Melissa Baxter and Katrina Jones address the group

Fifteen members of The Advocacy Center’s Public Education Speakers Bureau gathered with staff members on February 12, 2008 for an evening of food, sharing, and learning.  Attendees exchanged lessons learned from their experiences in giving disability awareness presentations to a wide range of audiences.  Since 2005, thirty-eight individuals have joined the Speakers Bureau.  Collectively the group has reached over 4000 people in the greater Rochester area, providing basic information about disabilities and sharing the perspective of living with a disability or living with a family member who has a disability.  Audiences have included public school teachers, staff, and students; college students; medical professionals; child care providers; and librarians.

“Thank you so much for taking time away from your families to make a difference in our education and future,” reads a thank you note from a class of graduate students at St. John Fisher College.  “It was a valuable learning experience that we enjoyed immensely.”

All members of the Speakers Bureau complete a two-day workshop entitled “Presenters for a New Attitude” which helps them to formalize their message and hone their presentation skills.  We are currently accepting applications for the 2008 class.  To find out more about “Presenters for a New Attitude” and the Speakers Bureau, contact Colleen Brown at 546-1700 ext. 267.