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.

September 12, 2007

You Don’t Have to Take That from Anybody

What do you do when someone makes fun of you? Ignore him/her? Punch him/her in the nose?

Take a lesson from Texas self-advocate James Meadours. He was competing in a slot car race last month. A heckler kept on telling him he was no good and should quit. Finally, James yelled back, “You know, sir, you offend me. I’m doing my best here. You are really making me mad.” The bully shut right up.

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James Meadours is the Self-Advocacy Specialist for Advocacy, Incorporated, a legal support agency for people with disabilities in Texas. He is also an avid slot car racer on the Texas Slot Car Racing Association circuit, where folks from all over Texas compete by racing miniature cars.

	James at the track (far right)

Last Friday night in Granbury, James was warming up with some of his buddies for the Saturday race. After a couple of hours, a local guy who had been drinking all day started heckling James. The guy was not racing, but only hanging around watching the racers. Whenever James’ car would go off the track, the guy would holler that James was no good and should quit racing.

James stood this for a long time, and finally yelled back at the guy from across the track: “You know, sir, you offend me. I’m doing my best here. You are really making me mad.” The bully shut right up, and James’ buddies cheered him on for taking the guy on.

After that, the man tried to buy drinks for James (James refused). The next day, he asked the track owner to give James a framed poster on his behalf. Although he was obviously ashamed of his behavior (once sober), he did not have the courage to look James in the eye and apologize. The real courage was shown by James.

– from Judith Laufer, advisor to San Antonio
self-advocacy chapter, and friend of James

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Resources

I Can Speak for Myself
James wasn’t passive—and he wasn’t aggressive. He got what he wanted by being assertive. Your group members can practice being assertive with this set of exercises.

Meeting Builders
Meeting Builders are designed to be part of your regular self-advocacy meetings. Each Meeting Builder, with a small dose of new information, will nudge people into new habits and new thinking. Call ACT at 1-800-641-0059 to find out about Meeting Builders Set #1. This set of six units includes sessions related to passive, aggressive, and assertive communication. Only $25 for a set of six (6) Meeting Builders.

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Today’s Trivia Question:

Who is the woman standing behind President George Bush at the signing of the ADA July 26, 1990? (See photo.)

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Right-click here to download pictures. To help protect your privacy, Outlook prevented automatic download of this picture from the Internet.

a. Sandra Parrino
b. Judith Heumann
c. Barbara Bush

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

Answer to September 5th Trivia Question:

c. Justin Dart

Question was: Who is the gentleman with the cowboy hat sitting on President George Bush’s left at the signing of the ADA July 26, 1990? (See photo.)

a. Ed Roberts
b. David Lewis
c. Justin Dart

(Thanks to SARN member Mike Patrick for this trivia question.)

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