In order for you to become a member you need to:

1. Be over the age of 18
2. Be a person with an intellectual disability

At People First you will find:

1. Acceptance
2. Equality
3. Strength
4. Choices
5. Connections
6. Allies
7. Confidence
8. Friends
9. FUN!

At People First you will learn:

1. How to be a leader
2. Public speaking
3. To believe in yourself
4. How to speak up for yourself and your peers
5. Problem solving
6. How to give back to your community
7. How to organize a fundraiser
8. How to plan and run a conference
9. How to be an officer

A few of the things I like to do with People First are:

1. Attend conferences
2. Go to political rallies
3. Find ways to give back to my community
4. Watch new members become leaders

I’m Rosie. People First is a fun thing to go to and gives me time to spend with my friends and peers. I feel good when I go to People First. I belong to a group of people that is world wide.

If this sounds good to you find a meeting near you and come and find out what People First is all about. If you live in Region 2 in California you can check this web site to find a local meeting. If there isn”t a meeting in your area contact www.peoplefirstca.org about helping you start a chapter.

The post Are you looking for an organization where you can be treated with respect and find friends? appeared first on We Care A Lot Foundation.

As an involved parent it is sad when you hear that a young person just shot another student, because no one would talk to them or people laughed and did nothing to help them. I hear people say, “Where were the teachers or the principle?”  I hear answers like, “They told us, but we didn’t think things were that bad; we should have listened.” Sometimes they just have shocked looks on their faces, because they didn’t have a clue.

When you are an involved parent you understand that kids need a safe place and a friend to talk, too. Some kids are afraid to be friends with someone that is being bullied, because they are afraid they will be bullied, too. If more kids stand up for that one person it will make it better for the whole school. They can get help for that one student.  Bullies can be stopped, but only if the bystanders become Allies. Then the school becomes a safe place for everybody.

The post Who can stop the bullies? appeared first on We Care A Lot Foundation.

“FRIEND” is too special of a title to give to just anyone.  We use “true friends” instead of just calling people a friend.  Why is “true” in there?  Because the word friend is overused.  “Friend” is used to describe just about anyone a person with a disability may know, whether it's a staff member, someone in the community, or a peer at day program.  On many occasions after only knowing someone briefly, I've been called a “friend” almost immediately.  I am always careful to point out that if we have just met, I am still a stranger.  Some may call this mean, but I call it abuse prevention.

By calling someone a friend it implies a level of trust.  However, trust has to be earned over time by respecting the person as a whole, as well as their privacy and boundaries.  If someone has a hard time being able to tell when they are being taken advantage of or even abused, then by calling just anyone a friend you are opening them up to trusting just anyone, which swings the door wide open for abuse.  If we can instead teach people that not everyone is a friend and that trust has to be earned, then we are teaching that person how to prevent abuse in their own life.

Not being encouraged to create real friendships is all too common in the world of social services.  I recently read an obituary for a gentleman with Down Syndrome in his 40's who had passed away.  In his obituary it talked about who he was survived by.  The list was short and it made me sad- his parents, siblings and his “best friend”, who was his social recreation worker, a paid staff.  No one, and I mean NO one, should have to pay someone to be their friend.  If you hear a staff member say, “than who else would be their friend if not me?”, there should be a very serious conversation that ensues.  Can you imagine saying that about your child?  I would think not.  So why would you say that about an adult?  A staff member who makes a statement like this is a staff member that does not see the person they are caring for as an equal.

People with disabilities DESERVE real relationships.  Staff should be encouraged to teach people real social skills: how to carry a conversation that doesn't revolve around them; how to make plans with someone to go out and do something; find what their real interests are, not just what is convenient for staff (can we say bowling and bingo?); find new interests to try, real hobbies that can give them a commonality with others.

A TRUE friend is someone you have a real relationship with- you have common interests, things to talk about, you both help each other, and you both need each other.  A true friend is someone you could call in the middle of the night after a fight with your boyfriend.  A true friend is someone you would drop everything for in a heartbeat to help, no questions asked.  A true friend is someone who knows you absolutely hate zucchini with a passion and will leave it out when they cook for you.  A true friend is someone who doesn't have to be reminded of your birthday or your mom's name or why you can't help but laugh when certain commercials come on.  Everyone deserves true friends.

The post What a TRUE Friend Is… appeared first on We Care A Lot Foundation.

So, our brains are wired to want to have sex and that is one part of our sexuality.  Beyond that though, is where humans get complicated.  Our sexuality has evolved to include so many parts of who we are.  Some parts stay with us a lifetime, other parts are dynamic and change.

• Being male or female or however you define your gender;
• How you view sexual orientation (being attracted to men, women, or both);
• What kind of relationship you have- or don't have- with different people;
• How the body changes from infancy to old age;
• Personal views on sex and romantic relationships.

Each person's sexuality is unique to them because it is a result of the experiences and lessons they have had which may include wha

t their parents and family taught them, as well as what they have learned from friends, society, T.V. and movies.  Those experiences and lessons also help guide us into real relationships, i.e. relationships that are based on reciprocity.  Both people have a need for, and true respect for, each other .

That base need to be close to others is another base need, one we share with many other animals.  Elephants are known for forming strong bonds with others in their herd.  They even mourn a friend's passing by standing at their side, making soft noises and running their trunk gently over their friend's body.  Isn't that a beautiful expression of caring?  That need to have close and loving relationships of some kind is present in all of us, even if  how each of us shows that need is different.

People with developmental disabilities are human.  Therefore, sexuality and the need to be close to others is present in each of them in their individual way.  But.  For anyone to say that “they” do not (or should not) think about sex, or do not (or should not) have the desire for real relationships, is to deny that person their humanity.  To deny someone's humanity can lead to disrespect, a denial of rights, cruelty and even abuse.

I think we can all agree that is a world no one should live in.

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