Sangha Unity Network Inc

Supporting Self-Advocacy - SUN has a longstanding relationships with people experiencing intellectual and developmental disabilities across Georgia. Since 2018, we have worked in partnership with self-advocates to create space for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities to have lives of meaning with supports that are intentionally designed around their capacities, gifts, interests and dreams. In 2024, we continued to expand the number of self-advocates across the state actively working in their Local Self-Advocacy Area Networks to bring about change and continued meaningful legislative advocacy and educational opportunities for all self-advocates and their allies and supporters.SUN supported Uniting for Change, a grassroots self-advocacy network to facilitate 9 workshops, with 252 participants, to educate other self-advocates in Georgia about Voting, the HCBS Settings Rule, Self-advocacy, and Supported Decision-Making. SUN supported U4C to grow and develop the U4C Local Self-Advocacy Area Networks in Georgia. 452 people participated in 16 Area Network Meetings in 2024. SUN Assisted Uniting for Change Self-advocates to facilitate 32 Community Strong gatherings with 161 participants. Each year SUN facilitates a retreat for the Uniting for Change Leadership Collective to determine their priorities for the year. This year the retreat focused on the Power of Visibility in November, 2024.

Transformational Change - A workshop series facilitated by SUN with funding from the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities. These workshops were specifically designed for DD service providers, support coordinators, and field office staff. Sangha Unity Network facilitated 12 Transformational Change workshops in 2024. Additional workshops will be presented in 2025. The Transformational Change workshops provide opportunities for participants to learn about the Home and Community Based (HCBS) Settings Rule and gain ideas about shifting HCBS from a systems framework to a more individualized framework, where the person who uses services is at the center of their lives, determining preferences, having autonomy, and making choices that work for them.

SUN continues working with Georgia Advocacy Office (GAO) to educate and disseminate the "I DECIDE" Supported Decision-Making Plan. The plan includes co-facilitation with GAO educating community around "Supported Decision Making" including supporting a new cohort of youth choice youth voice and creating a "Supported Decision-Making Family Community" of Practice.

Other programs.