three-day statewide convention in 2022 and 2023.
- The Board of People First of Nebraska is excited to be planning an in-person People First convention for October of 2021! We will also hold elections this year and will offer at least 12 breakout sessions that include a self-advocate as a presenter.
GOAL Three: People First of Nebraska, Inc. engages its chapters and the community to promote awareness, inclusion, and meaningful employment.
Goal 3: Activities
Activity 3.1. PFN will collaborate with our partners and with disability employment specialists in the state to develop at least one long video (for distribution) and 1 short video (for social media) focused on improving employment opportunities and outcomes for people with disabilities.
Activity 3.2. PFN will collaborate with our partners to promote our employment videos in the disability community nationally and among at least 10 employers, business organizations, and community organizations and governmental agencies.
- Specifically, we will develop videos that will address barriers to long-term successful employment by interviewing people with disabilities from across the state and their bosses/business owners about problems encountered in the workplace, adaptations and accommodations that may be needed, and other resources and supports available in the community. PFN will contract with a disability employment professional in Nebraska to help us develop learning outcomes for this initiative, identify employers and workers with disabilities to feature in the video, write a video script, and provide production and editing input.
Activity 3.2. PFN will collaborate with our partners to promote our employment videos in the disability community nationally and among at least 10 employers, business organizations, and community organizations and governmental agencies.
- We will schedule in-person or virtual showings of this video, discuss the assets people with disabilities bring to the workplace, and provide resources to recruit, train, and support employees with disabilities. PFN coordinators and members will contact local chambers of commerce, business organizations (such as the Lions Club, Knights of Columbus, Rotary Clubs, or other organizations where business leaders gather), corporate businesses with chain stores or franchises across the state, local, county and state governments, and any other group that may benefit from hiring people with disabilities. We will market these videos on social media and promote them among our regional and national self-advocate networks. We will develop a resource handout for these presentations and a page on our People First of Nebraska web site that provides resources to employers to support their workers with disabilities.