This book uses a mix of personal narratives, anecdotal evidence, and research-based findings to tell the story of a small, urban community college's efforts to develop and nurture a Community of Practice (CoP) that would galvanize the campus' adoption of Educational Technology. Located in one of the poorest congressional district in the United States, Hostos Community College, a Hispanic-serving institution and part of the City University of New York (CUNY), has a unique history rooted in activism, advocacy, and community outreach, and has built a reputation for technology innovation. This book is a collection of writing from faculty and staff members whose decades of experience integrating technology into the classroom pre-dates many of the official initiatives now in place at CUNY.

This book uses a mix of personal narratives, anecdotal evidence, and research-based findings to tell the story of a small, urban community college's efforts to develop and nurture a Community of Practice (CoP) that would galvanize the campus' adoption of Educational Technology. Located in one of the poorest congressional district in the United States, Hostos Community College, a Hispanic-serving institution and part of the City University of New York (CUNY), has a unique history rooted in activism, advocacy, and community outreach, and has built a reputation for technology innovation. This book is a collection of writing from faculty and staff members whose decades of experience integrating technology into the classroom pre-dates many of the official initiatives now in place at CUNY.

I think all self-advocates should have a copy of this book to bring along to meetings to help them get more out of them.' - The Frontline of Learning Disability 'The Four Books in this series; 'Introducing Advocacy', 'Rules and Standards', 'Listen Up!' and 'Advocacy in Action' are comprehensive, informative and quite simply a very good introduction for someone new to the world of advocacy.' - Practice Links in Social Work Advocacy for people with disabilities is widely practised, but what about self-advocacy? How often do parents or carers speak 'for' you and prevent you being heard? Do you know your rights within advocacy law? The four books in the Speaking Up set were conceived and written specifically to promote self-advocacy to disabled individuals who want to learn how to speak up for themselves. This third book in the series uses examples of advocacy to explore how to be a good advocate, emphasising the importance of listening to and working with an advocacy partner and explaining how to prepare for and behave in meetings. All four books are illustrated throughout with colour drawings and case studies showing the positive results of self-advocacy on the individuals themselves, as well as on their families and carers. This empowering training package encourages an equal partnership between the advocate and the user where the shared goal is to develop the life skills of the individual with learning difficulties. It is accessible to people with a wide range of literacy needs, including those with high learning needs and is designed for use in formal and informal learning situations, either unsupported or with a facilitator present.

This training package encourages an equal partnership between the advocate and the user where the shared goal is to develop the life skills of the individual with learning difficulties. It is accessible to people with a wide range of literacy needs, including those with high learning needs and is designed for use in formal and informal learning situations, either unsupported or with a facilitator present.' - Autism Us 'The book is clearly written and is consistent in style and presentation. Advocacy draws attention to the need for the individual's views to be expressed, communicated and understood by those around them and that advocacy is not what other people think the individual wants. Tufail and Lyons clearly and consitently reinforce this message throughout the book and illustrate this through the use of well-devised case studies to which most people can relate.' - The Frontline of Learning Disability 'The Four Books in this series; 'Introducing Advocacy', 'Rules and Standards', 'Listen Up!' and 'Advocacy in Action' are comprehensive, informative and quite simply a very good introduction for someone new to the world of advocacy.' - Practice Links in Social Work Advocacy for people with disabilities is about empowering people - gaining rights for individuals, access to services, inclusion in society and their own voice. Speaking Up is a set of four guide books designed to give people with a disability the knowledge and advice needed to approach self-advocacy with confidence. Written in Plain Text, the four books in the Speaking Up set were conceived and written specifically to promote self-advocacy to disabled individuals who want to learn how to speak up for themselves. All four books are illustrated throughout with colour drawings and case studies showing the positive results of self-advocacy on the individuals themselves, as well as on their families and carers. This empowering training package encourages an equal partnership between the advocate and the user where the shared goal is to develop the life skills of the individual with learning difficulties. It is accessible to people with a wide range of literacy needs, including those with high learning needs and is designed for use in formal and informal learning situations, either unsupported or with a facilitator present. Introducing Advocacy The First Book of Speaking Up: A Plain Text Guide to Advocacy introduces the concept of advocacy and explores appropriate advocacy models, for example peer group supportive models, and examines different forms of advocacy such as campaign advocacy, crisis or intervention advocacy, volunteer advocacy and health complaints advocacy. Rules and Standards The Second Book of Speaking Up: A Plain Text Guide to Advocacy explores the idea of rules and standards for advocacy and looks at the advocacy charter. It covers issues such as whether an advocate should share a confidence if they are worried that their advocacy partner might self-harm. Listen Up! Speak Up! The Third Book of Speaking Up: A Plain Text Guide to Advocacy uses examples of advocacy to explore how to be a good advocate, emphasising the importance of listening to and working with an advocacy partner and explaining how to prepare for and behave in meetings. Advocacy in Action The Fourth Book of Speaking Up: A Plain Text Guide to Advocacy looks at problems that can occur in an advocacy partnership, such as dependency on the advocate and conflict between partners. It also discusses advocacy and the law.