From the USA

I promised my good friend and advocacy 'guru' Michael Kendrick that I would help promote a couple of things he's involved with in the States.

The first is to raise awareness of the terrible plight of young people at a Boston school that uses electric shock as a treatment for children and adults with severe autism or emotional problems. You can read the story by pasting this link into your web browser: http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2011/mar/12/electric-shock-school-matthew-israel

Secondly, Michael has asked me to plug an important international conference on agency transformation that is being held in conjunction with the international initiative on mental health leadership in San Francisco in September of 2011. This conference will focus largely on the disability sector and the challenges involved in transforming agencies so that they are better prepared to provide supports for person centered individual lifestyles. It is hoped that this conference, with its emphasis on linking people and agencies who are like minded, will eventually result in an ongoing national and international network to address these challenges. You can find out more by using this link: www.iimhl.com/iidl

A few years ago I was fortunate enough to attend a leadership programme in the US that Michael co-organised and can honestly say that it was a life changing experience - and actually proved to be cheaper than many of the leadership programmes offered in the UK! Plus I got to walk along Malibu Beach which is never a bad thing.....

Come to think of it - 2 day conference in San Fransisco in September?! See you there!