We're in Northeast Center for Independent Living.

I first started here last year, and I'm their self-advocacy specialist.

I help with different areas of advocacy and talk about certain things like speaking for themselves, employment, different areas that involve independent living.

That's what we actually do here as well.

Good morning.

I used to go to Washington for several conferences and to talk to different legislators and representatives on any topic that a person who is there to advocate for.

ABLE Act, short for Achieving a Better Life Experience Act.

I advocated for that to save money for people with disabilities.

Medicare, Medicaid, that's been a fight with legislators to help people with disabilities because a lot of people with disabilities live on Medicaid every day.

So that's one of the policies that I think is extremely important.

I was in high school when I first started to realize that I have a voice to speak up for myself.

My teachers at the time did not want me to do well.

My mom, I think she's a really strong advocate.

So that's when I discovered that I was an advocate in high school, and I made, got myself a B. So I was like so excited that I got myself a B by myself without my mom's help or my dad or anyone else.

There, raise your thumbs, Orange.

Tim Moran, he and his son, I hear the song with Dr.

June.

They are the history of Thunder Shore Independent Living.

We talk about to other people about living by themselves and we talk to them about society, employment, advocacy, different ways to put the word out there about us.

I was thinking to myself, I want to collaborate with self-advocacy because that's what I do here as well.

We have the values of helping people.

We're a great resource.

I think that's a benefit to the community when you go out and speak.

Yep.

When a person has an issue with something and they do it for themselves, that's what I stand for.

And that's what self-advocacy is as well.

I'm currently working on a project for young adults for community advocacy.

It talks about how to treat someone if they come in contact with someone with a disability.

And that's what I'm currently working on right now.

You can put yours in the back.

You know where to put it.

In this?

Yeah.

It's extremely important.

When people want something or need something, they should contact here.

They help you with certain areas.

How to be independent for themselves.

It could be employment.

If you need a job.

Anything that they think they need help with, they should contact us here.

I think it's important for them and important for us.

I love to speak with other people.

I hope they feel the same way for themselves.

And I think me or whoever thought it was really cool.

Good job.

Thank you guys.