named programs · 6 · from sources
What they call their work
Access My Ride
Travel training and advocacy program that teaches individuals to use public transportation (Metro Bus, Metro Rail, Paratransit) and works to reduce systemic barriers in transit systems.
Disability & Healthcare Summit
Annual event providing health education, resource fairs, and discussion sessions for self-advocates, medical professionals, and care providers.
FREEDOM Self Advocacy Group
Independent monthly peer group supported by CSA that discusses issues like transportation equity and workforce pay, writes to legislators, and develops advocacy statements.
Let’s Connect
Technology training program offering individual and group sessions to help people with disabilities build computer and internet skills, including using medical portals.
Let’s Talk: Peer Support
Peer-led support groups that provide a safe space for individuals with disabilities to share experiences, build resilience, and receive emotional and practical support.
Systems Advocacy
Initiative focused on policy and institutional change to improve accessibility and inclusion in healthcare, transportation, and public services for people with disabilities.
activities · 8 groups
What they do
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Disability Rights Advocacy & Self-Advocacy Empowerment 5 activities
- Advocates for accessible public transportationEngages in travel advocacy by collaborating with legislators, community partners, and service providers to identify and reduce barriers to public transportation access for individuals with disabilities.
- Conducts self-advocacy research and focus groupsConducts in-person and ongoing focus groups with self-advocates and individuals with disabilities to explore the impact of self-advocacy on their lives and to inform program development and best practices.
- Engages in system and policy advocacy for disability rightsAdvocates for inclusion, accessibility, and equal rights for people with disabilities through system-level efforts, including promoting universal design, increasing funding for services, writing to legislators, and developing public position papers against injustice.
- Provides educational outreach and disability awareness trainingDelivers educational presentations and outreach programs on self-advocacy and disability awareness to students, community groups, and service providers, including at the CHC Learning Center.
- Supports independent self-advocacy organizationsProvides capacity-building support to FREEDOM Self Advocacy Group, an independent self-advocacy organization in Western New York.
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Day Habilitation Services 2 activities
- Conducts self-advocacy workshops and skill-building trainingDelivers workshops and training sessions focused on developing self-advocacy, leadership, and independent living skills among individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Includes small group and one-on-one instruction.
- Provides self-advocacy programs for individuals with disabilitiesOffers programs that promote self-advocacy skills and confidence for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, supporting them in areas such as education, employment, healthcare, and community engagement. Includes peer support, leadership development, and skill-building workshops.
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Digital Literacy Training and Technology Access 1 activity
- Delivers digital literacy and computer trainingProvides computer and internet training through small group sessions and individual mentoring to help individuals with disabilities build digital skills based on personal goals, including using medical portals for healthcare access.
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Peer-Led Mental Health Support Groups 1 activity
- Hosts peer support groups for individuals with disabilitiesOrganizes peer support groups that provide a safe and supportive environment for individuals with disabilities to connect, share experiences, exchange advice, and offer mutual emotional support.
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LGBTQ+ Community Events and Celebrations 1 activity
- Hosts the Disability Pride FestivalOrganizes and hosts a presence at the Disability Pride Festival on July 24, 2026, at Buffalo Riverworks, maintaining an informational and engagement table from 2:00 PM to 7:00 PM to connect with the community.
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Patient and Researcher Conferences 1 activity
- Organizes the annual Disability & Healthcare SummitHosts an annual full-day Disability & Healthcare Summit featuring keynote speakers, breakout sessions, and a resource fair focused on health education for individuals with disabilities. The 3rd annual event is scheduled for October 17, 2024.
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Non-Emergency Medical & Essential Transportation 1 activity
- Provides travel training and public transportation educationOffers travel training programs to help individuals with disabilities learn how to use public transportation systems such as Metro Bus, Metro Rail, and Paratransit through group or individualized instruction.
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Uncategorized 1 activity
- Conducts provider surveys and recognizes best practices in disability servicesConducts annual provider surveys to validate best practices in developmental disability services and presents the Partnership Coalition Award to outstanding organizations at the annual Developmental Disabilities Awareness Day Conference.
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financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$207K
Contributions & grants$148K72%
Program service revenue$58K28%
Investment income$00%
Other revenue$0
expenses
Total expenses$250K
Program expenses61%
Admin / overhead39%
Fundraising0%
Salaries & benefits$177K
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$22K
Cash$22K
Investments$0
Liabilities$199
Net assets$21K
Liquid reserves1.0 mo
6 years on record · 2019–2024 · YoY revenue +35.0%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
paid leadership · 1
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Samuel Mattle | Executive Director | 40 | $65K |
relationships · 16
Who they work with
- CHC Learning Center Partner — Collaborates with CHC Learning Center to teach students about self-advocacy.
- CHC Learning Center Partner — Partner school where Center for Self Advocacy provides educational programming on self-advocacy and peer support.
- Disability Pride Festival Partner — Collaborates with the Disability Pride Festival to host a table and engage with the community.
- FREEDOM Partner — Independent self-advocacy group supported by the Center for Self Advocacy.
- FREEDOM Self Advocacy Group Partner — Independent self-advocacy group in Western New York that the Center supports.
- Metro Bus Partner — Collaborates on travel training and advocacy to improve access to public transportation for individuals with disabilities.
- Metro Rail Partner — Collaborates on travel training and advocacy to improve access to public transportation for individuals with disabilities.
- New York State Office for People with Developmental Disabilities Government — Center for Self Advocacy aligns its services with this state agency
- OPWDD Government — Partnered with OPWDD, originating from a commissioner's initiative to involve self-advocates in policy development.
- Olmstead decision Government — References the Olmstead decision as a legal precedent protecting community integration rights for people with disabilities.
- Paratransit Partner — Collaborates on travel training and advocacy to improve access to public transportation for individuals with disabilities.
- SANYS Partner — Partner organization with which the Center for Self Advocacy Inc collaborates, as evidenced by participation in its regional conference.
- The Partnership Coalition Partner — Collaborative affiliation focused on promoting best practices and inclusion for people with disabilities.
- legislators Partner — Works with legislators to identify and reduce barriers to public transportation access for individuals with disabilities.
- person-centered organizations Partner — Collaborates with person-centered organizations in hosting and participating in the Disability & Healthcare Summit.
- service provider organizations Partner — Collaborates with service provider organizations to improve travel experiences for individuals with disabilities.
strategies · 5
How they approach the work
Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.
- Collaborative Inclusion with Stakeholder Integrationmethodology: collaborative_inclusionBy fostering collaboration among self-advocates, families, service providers, and government agencies, we produce meaningful inclusion and improved practices because diverse stakeholders co-create solutions that center lived experience and shared leadership.
- Collective Advocacy for Systems Changemethodology: systems_advocacyBy organizing and supporting the disability community to engage in direct and systemic advocacy, we produce structural reforms and eliminate institutional barriers because rights and inclusion are advanced most effectively through collective action led by self-advocates.
- Person-Centered Peer Support Modelmethodology: person-centered_approachBy delivering person-centered services through peer support, we enhance independent living and quality of life because relationships grounded in shared experience foster trust, relevance, and sustained engagement.
- Self-Advocacy Empowerment Modelmethodology: self-advocacy_trainingBy building self-advocacy skills and confidence in individuals with disabilities, we produce greater autonomy, inclusion, and personal agency because lived experience and peer support are central to sustainable change.
- Support-Agency Model for Autonomous Advocacymethodology: support-agency_modelBy providing structural and logistical support to independent self-advocacy groups without directing their agenda, we sustain member-driven advocacy because autonomy is preserved while capacity is strengthened.