SELF-ADVOCACY PREPARATION OF CONSUMERS WITH DISABILITIES - A NATIONALPERSPECTIVE OF ADA TRAINING EFFORTS

To understand efforts of Mental Health/Mental Retardation/Developmenta l Disabilities (MHMR/DD) agencies to prepare clients with disabilities to assert their rights under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA ), MHMR/DD personnel in 50 states responded to questions about self-ad vocacy needs of clients, nature of agency training in ADA self-advocac y, success of training strategies, barriers to client training, and pe rceived impact of the ADA. Respondents believe MHMR/DD clients need tr aining in advocacy-related skills. They cite a number of barriers to c lient self-advocacy preparation. Respondents see minimal impact of the ADA on the lives of agency clients; however, they are optimistic that future impact will be significant.