ACT Memo

As you requested, this is your ACT Self-Advocacy Resource Network Memo facilitating a national dialogue among self-advocates and supporters and a clearinghouse for materials and training that support self-advocacy.

October 31, 2007

Meet Problems Face-to-Face

Minnesota self-advocate Larry Lubbers is not about to take abuse from anyone. Last year, students kept harassing him on his way home from work. So he took action. He talked to the principal. Then met with the students face to face. He told them how he felt and what he wanted. That changed everything. Now the students don’t tease him. They say “hi.”

1.	The Whole Story
2.	Resource


1.	The Whole Story Minnesota self-advocate Larry Lubbers was being harassed every time he walked past a high school on his way home from work. Larry was frustrated about it and wanted it to change. One day, he decided to act. Larry and an ally, Suzanne Shute, went into the school and asked to speak to the headmaster. They explained what was going on and proposed that Larry make a presentation to the students. They believed that if the students knew Larry’s story, they wouldn’t tease him anymore. The headmaster agreed and made arrangements. Larry presented his story to a group of students from the school during school hours. They were visibly moved. At the end of his presentation, Larry said he hoped that when the students saw him on the street, they would just wave and say, “Hi, Larry.” And since that meeting, that’s just what they do. Larry doesn’t have any more trouble with the students. More importantly, he got to tell his story to a new audience. [Return to top]


2.	Resource I Am a Person First: Understanding the Value of Values Use this self-led workshop to help your group members practice naming their values and putting them into action. [Return to top]

Today’s Trivia Question:

Where does an idea for a new law come from?

a.	A legislator
b.	An interested group
c.	An average citizen
d.	All of the above

(The answer will be published in the next Memo.)

Answer to October 24th Trivia Question:
a. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Question was: Who said: “Everybody can be great, because anybody can serve”?

a.	Martin Luther King, Jr.
b.	Nancy Reagan
c.	Oprah Winfrey
d.	Mark Twain

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