By Traci Archuleta
My name is Traci Archuleta and I am the new Grassroots Advocacy Partnership (GAP) regional organizer for northern Utah, covering Rich, Cache and Box Elder counties. I am really excited to get to know all of you and help in your participation within the disability community. I am also the Outreach and Advocacy Coordinator for OPTIONS for Independence, the independent living center for these three counties. I work out of the Logan branch.
GAP is a grassroots effort organized across Utah to inform the disability community on critical statewide issues surrounding individuals with disabilities and to promote input from the disability community to ensure that disability viewpoints are considered by policymakers as policy and funding decisions are made.
The GAP effort in northern Utah is just beginning. The second GAP meeting will be this coming Thursday, August 12th from 6-7 pm at OPTIONS at 1095 N. Main in Logan. This meeting is going to be about self-advocacy, why it is important and what we can do to make our efforts more effective.
Also, GAP is creating a booklet to give to Senator Hatch this month at a reception held on Thursday, August 19th. GAP and OPTIONS would love to include your pictures and personal stories of how the ADA has opened up opportunities and improved the quality of life for either you or a family member. Some ideas would be in the areas of employment, transportation, accessibility, voting, right to live in the community, etc. We want to focus on the positive things that have happened in the last 20 years, thanks to the passing of the ADA.
Please call (435-753-5353 ext/106) or email me if you have any questions. The deadline for the letters and pictures is August 13th so that it can be prepared before the reception. You can send them to me at tarchuleta@optionsind.org