The Idaho Self Advocate Leadership Network sent seven local representatives to the National SABE 2008 conference in Indianapolis, Indiana. SALN is a non-profit organization that empowers people with disabilities to become self advocates . SALN advocates inclusion and equal rights for everyone. SABE’s mission statement is to ensure that people with disabilities are treated as equals and that they are given the same decisions, choices, rights, responsibilities, and chances to speak up to empower themselves; opportunities to make new friends; and to learn from their mistakes. The Idaho delegation included:
John Russell , Idaho SALN president, from Lewiston; Becky Woodhead and Jeremy Watson from Boise; Erick Yeary and Shelly Nelson from Idaho Falls ;Dan Somsen (Pocatello Chapter President) and Mokie Hamblin from Pocatello. They attended various break out sessions, met hundreds of people from different organizations around the country and had the chance to meet interesting key note speakers. Self advocates are working extremely hard in trying to get the “R” word removed from the English language ;closing institutions around the world to enable individuals with disabilities to live in the community; promote voter turnout during the elections,;promote equal employment and equal pay ;promote affordable and accessible housing for all.
The Pocatello Chapter of SALN meets at 640 Pershing (L.I.F.E., inc offices) on the first and third Thursday of each month at 6:00 pm. For more information, to join our chapter, or if you are interested in a presentation for your group,please call James Steed @ 232-2747 or Mokie Hamblin @ 760-7004.
