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National Association for Rights Protection & Advocacy (NARPA) Conference 2012
Mexico City: "The visit by David Oaks was very rewarding."
In August 2011, Disability Rights International (DRI) brought David Oaks to Mexico City to give a training workshop for mental health consumer/psychiatric survivor members of "Colectivo Chuhcan." Here is their positive group evaluation and feedback.
DAVID OAKS’ VISIT TO MEXICO
by CC and DRI staff
Last August 2011, David Oaks visited the Colectivo Chuhcan. His visit was very significant for the advocacy work of this organization.
David Oaks shared with us his experiences and those of Midnfreedom on incidence work. One of the experiences that definitely motivated the Colectivo´s members in their work was the major achievement of Mindfreedom consisting on preventing a person from the United States from receiving more electric shocks.
David Oaks motivated the Colectivo Chuhcan in many ways. One of them was to show them that each of them is a leader, and that they count with the support of DRI.
One aspect that was taken with great enthusiasm by the members of the Colectivo is how David Oaks uses his sense of humor - like Patch Adams - to address serious problems and difficult situations. David Oaks definitely injected a lot of fun into the process of learning.
Another very positive aspect of the visit by David Oaks was the way he puts into practice what he has taught.
At the end of his visit, David Oaks organized a simulation in which he took the role of the director of a psychiatric hospital while members of the Colectivo sought access to this hospital. At first, the "director" was very authoritarian and dominating, but as he was questioned in a more energetic and confident way, his character became more cooperative with the members of the Colectivo. This exercise was very valuable because the members of the Colectivo Chuhcan are very interested in visiting psychiatric hospitals and support their peers.
In short, the visit by David Oaks was very rewarding for the members of the Colectivo Chuhcan and for the DRI staff because what we learned about his outstanding experience and career is a great example and a motivation to lead an organization and to work in favor of people with psychosocial disabilities in Mexico.
