Self Advocacy
Since our beginnings as M-POWER, and continuing as The Transformation Center, we have been involved in coaching for self advocacy. We provide a toll-free Information and Referral Line at 1-877-769-7693 which is staffed from 9:00am to 5:00pm, Mondays through Fridays. We respond to calls from persons seeking information about patient rights, social security, housing, support services, and benefits. We also provide empathetic and reflective listening opportunities as well as hope to callers regarding problems they are encountering in obtaining the support services they need to remain safe, community based and supported.
We believe that advocacy should be 'with' not 'for'. After listening to what actions the caller would like to take in an effort to overcome a particular barrier we help them to develop strategies to accomplish what they want to achieve. We may not agree that the action they wish to take will bring relief from the stressful problems they experience, or that it is likely to be successful, but if it is where they wish to begin we help them plan steps they wish to take. We encourage them not to be discouraged if they are not at first successful and suggest that they can call back to strategize an alternate plan or to report their outcomes.
We work cooperatively with CECs and the DMH Office of Consumer Affairs Information and Rerferral line. In addition, we are part of New England Index, an online information and referral network of organizations serving people with disabilities. This web site also offers links to other resources for patient rights and supports.