Jackson’s Mill site of People First Conference
Article Photos
JANE LEW - A young couple from North Carolina who truly are the definition of self-advocacy for individuals with developmental disabilities, electrified the record attendance during the 16th annual People First Conference at Jackson's Mill in September.
Barton and Megan Cutter of Raleigh urged adults with disabilities to reach within themselves to carve out the lives that they want.
"People make assumptions," said Megan Cutter, "and those assumptions (can) limit you."
More than 200 people from across West Virginia attended the three-day event, a growth from a previous high of 140. The conference included contemporary discussions on building relationships between people with developmental disabilities and a program concerning personal safety.
"Healthy Relationships: New Beginnings!" was sponsored by The Arc of West Virginia, West Virginia Assistive Technology System, West Virginia Developmental Disabilities Council, Jackson's Mill and local United Way agencies.
Attendees were adults with disabilities, many who were attending their second or third consecutive People's First Conference. Also attending were personal assistants for people with disabilities.
West Virginia leads the country with the highest per capita of residents with disabilities. People having disabilities in West Virginia comprise almost one of every four persons in the state of more than 1 million people.
The Arc of West Virginia and its network of local chapters provide advocacy and resources for citizens with disabilities. The Arc promotes the well-being of and ensures a satisfying and productive life for children and adults with intellectual, cognitive and related developmental disabilities.
Self-advocacy is when individuals with developmental disabilities learn to speak up for themselves, and make their voices heard and their views known. This allows them to come together to support each other and have a say in the policies and practices that affect their lives.
In West Virginia, the self-advocacy movement is called People First.
The People First movement began in Sweden in 1968 when a Swedish parent's organization for children with developmental disabilities conducted a meeting. The organization had the motto, "We speak for them," meaning parents speaking for their children. The people at the meeting voiced changes they wanted.
In 1973, The British Columbia Arc sponsored the first convention for the developmentally disabled in North America and that conference was attended by people from Oregon.
They began the People First effort in the United States in 1974.
Today, the People First movement is in 43 countries with about 17,000 people participating.
Their overall message? "We are People First and we can speak for ourselves."
Barton and Megan Cutter of Raleigh spoke the first day of the conference about their unique marriage. Barton has cerebral palsy and he and Megan are approaching five years of marriage. They run a communications business and travel the country talking to people about issues affecting individuals with developmental disabilities.
"I'm not Barton's mother nor do I want to be," said Megan Cutter, "and, I'm not a caretaker all the time."
They stressed that individuals must choose not to give up when obstacles occur because of a disability. The North Carolina couple has been able to create its own business, buy a house and is currently pursuing possible adoption of a child.
Those accomplishments come in light of a collapsing economy, re-location from Alabama and Arizona to eventually North Carolina, and learning to connect on both an intimate and a professional level.
"Both of us are very service-oriented," Megan Cutter said. "We look to where we can help."
Both said people with developmental disabilities need to realize that they are stronger than other people realize. "
Barton says, "I've always been very determined.
"I would say he is very stubborn," Megan Cutter said, drawing laughter from the audience. "But, that's OK because I am the same way."
Kevin Smith of Parkersburg met the Cutters at another convention and brought them to West Virginia. Smith is the self-advocate coordinator for People First of West Virginia. Smith brings passion to the self-advocacy effort in West Virginia.
Married, divorced and now engaged to be married again, Smith obtained his first apartment in 1988, lived there for two years, and then moved across town where he's lived for nearly 20 years. Smith owns his own van, even though he does not drive, and pays the insurance on the vehicle and holds the title.
For Smith, this is his second time to be involved with People First. He worked for three years for the then Arc of Wood County as a People First coordinator, beginning the post in 1992.
Standing in front of the delegates, Smith surveyed the contingent.
"Man, the first People First Conference didn't look like this," he said, his voice breaking with emotion. "When you leave here (at Jackson's Mill), know you have rights and responsibilities."
