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AMHERST, N.Y. – A one-day education program, “Becoming a Self-Advocate: Making My Voice Heard to Improve My Healthcare Experiences,” for individuals with developmental disabilities and their caregivers will take place from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. May 7 in ˿����Ƶ College’s Wick Campus Center Social Room.

The free program is designed to empower individuals and their caregivers to be self-advocates in healthcare settings. Sessions will cover positive communication, patient-centered planning, legal issues, treatment of individuals with developmental disabilities, and the patient role.

“The program is designed to improve a participant’s abilities and competence in being an active partner in making healthcare decisions,” said Dr. Catherine Mann, associate professor of nursing, who contributed to the program’s development. “Small group practice and ‘real life’ interactive skits between healthcare providers and individuals with developmental disabilities will be an important part of the sessions.”

In addition to Mann, expert speakers will include Richard Banner, advocacy coordinator at People, Inc.; Theresa Drum, quality improvement manager at Parent Network of Western New York; Samuel Mattle, executive director of the Center for Self-Advocacy; Dr. Andrew Marcum, program coordinator at the Center for Self-Advocacy, and Erica Newsom, project coordinator at Community Services for the Developmentally Disabled.

Funded by a grant from the New York State Development Disabilities Planning Council, the program, which includes lunch, is open to adults with developmental disabilities and their caregivers.     Registration is limited and may include one caregiver for each participant. To register, contact cmann1@daemen.edu. Program registration is requested by April 29.

Program co-sponsors are ˿����Ƶ, the Center for Self-Advocacy and Parent Network of Western New York.