About People First

People First of Ohio helps to set up local chapters of people with disabilities who are self-advocates. The chapters focus on helping others with disabilities become self-advocates. Local Chapters work mostly on local issues.

Self-advocates represent themselves by talking about their needs and rights with people in their communities. Self-advocates make sure that people with disabilities have the right to do what they want in their lives, are responsible for their own choices , and have the right to live and do things in the community like other citizens.

One of People First’s goals is to set up at least four new local chapters each year. Members, officers, staff and advisers of the organization give each chapter assistance, training, and support to help make community programs and policies more inclusive.

Leaders of People First are themselves people with disabilities.

People First began in Ohio in 1998 by a group of self-advocates who wanted to improve their abilities to represent themselves and to train others to be self-advocates. People First of Ohio has members are teens through adults.

The statewide organization works with state legislators and builds relationships with other advocacy groups and state agencies. These relationships promote better interaction among people who make decisions in the communities and the state. People First believes that if policymakers begin to really know people with disabilities, they will be able to make positive changes for them.