About our organization:

People First is the world’s oldest and best known self-advocacy organization that is run by and for people with developmental disabilities. It first began in Oregon in 1974 and has since spread to many US states and other countries. Its parent organization, Self-Advocates Becoming Empowered (SABE), is a national organization made up of board members and delegates from eight regions throughout the United States. They sponsor national conferences where grassroots members from all 50 states and Canada come together to learn and encourage one another on self-advocacy and self-determination.

People First of Nevada was formed in 2003 and became a 501(c)3 in 2006. We currently have five self-advocates who serve as VISTA (Volunteers In Service To America) members; one in each chapter area. They organize the monthly meetings and try to branch out to help new chapters start in other areas of Nevada. We also have a self-advocate, Santa Perez, employed remotely at the University of Nevada, Reno as the Southern Nevada Self-Determination Coordinator. She supervises the VISTA project in Southern Nevada and assists in the planning of all People First events in Las Vegas.