600 Attend 2005 MN Self-Advocacy Conference
Ordean Rosaasen Receives
Irving Martin Advocacy Award
by Lance H. Hegland
The 2005 Minnesota Self-Advocacy Conerence held at the St. Paul
Radisson Riverfront Hotel on April 15th and 16th was attended by
600 advocates with disabilities, and their families, friends, and
colleagues.
The conference included 55 workshops with topics including: civil
rights, employment, community, relationships, leadership, safety,
visual arts, and vacationing. During the morning of the first day,
several workshops specifically for transition-aged youth were featured.
A few of the more popular workshops included creating symbolic
Healing Masks, playing self-advocacy “bingo,” making
an authentic Anishinaabe Dreamcatcher, and singing songs of the
Self-Advocacy movement. Exhibitors were also on hand to demonstrate
their products and services. There were plenty of opportunities
for meeting, greeting, and having fun with other conference participants
during lunch, dinner, and the Friday evening dance.
The event was planned by Advocating Change Together, Arc Hennepin-Carver,
People First Central, People First of Minnesota, Hammer Residences,
Mains’l Services, Merrick, Minnesota Department of Education,
and PACER Center. Fifty local disability organizations and local
businesses sponsored the conference. “We could not have put
on a conference like this without the support of all of our sponsors,” says
conference planner Melvin Haagenson. Gold Sponsors included Mains’l
Services, Donn Poll Communications, Community Connections Partnership
and Advocating Change Together.
Ordean Rosaasen, a self-advocate from Willmar, was honored with
the Irving Martin Advocacy Award. The award has been presented
each of the last four years to an individual or group who has shown
their commitment to promoting self-advocacy. It is given in memory
of the late Irving Martin, “the Grandfather of self-advocacy,” who
was known for his endless work on behalf of the self-advocacy movement.
Ordean’s list of activities with Arc Kandiyohi County and
People First of Kandiyohi County is extensive: rose sale volunteer;
dance committee member; past board member for Arc Kandiyohi County;
supporter of the Remembering with Dignity campaign; past President
of People First of Kandiyohi County; and, current board member
of People First of Minnesota. Congratulations, Ordean!
