Join us for a virtual panel

In honor of Mental Health Awareness Month, the Peer Self-Advocacy (PSA) team proudly presents Open Book: Stories of Hope. From our stories, attendees will learn how we became motivated and enthusiastic about teaching ourselves and others how to self-advocate for their rights. One important lesson to take from their stories of hope is: Recovery is Possible!

About the virtual panel:

As individuals with experience navigating the mental health system, we have grown and persevered despite our challenges. We will talk about our struggles and experiences living with a mental health disability. We will also talk about our accomplishments advocating for ourselves and teaching others to self-advocate for their rights. Please join us as we share our Personal Stories, thoughts about Mental Health and Culture, our Discovery of Self-Advocacy, our Accomplishments and Messages of Hope.

Moderator: 

Rosy Tellez (she/her/ella) is the Supervising Coordinator for the Statewide Peer Self-Advocacy Program at Disability Rights California, where she leads disability rights trainings focused on building self-advocacy skills for individuals in both locked facilities and community settings. She has worked with the organization in various capacities since 2006.

As a peer with lived experience of mental health disabilities, she centers her work on hope, empowerment, and strength-based support. Rosy is a National Certified Peer Specialist and a graduate of the first Spanish-language Certified California Medi-Cal Peer Support Specialist training.

She has received multiple recognitions for her contributions, including awards from the City of Los Angeles and for her impact within minority communities. Her work has helped many peers gain and sustain employment in the mental health field.

Speakers:

Jesse Gilbert (they/them/theirs) is a member of the Peer Self-Advocacy Program at Disability Rights California. As a psychiatric survivor, they provide rights-based education and advocacy trainings in psychiatric facilities, helping patients and residents better understand their legal protections, available supports, and pathways to self-advocacy from a peer-informed perspective. Jesse previously served as a Patients’ Rights Advocate at a Southern California State Hospital and recently presented a training on Transgender Equity in Behavioral Health Settings to mental health service providers at the California Department of Mental Health’s Multicultural Conference. 

Their background in Shakespearean performance deepened their commitment to self-expression, which naturally evolved into a passion for disability justice and accessible communication. Jesse has known American Sign Language for more than half their life and continues to integrate language, advocacy, and lived experience into their work supporting marginalized communities. 

Aurelia Sanchez (she/her) is a Peer Self-Advocacy Coordinator with Disability Rights California. She is someone with lived experience from a mental health condition and has overcome many obstacles throughout life. She is enthusiastic about educating others in self-advocacy as well as sharing her life experiences with fellow Peers to inspire hope and strength through their own personal journey. Aurelia believes it is important for Peers to learn from others who have gone through similar experiences to create a safe space to share, build positive rapport and self-empowerment with one another.

Aurelia has experience as both a Parent Partner and Peer Support Specialist since 2016 and obtained her Peer Certification in 2023 from the Academy of Peer Services in New York.

Robyn Gantsweg (she/her) is the Peer Self-Advocacy (PSA) Program Manager who has experienced the world through both the peer and provider perspective for over 25 years. She also knows about life in locked facilities on both sides of the doors. Working with the PSA program at Disability Rights California since 2002, she teaches peers about their rights and how to advocate for services to meet their own needs and goals.

She also provides training and supervision for PSA staff who facilitate self-advocacy groups in facilities, state hospitals and in the community. She is passionate about helping others help themselves and eliminating mental health stigma and discrimination.