Mission

Our Mission is to Support Self Advocacy of People with Disabilities for Positive Impact in Our Communities and in People's Lives.

We Envision a World where People with Developmental Disabilities and Their Families are United to Share Knowledge, Empower Others, and Use Their Voices to Transform Their Communities and People's Lives.

Profile

What is Self Advocates United as 1?

Self Advocates United as 1 (or SAU1) is a Pennsylvania statewide nonprofit supporting the self advocacy of people with disabilities. A 501c3 charitable organization since 2013, SAU1 plans and provides interactive, peer-to-peer empowerment events all across the state, written and presented BY self advocates, FOR self advocates.

Who are Self Advocates?

Self advocates are people with disabilities who choose to Speak Up! for their right to live an everyday life just like everybody else.

Our self advocate Board of Directors and Power Staff are all people with intellectual disabilities or autism located throughout Pennsylvania, supported by our home office in Meadville and regional Coordinators all over the state.

Hear self advocate Joe Chandler from Crawford County talk about why he enjoys working at SAU1.

How does SAU1 help Self Advocates Speak Up?

Much of our work centers around developing, writing, and presenting free, interactive, educational programs that focus on areas of interest to self advocates and their families, including:

Speaking Up for Your Rights
Building Healthy Relationships
Finding Meaningful Employment
Dealing with Trauma and Abuse

SAU1 also hosts a monthly Q&A teleconference with officers of the PA Office of Developmental Programs to address concerns of self advocates. In addtion to our interactive group events, we are constantly expanding our outreach in new media, such as blogs and short form video. Check out our Calendar of Events to see what SAU1 is up to!

As we are fond of saying around here,

KNOWLEDGE IS POWER... USE IT!

Why does SAU1 need my help?

Our programs are funded primarily by Pennsylvania state grants, which only compensate SAU1 for time invested and expenses incurred while directly performing the work specified under the contracts. But we encounter many expenses that funding only partially covers or doesn’t cover at all, such as:

Equipment and supplies for our Meadville home office and to outfit our self advocate staff who work remotely.
Transportation to our events for self advocate guests who could not otherwise attend
Scholarships that enable SAU1 staff to attend conferences and other educational and networking events that relate to our mission

Sounds good, but what will my investment in SAU1 specifically accomplish?

Your $500 gift can outfit a new SAU1 self advocate staff member with a notebook computer, monitor, and headset—the equipment they need to communicate with colleagues and contribute to online work sessions.

Your $250 gift can fund travel expenses for self advocates from Crawford County to participate in a Disability Rights rally at the Capitol in Harrisburg.

Your $100 gift can cover printing costs for dozens of informational handouts that summarize program material and resources for future reference by our event guests.

SAU1 is proud to have earned the Gold Seal of transparency from GuideStar, the world's largest source of nonprofit information.

Whatever amount you choose to invest in SAU1, you can donate with confidence, knowing that your funds will be employed wisely in pursuit of our mission.

And please feel free to contact us for more information or to set up an SAU1 educational event for YOUR group!