Braintree Man Learns Self-Advocacy Skills, Will Pass Them on to Others With Disabilities

Elliot Perkins was nervous last month facing a presentation on communication in front of about 50 people who had gathered to see him and eight others graduate from the state's Self-Advocacy Leadership Series (SALS).

"It wasn't as bad as I thought," said Perkins, 40 of Braintree. "It was a good experience."

Over the previous nine weeks, Perkins had traveled to Danvers for classes that focused on public speaking and additional communication skills, along with leadership, using role-playing and other tactics to help developmentally-disabled students learn to better advocate for themselves.

"Each one builds off the next," support trainer Lee Larriu said. "Every class people have to speak."

Now Perkins, who previously worked for three years at the Braintree Recycling Center, will use those skills to teach SALS classes to other people in Massachusetts. Last week he headed to Brockton to participate in his first class as a trainer.

"It feels like you have to grow as a person," Perkins said.

SALS was created through the Gopen Fellowship, which allows someone with a disability or family member to create a dream of change that the Massachusetts Developmental Disabilities Council then sponsors and supports. The first pilot classes were launched in 2003, Larriu said. There have been more than 300 graduates to date. Perkins is among the first group of trainers who have completed the course, received additional training and are set to teach advocacy skills themselves, including assistance with emotional and conversational cues.

Perkins lives with a roommate in Braintree. He grew up in Dorchester and attended Curry College for business about 15 years ago, but never finished. This fall, he will complete the final six credits he needs to earn his bachelor's degree. 

"I love school," Perkins said. "I have to finish my degree. I worked so hard at it."

When he is not training at the MDDC's Quincy office, Perkins likes to ride his bike and walk all around the South Shore. He also spends time coordinating activities at the Atlantic Clubhouse in Quincy, where where he learned about SALS. Perkins credits David Huynh, an assistant director there, with helping get him to where he is today.

As for the future?

"I take it one day at a time," Perkins said, "one month, one week."

Correction: SALS was created through the Gopen Fellowship, not directly by the MDDC.