Jason lives in the Fingerlakes Region of NYS and agreed to interview with me yesterday.
Partners in Policymaking was valuable for me because I learned a lot of interesting stuff. I learned about public speaking--that the 'microphone is my friend!' I learned about it and I got to practice it. A lot!
I met new people that I didn't know from around the state and I keep in touch with local people and people from Buffalo. Sometimes I get to see people from other areas at conferences or meetings.
I recommend Partners because it teaches you a lot and makes you grow. It made me grow.
After Partners I became a member of Self Advocacy Americorps and then was hired by them Then I worked as part of the Speakers Bureau and went places to teach people about disability awareness. I did it as a job for my term, and now as a volunteer.
I also volunteer at the Jewish Home. I had a contact there because my mother works there and I am a transporter for dental services.
I am active in the Self-Advocacy Association of NYS and I have advocated in many ways: with our regional transit authority about transportation, about Tropic Thunder, and more.
I am active in SOAR--the self-advocacy association through the Arc and I helped another agency set up their SA group as well. I have attended conferences in Batavia and Albany and SALT (Self-Advocacy Leadership Training) as well.
I am very interested in photography, I have recently joined a photography club and I want to take some courses and find a job using photography in the future.
(You will see many of his pictures on this blog!)
