Advocacy is a continuing need for Peak Community Services. Advocacy comes in many forms and can have a positive impact on the organization and the lives of those who choose our services. I will summarize the different types of advocacy, and then extend an invitation for you to become an advocate.

Volunteering: Peak Community Services was founded by volunteers. Today, we can use volunteer services in a number of our programs. Due to national standards, volunteers working with persons served on a regular basis are subject to the same background checks and other personnel practices as paid employees. To volunteer, please contact our Director of Development and Communications to make your initial application.

Political Advocacy: Advocacy is critical to the ability of the organization to continue offering training and support services to people with disabilities. There are always issues of legislative and political import to the agency and to the people we serve that need the voice of citizens. Attending political meetings, writing legislators, and contacting state agency representatives are some of the ways to ensure issues of importance to people with disabilities are on the agenda. You may help remind legislators and other officials of the importance of funding to the services we provide. Political advocacy on the part of non-paid staff always has the greatest impact. Please contact our Director of Development and Communications to have your name placed on an email list for information about issues.

Social Advocacy: Social advocacy is the process of acquainting people who do not have experience with persons with disabilities with the fact that individuals with disabilities are people. This is necessary in the 21st Century because stereotypes and misconceptions about individuals with disabilities remain prevalent. The opportunities for social advocacy are boundless and they will occur when you are shopping, at your place of worship, and at the many social events in which you participate. Social advocacy is often best done by simply telling stories about people you know who have disabilities. Stories are a critical part of personalizing the lives of people often misunderstood. Misconceptions impose artificial limitations on the lives of people with disabilities, and you can help remedy that situation.

Personal Advocacy: Many of the individuals who choose our services are in need of personal advocates. A personal advocate may include the person with a disability in their social activities. A personal advocate may help the person with shopping, getting to activities, or dealing with tasks such as home repairs or hanging new curtains. Some of you may be interested in being financial advocates or becoming a guardian, and we can provide information on those opportunities.

Agency Advocacy: Peak Community Services has been a part of the community for over fifty years. As with many organizations, we have had a number of names and sometimes people are confused about just who we are. Helping people understand who we are and what we do is critical. Sometimes people believe that services to people with disabilities are provided only by the State of Indiana, and they do not realize we are an independent contractor. Some people do not know that we are a private non-profit organization that depends upon state funding to provide the training and support services the consumers choose. Many business people do not know of our Employment Services or Work Services programs, and you can be helpful in acquainting them with those important services.

Dream High / Let Us “Peak” Your Interest Tours: The Peak Community Services Foundation in partnership with agency staff conduct a monthly tour of our programs in Logansport and Winamac. These tours acquaint community members with the training and support services we provide and personalize those services for the tour participants. Please contact our Director of Development and Communications for the schedule and information on how to invite people to the tours.

Dream High – Being a Table Captain: The Peak Community Services Foundation conducts one major fund-raising event each year, and that is our annual Dream High Breakfast. One of the purposes of the Peak Community Services Foundation is to raise funds to build a bridge between the time when a person needs training and support services and when the State of Indiana funds those services. Right now, there is a ten-year wait. In order to be successful, we need table captains who will invite people to the breakfast meeting. The responsibilities of a table captain include inviting guests, making contacts to remind those who have agreed to attend of the date, time, and location, and encouraging their attendance and support. Our Director of Development and Communications will provide training on being a successful table captain.

Financial Support: Financial support can be provided in a number of ways and in whatever amount is reasonable for you. You can become a member of the Dream High Society. You can give in support of the Peak Community Services Foundation at amounts less than members of the Dream High Society. You can help financially with a particular project of Peak Community Services. You can donate to the general fund that is the basis for all of the financing required to operate the organization. You can connect us with individuals who may be interested in making financial contributions. Whatever your level of financial support might be, know that it will further our activities in achieving our vision and mission.

Open Invitation: Please join our advocacy efforts. Whichever type of advocacy you may choose, and you are certainly encouraged to pick more than one, we will be glad to help provide information and training so you feel comfortable and confident in your role as an advocate. If you have questions about being an advocate, then please feel free to contact me. I would be happy to discuss your questions with you.

I can be reached by phone (574) 753-4104 ext 125 or by email at dweikle@peakcommunity.com.