Ariel Mundy
When I flourish, my community flourishes.
Vice President, Self-Advocacy Fighters | Self-Advocate
Advocacy in Action
Ariel Mundy
Ariel Mundy is a self-advocate and community leader from Aiken who believes people with disabilities should have an active role in decisions about where they live, work, worship, participate in the community, and what they want for their lives. She shares how leadership training and connection with other advocates have strengthened her voice and ability to support others.
IN HER OWN WORDS
Good morning and Happy Disability Advocacy Day!
My name is Ariel Mundy and I’m the Vice President of the Self-Advocacy Fighters for Tri-Development Center in Aiken, South Carolina.
It is an awesome pleasure to stand before you and witness fellow self-advocates from around our state call for more inclusive, accessible, safe, equal, and supportive communities in South Carolina.
I am proud that where I live in Aiken County is one of those inclusive, accessible, safe, equal, and supportive communities, thanks in part to my Senator, Tom Young, Junior of District 24 whose advocacy and work help to make Aiken an inclusive community.
I want to thank Danni Bloom and the Arc of South Carolina for giving me this valuable opportunity to speak before you today.
As a member of Tri-Development Center’s Self-Advocacy Fighters, I am proud to advocate for myself and speak up for the rights of people with disabilities who live in Aiken.
Our voice and our rights should be heard, respected, and lived out.
Just like you, we should have an active role in making decisions about our lives... where we live, where we work, where we worship, where we go in the community, and what we want in life.
That’s why I stand before you today, loudly and proudly calling for ADVOCACY IN ACTION.
My fellow partners in advocacy are marching around the State House calling for advocacy in action.
We need ADVOCACY IN ACTION!
Say it with me:
ADVOCACY IN ACTION!
ADVOCACY IN ACTION!
ADVOCACY IN ACTION!
To help strengthen my advocacy voice, I took I.M.P.A.C.T. South Carolina’s eight-week Leadership Training course, thanks to funding for the course provided by the SC Developmental Disabilities Council.
The Leadership Training course was my introduction to achieve my certificate in leadership.
From there, I went on to graduate from I.M.P.A.C.T. South Carolina’s Community Leadership Academy.
The Community Leadership Academy helped to reinforce my leadership skills so I can better support people with disabilities who want to live independent lives.
Currently, I am enrolled in Partners in Policy Making to receive information, training, and resources about local, state, and federal issues that affect people living with disabilities.
Every year, I get excited about the Independence: My Choices, My Life State Conference hosted by I.M.P.A.C.T. South Carolina and funded by the SC Developmental Disabilities Council.
I connect with fellow advocates and professionals to network and gain tools that will help me to help myself and people in my community to live our best lives.
I.M.P.A.C.T. South Carolina and the SC Developmental Disabilities Council are valuable, life-enhancing resources to me and Aiken County citizens who live with disabilities.
And they’re important to you, too, because when I flourish, my community flourishes.
Thank you.
