[The
Office | The
Vision | The
Mission | The
Values | The
Principles]
The
value of people with disabilities4 and mental illness
As the first value, this value embodies the purpose of the organization.
It represents the trust which is held highest.
It calls to mind the leadership position of the people served in the
first place.
It recalls who is responsible for opening eyes to capacity, gifts,
wholeness.
It turns away from deficiency, need, separation, and whatever other
negativity might be imposed by sources of less authority than the people
themselves.
The
value of personal protection and advocacy freely given by ordinary people
The second value underlies and encircles the first as a statement of
solidarity and affirmation.
It implies that ordinary people have the inclination and ability to see
and respond to a person with a disability with an appropriate degree of
relationship and representation.
It alludes to the inherent attractiveness and value of people with
disabilities and to the power of personal connections.
It has the positive elements of calling forth the highest in people and
of beginning advocacy and protection where it must reside -- with the community.
4 In this document at times, the word “disabilities” is used alone. It generally represents all the people who are or who were at the time constituents of the Georgia Advocacy Office.
[The
Office | The
Vision | The
Mission | The
Values | The
Principles]