Advocates in Action RI logo
Self-Advocacy means
realizing what's important,
speaking up about it
and making a difference!

LEFT CLICK on the word SPEAK in the orange oval below to listen-to or translate our website

SITE MENU

Disclaimer

Unless otherwise noted, all photos and materials on this site are the exclusive property of Advocates in Action Rhode Island.

Contact us with any inquiries about using, adapting, or purchasing our materials.

Copyright © 2023
Advocates in Action RI, Inc.

Advocates in Action RI is a 501(c) non-profit organization. There are several ways you can support our work:

Make a tax deductible donation through PayPal:

This is the logo for RI's 2021 Statewide Self-Advocacy Conference. It consists of 2 cartoon style boxes. One box has the words "Hot Topics", with the word "hot" wearing a pair of sunglasses. The other box has the words "Cool Ideas". The word "cool" has arms coming out of it and hands that are giving a thumbs up.

Rhode Island's 2021 Statewide Self-Advocacy Conference

Advocates in Action hosted Hot Topics and Cool Ideas on Thursday, June 24th, and Friday, June 25th. This was Rhode Island's 25th Statewide Self-Advocacy Conference, and the first one to take place virtually. It was also a huge success, with 11 different workshop sessions to choose from, Music with a Message from the Leadership Series Class of 2021 and RI Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Musician, Mark Cutler, founder of The Same Thing Project, and a full slate of powerful speakers.

We were also thrilled to welcome this year's keynote speaker, artist, poet, teacher, and 101% inspiring human, Leah Keith!

Hot Topics and Cool Ideas wouldn't have been possible without the support of our 2021 conference planning team, this year's presenters, the generosity of previous sponsors, and support from our friends at the RI Department of BHDDH. It also wouldn't have happened without each of the 100-plus attendees who joined us over the course of our 2-day event. Many thanks to many, many people from our entire team here at Advocates in Action. Together we're making a difference!!

HOT TOPICS AND COOL IDEAS FROM THIS YEAR'S CONFERENCE!

We've listed the Conference agenda below. LEFT CLICK on the various items for additional information. Depending on the item you select, doing so will play the video segment, speech, or music that's listed, either directly from our website, or though a link to our YouTube channel.

A new page will also open when you click on each of the 11 breakout sessions. The page will include a recording of the workshop, any presentation materials that were shared, and links to additional resources.

You can use our free Browse Aloud accessibility tool to listen to the content on our website and translate it into your preferred language. CLICK HERE to learn more.

DAY 1: THURSDAY, JUNE 24th, 10:30 am to 2:30pm

10:30 am to 11:10 am: THURSDAY MORNING GENERAL SESSION

Photo of Keith Wilcox, President of Advocates in Action's Statewide Board of Representatives.

Welcome from Keith Wilcox

President, Advocates in Action RI Statewide Board of Representatives

A picture of Kevin Savage, Director of Developmental Disability Services, RI Department of BHDDH

A Message from Kevin Savage

Director of RI Developmental Disability Services at BHDDH

"What Leadership Means to Me"

From the Class of 2021 and the Advocates in Action Leadership Series Team

A screenshot with 2021 conference attendees on Zoom and the words, "The New Normal" in a text box.

"The New Normal"

Written, Composed and Performed by Mark Cutler and the Leadership Series Class of 2021

Thiis is an image of 2 printed pages with the lyrics to "The New Normal". There is alos am music bar on top of the pages with the name of the song. CLICK HERE to Download the Lyrics in PDF Format

an image that represents music downloads which contains musical notes, a cloud, a CD, arrows pointing down and the words, "click to download" CLICK HERE to Download the Song in MP3 Format

11:15 am to 12:00 pm: THURSDAY MORNING WORKSHOP PRESENTATIONS

LEFT CLICK on the 3 Workshops listed below to open a separate page for that presentation.

Note: We are in the process of adding materials to these pages. Please check back again soon!

A cartoon person wearing a short that says, "ask me first". The person is in the center, surrounded by arrows that are pointing at them. A cartoon person holding a movie clapboard that has the words, "My Life, My Services" written on it. The word, "action!" is written in a comic speech bubble over the person. A cartoon face on a file folder that has "ISP" on the label and the words, "by me, with me, for me" under the face, along with some lightening bolts. The person is surrounding by images of things to include in the support plan, such as a house, an art easel, movie tickets, a briefcase, and a graduation cap.

1:00 pm to 1:15 pm: THURSDAY AFTERNOON GENERAL SESSION

COVID-19 UPDATES

Doctor Jim McDonald, Medical Director, the RI Department of Health

1:30 pm to 2:15 pm: THURSDAY AFTERNOON WORKSHOP PRESENTATIONS

LEFT CLICK on the 3 Workshops listed below to open a separate page for that presentation.

Note: We are in the process of adding materials to these pages. Please check back again soon!

A cartoon person dressed in a business suit and holding a briefcase. The person is standing next to a path with different colored markets on it and a goal post at the end.  A cartoon person sitting in a wheelchair in front of a racing banner. The person has thought bubble of their head with images that represent things they dream about doing. Some of the images include: a cruise ship, pets, a business suit and briefcase, getting married, a computer, a paycheck, and an actors guild mask. A cartoon drawing of planet earth with a picture of hands in front making a heart shape. There are also some hearts floating up from between the hands.

10:30 am to 11:10 am: FRIDAY MORNING GENERAL SESSION

Photo of Keith Wilcox, President of Advocates in Action's Statewide Board of Representatives.

Welcome to Day 2 from Keith Wilcox

President, Advocates in Action RI Statewide Board of Representatives

Community Appreciation Award

Presented to Tina Spears, CPNRI

Thanks for all you do FOR us and WITH us, Tina!

Keynote Address from Leah Keith

Artist, Author, Teacher, & Amazing Human!

11:15 am to 12:00 pm: FRIDAY MORNING WORKSHOP PRESENTATIONS

LEFT CLICK on the 3 Workshops listed below to open a separate page for that presentation.

Note: We are in the process of adding materials to these pages. Please check back again soon!

A drawing of people's hands that are held out flat and next to each other for form a circle. The words "let's connect" are written inside the circle. A cartoon person sitting in the window of a small buiding and waving. The building is inside a flower that's growing out of a flower. 2 hands are holding watering cans and watering the flower.   A map of RI with location icons on it and ideas for different things to do that are low cost of free. A cartoon person is standing on one side and another one is sitting in a wheelchair on the other side. Bot hcharacters are smiling and cheering. The words "free!" appear above them in cartoon bursts, along with several lightbulbs.

1:20 pm to 2:00: FRIDAY AFTERNOON WORKSHOP PRESENTATIONS

LEFT CLICK on the 2 Workshops listed below to open a separate page for that presentation.

Note: We are in the process of adding materials to these pages. Please check back again soon!

A cartoon drawing of Mark Cutler holding a guitar. The words, "Music with a Message" are written below the drawing.  Cartoon drawing of Leah Keith holding a brush and painting. The words, "Our Work of Art" are written below the drawing.

  

FRIDAY NIGHT FUN!

A cartoon drawing of a computer with a zoom meeting and the words "Friday Night Fun. Let's Zoom" The participant boxes are filled with several attendees and character drawing of Mark Cutler playing the guitar. There are also images of t-shirts and a roll of raffle tickets in one of the participant screens. Another participant is holding a ticket with the words, "winning ticket!".

CLICK HERE, or on the following image, to download the full 2021 Conference Agenda in PDF format.

This is a graphic of all 5 pages of the conference agenda.

This page was updated on Wednesday, December 22, 2021

This is a box with the words, "Let's Stay Connected: CLICK HERE to findout how!". There are also icons in the box that represent a phone, email. website address, Facebook, YouTube and Twitter. 's Stay Connected Click Here to Find Out How!