SANYS Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI)
Grantee: Self-Advocacy Association of New York State, Inc.
Project Goal: The Self-Advocacy Association of New York State, Inc., is the largest self-advocacy organization in NYS led by people with developmental disabilities for people with developmental disabilities. This 5-year award tasks SANYS to strengthen the diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) of New York’s self-advocacy network.
Project Summary:
SANYS is an organization founded, and led, by people with developmental disabilities for people with developmental disabilities. Founded over 30 years ago, SANYS has developed a statewide network of self-advocates, professional and other supporters of self-advocacy. SANYS has 6 regional offices throughout New York State each consisting of a team of grassroots staff reporting to a Regional Coordinator. For this project SANYS will utilize their self-advocate network and existing personnel to explore new relationships with individuals and groups to engage in opportunities for co-learning and inclusion.
Key Activities:
- Hire diverse self-advocates (for ex. bi-lingual) to do presentations, networking, and relationship building in regions. Training and recruitment of Self-advocate Diversity Champions in each region.
- Training and Development for self-advocates, leaders, and support staff in our network
- Story telling workshops- my disability story, race story, gender story, sexuality story
- Convene a Statewide Advisory Group to focus on how to increase diversity in all of our organizations.
- Host Public Forums, virtual or in person, on diversity topics
- Yearly calendar with holidays and major celebrations of various cultures on it- to guide social media posts, emails around holidays (for ex. Hanukkah), and activities/guest speakers at meetings.
- Host Diversity and Self-Advocacy Conference
Total Funding: $375,000
Project Length: 5 years
Project Start: July 1, 2022
Geographic Reach: Statewide
Current Status: Active