Amplify!

THANK YOU! Co-Sponsors and Supporters of Today's Event:

The Judge David L. Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law

Cascadia Behavioral Health Peer & Wellness Services

MindFreedom International

Oregon Consumer/Survivor Coalition (OCSC)

Lane Independent Living Alliance (LILA)

Opal Network

Oregon Addictions and Mental Health Services (AMH)

Oregon State Independent Living Council (SILC)

Amplify!

Build Alliances to AMPLIFY

the Voice of Mental Health Clients

Portland, Oregon

22 August 2011

Amplify!

Draw on the Strengths of the

Cross-Disability Movement

to

Empower Mental Health Consumers and Psychiatric Survivors

David W. Oaks

Psychiatric survivor

Executive Director: MindFreedom International

www.MindFreedom.org

Board member:Oregon Consumer/Survivor Coalition

United States International Council on Disability

Opal Whiteley

What is the Opal Network?

And who was Opal Whiteley anyway?

Psychiatric Survivor/Consumer

In a nutshell: What's story of the

psychiatric survivor/mental health consumer movement?

The Bridge Builders

Who has helped build bridges between "cross disability" and psychiatric rights?

Rae Unzicker & Justin Dart

Judi Chamberlin

Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Human salvation lies in the hands of the creatively

maladjusted.

It may well be that our world is in dire need of a new organization: "The

International Association for the Advancement of Creative

Maladjustment."

Accomplishments!

What are some of the milestones of this

collaboration between these social change movements?

Olmstead victory

Olmstead v. L.C.

1999 US Supreme Court

Sue Jamieson (attorney)

Elaine Wilson (middle)

Lois Curtis (right)

NCD Executive Summary

National Council on Disability “blueprint” in 2000: Mental health systems need to be voluntary Give rights to those with psychiatric labels Treatment should = healing, not punishment Make consumer/survivor-driven alternatives to

traditional mental health systems a priority

United Nations

Rights?

What rights?

The UN Convention on the Rights of

Persons with Disabilities - 2006

What is Community Organizing?

Elements of community organizing:

Organizational mileage Decide. Act. Win. Grow

Cross-issue unity.

Story of Origins

Opal Network: Applied community organizing!

Fairly easy Opal victories: Meeting with elected officials

Panels and speakers Brainstorms and speak outs

Films

Oregon's Story

The state-wide story:

Amplifying the voice of

Oregon Consumer/Survivor Coalition

(OCSC)

Exciting Potential!

Far, far more Peer Delivered Services

in mental health!

Bjo Ashwill

MS, LPC - Counselor for Lane Independent Living Alliance (LILA)

Unification

Misused authority and power are our common enemy

A Brief History

The blending of cross disabilities and mental health consumer / survivor issues follows the excellent gains of other movements

Common Concerns

Common Concerns

Medication side effects

Employment issues

Housing problems

Common Concerns

Transportation issues

Problems with the traditional medical model

Lack of empowerment

Common Concerns

Institutionalization Family & friends Cultural biases And many, many

more!

The Selling of a New Event

RememberOpal

Whiteley

Nothing About Us Without Us!

Consumer/Survivors

Who are we?

Consumer/Survivors

Opal in action.

Consumer/Survivors

What concerns have they voiced at Opal Network meetings?

Are their concerns being addressed?

What Can You Do?

When you return home:

Tips and suggestions for collaborating

state-wide

Opal Training Institute

THANK YOU! Co-Sponsors and Supporters of Today's Event:

The Judge David L. Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law

Cascadia Behavioral Health Peer & Wellness Services

MindFreedom International

Oregon Consumer/Survivor Coalition (OCSC)

Lane Independent Living Alliance (LILA)

Opal Network

Oregon Addictions and Mental Health Services (AMH)

Oregon State Independent Living Council (SILC)