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: 

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.

Speakers:

Debi Davis (she/her) is a PSA Facilitator, a person with lived experience and a long-time mental health advocate. She volunteered for 10 years with the Riverside County Patients’ Rights Office. For the past 18 years, Ms. Davis has worked in the Peer Self-Advocacy program at Disability Rights California, facilitating self-advocacy groups at a state hospital and in the community.

Maria Garcia (she/ella) This year marks Maria’s 19th year anniversary with Disability Rights California. For much of her career she has provided technical assistance and advocacy to individuals with mental health conditions through the California Office of Patients’ Rights (COPR). 

Maria has lived experience with mental health. While working for COPR she learned to advocate for herself and for patients in state hospitals. In 2020, she joined the Peer Self-Advocacy program as coordinator. She currently teaches peers self-advocacy tools and skills so they can advocate for their rights and services they need in locked facilities and other settings. 
Maria holds a BA in Liberal Studies with a Multiple Subject Teaching Option from California State University, Los Angeles, and a Certificate of Completion in Peer Support Specialist from Loyola Marymount University.
Her passion is learning and teaching to empower peers in their recovery journey. 

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.