History

Our Beginning Speaking for Ourselves began in February 1982. We met at Montgomery County ARC in Norristown. For the first time, we discussed forming a group run by and for people with disabilities. We discussed if we were interested in…

Montgomery County was the first chapter started in 1982. Chapter meetings were first held at the Montgomery ARC Building until we discovered the Norristown Public Library. Meetings were held once a month. During 1983, the other four county chapters started….

Speaking for Ourselves became a non-profit corporation on May 23rd, 1985. The people who signed the official documents were Daniel Kolb, Harry Cappuccio, Luann Carter, Peggy Carney, Domenic Rossi, and Mark Friedman. The first Board of Directors was formed and…

In 1984, a conference was held at Montgomery County Community College and the theme was “What is Self-Advocacy.” It was attended by 300 people. In 1985, we were at the Valley Forge Sheraton Convention Center after they first opened. In…

Over the years, a lot of people have traveled nationally and became well known by speaking at presentations and conferences. We traveled to these states: New York, Virginia, Ohio, Tennessee, Illinois, Wisconsin, Texas, Colorado, Washington, Connecticut, New Jersey, Maryland, Massachusetts,…

The Americans with Disabilities Act was signed by President Bush in 1990 and several of our members were invited to the white House for the signing ceremony.  

We sadly miss Roland Johnson, our Past Board President who died in 1994. He was sorely missed, and he was a big part of us. In memory of Roland, we were a part of making a quilt in his honor….

Debbie arrived at the White House as part of a disability leader’s meeting with the President on September 10th, 1997. She was helped through many security checks and into the White House. When she reached the meeting room, it was…