Season 2, Episode 3 — 19 June 2018 About this episode This is the second of a two part series on Project ACTION!, a coalition of self-advocates and self-advocacy groups from the District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia (part one is here). ACTION! stands for Advocacy, Change, Training, Information, Organizing and Networking. The YES! Center’s Dale Verstegen talks to Rebecca Salon and Phyllis Holton about the beginning of Project ACTION!, the early supports and Project ACTION!’s path to the organization it is today. About the presenters Rebecca Salon is Project Director for the LEAD Center and the lead for DC’s Employment First program at the District of Columbia Department on Disability Services (DDS). Dr. Salon previously was Executive Director of the Lt. Joseph P. Kennedy Institute. She has more than twenty years of experience with management of federally funded projects and has over thirty-five years of experience working with people across the spectrum of disabilities. She has been an advisor to Project ACTION! since 1988. Her Master’s and Doctorate in special education with studies and research geared toward disability policy, are from Syracuse University. Phyllis Holton is the Deputy Directors of Operations at Quality Trust for Individuals with Disabilities. She has over 21 years experience working with people who have developmental disabilities. Prior to joining the Quality Trust as a Lead Advocate in January 2003, she worked at a local service provider organization in the District as an advocacy services coordinator, media specialist, and communications manager. Phyllis worked on an initiative, Home of Your Own which supported people with disabilities to purchase their own home. Phyllis is a long time co-advisor and volunteer with Project ACTION! and assists members to plan local conferences and workshops, solicit funds to attend national conferences, and increase their presence as self-advocacy leaders. Dale Verstegen is a Senior Research Associate at TranScen and one of the State Liaison for the YES! Center. Transcript Announcer: You’re listening to YES! To Employment, a podcast series that seeks to improve competitive, integrated employment outcomes for transition-aged youth and young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. This is the second part of our two part series on the District of Columbia’s Project ACTION!. In part one the YES! Center’s Dale Verstegen talked to Project ACTION! leaders, Ricardo Thornton and Thomas Mangrum. Today Dale continues the conversation about Project ACTION! with Rebecca Salon and Phyllis Holton about their role in supporting Project ACTION’s self-advocate leadership. Complete transcript forthcoming Announcer: You’ve been listening to YES! To Employment, a podcast that seeks to improve competitive, integrated employment outcomes for transition-aged youth and young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. To learn more about Project ACTION!, visit https://www.dcqualitytrust.org/families/join-project-action/. Or you can email Phyllis Holton at [email protected], or call her at 202-448-1458. Project ACTION! meets one Saturday per month at the Kennedy Institute of Catholic Charities, located at 801 Buchanan Street NE, Washington, DC 20017. For more about YES! To Employment, including show notes, links to the resources discussed, a complete transcript and a […]

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