As part of the support we provided, we created Resource Guides on various topics. Resource Guides are 5-10 page guides written by experts on that topic. They are designed for self-advocates to learn more about an area, and can be read in a group setting. They are written at an 8th grade level.
If you or someone else you know is interested in a physical copy of any of the resource guides, please email Kit Mead at kmead@autisticadvocacy.org.
Published Resource Guides include:
Owning Your Organization: Working with Advisors and Facilitators
What is a facilitator or advisor? What do they do? How do I know if an advisor or facilitator is the right fit for my self-advocacy group? Owning Your Organization: Working with Advisors and Facilitators has answers to these questions and more!
Download Owning Your Organization: Working with Advisors and Facilitators.pdf
Same Old Story: Strategies to Combat Media Misrepresentations
Who are the people in the media? How do you fight prejudice about people with disabilities in the media? Check out Same Old Story: Strategies to Combat Media Misrepresentations to learn more about how to advocate for better representation of disability in the media.
Download Same Old Story: Strategies to Combat Media Misrepresentations.pdf
Legislative Advocacy 101: Getting Your Voice Heard
What is the difference between lobbying and advocacy? What is an elevator speech? How do you testify with your state legislature? Legislative Advocacy 101: Getting Your Voice Heard has answers to all these questions and more.
Download Legislative Advocacy 101: Getting Your Voice Heard.pdf
Working Better Together: Embracing Good Conflict and Solving Bad Conflict
Are your self-advocacy organization’s members fighting with each other? Are your self-advocacy organization’s leaders not getting along and working well with each other? Then, you might be interested in this resource guide on working better together.
Download Working Better Together.pdf
Project Management
Was your self-advocacy organization awarded a mini-grant with PADSA or does it have another project it is working on? Does your organization want to make sure their project runs smoothly and is done well? Then, you might be interested in the webinar on project management.
Download the Project Management Resource Guide.pdf
Making a Plan to Win: How to Run an Advocacy Campaign
What is a campaign strategy? How do you advocate for an important issue? It can seem overwhelming and confusing, but this guide here is to help you and your self-advocacy group understand what a campaign strategy is and the steps you take to create a strong advocacy campaign.
Download How To Run An Advocacy Campaign.pdf
Download Companion Toolbox.pdf
Starting a Non-Profit is Like Having a Baby: 8 Questions Your Group Should Ask Before Starting a NonProfit:
Many self advocacy organizations want to become formalized non-profits recognized by the state and local government. Being a formal nonprofit gives groups more credibility, and allows them to have full autonomy over their decision-making process. At the same time, running a non-profit requires a lot of responsibility that running a project or group does not. We encourage groups to come together to make sure they have all the information so they can make fully informed decisions.
Download Starting A NonProfit.pdf
Color Communication Badges
Color Communication Badges are a tool that can be used to make conferences and events more accessible. Participants wear a green, yellow, or red tag to let the people around them know how much they want to communicate. Read our guide to learn more about how to use them.
Download Color Communication Badges.pdf
Fantastic Facilitation: Leading Effective, Inclusive Meetings
Want to lead a meeting? This guide explores facilitation basics, like how to put an agenda together, when to let people know a meeting should take place, and how to lead a group. It is a must-read for new self advocates who plan to run meetings.
Download Fantastic Facilitation.pdf
Getting What You Came For: Using Meetings to Advance an Agenda
“Getting What You Came For” is an advanced guide that explains strategies you can use when meeting with someone about a topic that is important to you (e.g. legislative visits). It includes tips on targeting your time, creating a “pitch” that uses logic and emotional connection, and staying on topic. ASAN recommends groups to read this guide together before attending important meetings.
Download Getting What You Came For.pdf
Intro to Policy Guide: Did You Know that Anybody Can Write a Law?
The policy process can be overwhelming at first. Our “Intro to Policy Guide” explains the basics: how laws are made, how you can get involved, and who you will need to get to know and work with. Read this if your group wants to change or make a law, or if you want to work with your state government.
Download Intro to Policy Guide: Did You Know that Anybody Can Write a Law?.pdf
Consulting and Coordinating: Funding Your Work Through Fee-for-Service Projects
As your group grows, you may want to start working on paid projects for other organizations. “Consulting and Coordinating” lays out what you need to know before you start.
Download Consulting and Coordinating: Funding Your Work Through Fee-for-Service Projects.pdf
Strategic Partnerships: Building a Relationship with DD Network Providers
What is the DD Network?How can it help you? How do you get connected? Read “Strategic Partnerships: Building a Relationship with DD Network Providers” to find out.
Download Strategic Partnerships: Building a Relationship with DD Network Providers.pdf
Accessible Event Planning
Does your self-advocacy organization have events? Do you or your self-advocacy organization want to learn how to make your events accessible to people with disabilities? This resource guide has information to help with that.
Download Accessible Event Planning.pdf here
State Level Advocacy
Does your self-advocacy organization want to advocate on the state level? Do you want to learn how to advocate on the state level? This resource guide has information on how the state government works. It also has information on how to advocate at this level.
Download State Level Advocacy.pdf
Using Trello as an Organizing Tool
Trello is a great way to organize! But what is Trello? How do I use its boards, lists, and cards to organize? This resource guide has all the information you need. It includes specifics and examples.
Download Using Trello as an Organizing Tool.pdf
Self Advocacy Through Media Website
Self-Advocacy Through Media is a website focused on social media and how to use it to self-advocate.
Click here to go to the website.
Conflicting Access Needs
What are access needs? What happens when those access needs don’t work together? Learn more in this resource.
Download Conflicting Access Needs.pdf
Being Non-Partisan
What is being non-partisan? What does being non-partisan have to do with elections and voting? Why is it important for certain types of organizations to be non-partisan? What are some examples of being partisan or non-partisan? What are some voting and political activities my organization can still do? Learn more with this resource.
Download Being Non-Partisan.pdf
Social Media 101
What is social media? What are some examples of social media? How do I use those social media sites? How can I use them to advocate? This resource guide covers those items.
Best Practices for Inclusion of AAC Users
What is alternative and augmentative communication? What are the best ways you can include people who use assistive technology to communicate? This guide will explain AAC and provide tips on how to best include AAC users.
Download Best Practices for Inclusion of AAC Users.pdf
Key Parts of Fundraising For Your Group
This short guide covers some must-know parts of fundraising. These key parts include asking businesses to sponsor events, ways of getting donations online, and more.
GoToWebinar Resource Guide
A webinar is like a conference presentation you might attend, but online. This guide covers one tool to host and attend webinars, GoToWebinar. The guide includes detailed how-to information for using GoToWebinar.
Download GoToWebinar Resource Guide.pdf
Federal Level Advocacy
What are some key parts of the federal government? How does the federal government create laws? How does the federal government create other rules and regulations? Do you and your self-advocacy group want to influence federal-level policy? This resource guide has the answers to those questions and more.
Download Federal Level Advocacy.pdf
SMART Goals Guide
How can you and your group create goals that make the best action plan possible? This guide explains SMART Goals. SMART goals are a way to create those kinds of goals. But what do the letters in SMART stand for? What are some good things about using SMART goals? What are some examples of groups using SMART goals? You can download the SMART goals guide to find out!