The end of the year is a good time to think about what you have done. You can look back at the goals you met. Or you can think about what you finished. Self-Advocate Network did a lot this year. So the team has a lot to be proud of. We talked about what we are most proud of doing in 2025.

A Look Back at Things We Created

One of the things we created was the Boosts and Barriers game. We played it at the Texas Advocates Conference. It’s a game that helps people learn about teamwork. Jenn felt it was a fun and meaningful way to share what we learned while working on the PAR project. She said, “It was exciting to see it come to life.” This game was also a highlight for Cindy, who said, “It was fun, informative, and I had a blast playing with self-advocates, family members, and staff.”

We also worked on creating a Family Support Guide. This guide helps families know better how to support their family members with IDD. It covers topics like working on projects and dealing with benefits. James and Marci were the co-chairs on this project. Marci is proud of how well she and James worked together. James said that he feels humbled and proud to work on the Family Support Guide. 

We were also proud to share free training courses to help teach about participatory action research. This year, we finished creating those courses and started testing them. Alisa liked seeing the impact on learners when they were testing the courses. She said, “I could see the delight on people’s faces when they understood what we were teaching.”

A Look Back at Teamwork

We are all proud of our great teamwork. When a team works well together, good things come from that. Here are some ways we are proud of our work together.

James and Marci did a lot of work together on their projects. Marci also works as James’ support person. Marci said she was most proud that she listened more closely to what James needed to help him do his job better. James said he likes how he and Marci bounce ideas off of each other and think out loud together. They tell each other in a supportive way when they are off base. They ask each other to say more when they are onto a good idea.

Cindy enjoyed traveling and working with James. Cindy said, “Seeing him in his element doing what he does best is inspirational. But sharing videos and praising our young new leaders at the same time was extra special.”

Much of the work we did was guided by a team of self-advocates who advised us along the way. Alisa said she learned a lot from them. They always came up with good ideas. They always had positive energy. And they were excited to do good work.

Jenn noticed what a lot of people felt. This has been a difficult year. There were big shifts in policies. Jenn said, “Some days were heavy and discouraging. We made space for people to pause, to vent, and to take care of themselves. Working with a group that values mental health as much as deadlines has been a gift. It’s something rare—and something I’m truly grateful for.”

Want to Learn More?

We’ll be sharing more about what we did and where we will be going in 2026. Be sure to click on our social media links below and follow us to learn more.

We hope you had a supportive and successful 2025. We look forward to seeing you in 2026. Happy New Year from all of us at Self-Advocate Network!

From: Cindy, James, Marci, Jenn, and Alisa