Here are a few more recommendations from earlier speaking engagements and workshops by David W. Oaks, Director of MindFreedom International, at human rights events.
Recommendations for David Oaks’ Speaking Engagements
ENDORSEMENT BY EVENT ORGANIZER:
Andrew Levine, Director of Communications; ICSPP – International Center for the Study of Psychiatry and Psychology
EVENT:
ICSPP Annual Conference: HOPE AND FEAR: MENTAL HEALTH IN THE 21st CENTURY; October 11,12,13 2002. Plenary session, “The Psychiatric Survivor’s Movement at the Beginning Of the 21st Century.” Workshop, “Forced Treatment: Forced Drugging, ECT, and Psychosurgery: The Survivor’s View.”
WHERE:
Newark, NJ USA
RECOMMENDATION:
David Oaks has tremendous knowledge about what is really going on in the mental health field, and the unique ability to explain it clearly and with passion. He understands the big picture, as well as the personal stories. He is a champion of human rights in the psychiatric survivor movement, and fights for those rights every day. That is his life’s work.
David is an excellent presenter of the history of psychiatric abuse, but an even better presenter of how to organize to make powerful and meaningful long-lasting change. He treats people with respect, and empowers those who ask questions and are trying to learn more. His analysis of the mental health system and how all of the pieces of the system interact is well thought out and precise. He is flexible and can adjust his presentation to meet the needs of his audience. ICSPP recommends David Oaks very highly. He is a returning presenter at our annual conference.
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ENDORSEMENT BY EVENT ORGANIZER:
Larry D. Belcher, CEO/ Director, West Virginia Mental Health Consumers’ Association and Consumer Organization & Technical Assistance Center, Charleston, West Virginia
EVENT:
Plenary Session “Will We Unite?,” Lessons From Other Movements. David presented, September 20, at Alternatives 2002 Hyatt Regency Hotel, Georgia.
WHERE:
Alternatives 2002, Building Partnerships, Strengthening Networks and Tacking Action Together held at Hyatt Regency Hotel, 265 Peachtree Street North East, Atlanta, Georgia.
RECOMMENDATION:
David , is a well-known journalist and civic activist, he paid tribute to his personal hero, Justin Dart (Americans with Disabilities Act) who scheduled to present at Alternatives 2002. He was enthusiastic, passionate and thought provoking. He is a role model who demonstrates that through self determination you can accomplish anything. David encouraged the audience to take action when needed to assure their rights are protected and the service system is responsive to their needs. He encouraged all of us to return to our roots in the civil rights and other justice movements to unite and act together. The coalition work of David is a model of building bridges between both government and independently funded activities, between mental health consumers and psychiatric survivors, between those on and those off psychiatric drugs, between clients and workers, etc. I highly recommend you as a speaker on issues related to human rights and achieving social justice for people diagnosed with mental illness. Thank you for your important work and unwavering commitment to our movement.
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ENDORSEMENT BY EVENT ORGANIZER:
Cathy Yeaman, Network Manager and Connie Clark Conference Coodinator; Central Network Services; Illinois Department of Human Services
EVENT:
Keynote address “Working for Freedom” and plenary workshop on “Independent Community Organizing for Systems Change” at central Network Consumer Conference, plus staff break-out session at McFarland State Hospital; 24 Sept. 2002.
WHERE:
Springfield, Illinois
RECOMMENDATION:
David Oaks delivered the keynote address, “Working for Freedom” at the Central network consumer Conference on September 24, 2002. He was enthusiastic, passionate and thought provoking. He helped audience members feel empowered to consider their treatment alternatives. He is a role model who demonstrates that through self determination you can accomplish anything. David encouraged the audience to take action when needed to assure their rights are protected and the service system is responsive to their needs. David
David Oaks was flexible as we planned the event. He was willing to adjust his comments to our scheduled time and prepared a special break-out session for staff. He spent some time learning about local issues and incorporated those into his presentations. As a result of our experience, we would recommend him as a speaker.
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ENDORSEMENT BY EVENT ORGANIZER:
PAT DEEGAN, PhD. & associates.
EVENT:
Keynote on “Debt Owed to the Civil Rights Movement by the Psychiatric Survivors/Mental Health Consumer Movement,” 2001.
WHERE:
Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historic Site in Atlanta, Georgia.
RECOMMENDATION:
It is my honor to recommend you as a speaker and presenter. I know of your work through my regular reading of MindFreedom Journal, participation in Support Coalition International, my research into your role in the history of the consumer/survivor/ex-patient movement, through the Highlander Summit Meetings and related meetings. I attended your day long training on community organizing at the 1998 National Association of Rights Protection and Advocacy Conference. I also invited you to present a major address at the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historic Site as part of the American Public Health Association’s 123rd Annual Meeting in October of 2001.
You were my number one choice for a speaker at the Martin Luther King Jr. National Historic Site. Your public speaking reflects your deep immersion in the nuances of issues related to human rights and your critical analysis of how our movement interfaces with other movements for human rights and social justice. Most remarkable to me is how you can translate these complex ideas into straightforward messages that people from diverse educational backgrounds can relate to. Your message about human rights is respectful, passionate and challenging. You were well prepared and your delivery included humor and a knack for storytelling that brought home your points to the consumers in the audience. I noted that the audience was riveted by your presentation. The representatives from the Mental Health Division of the American Public Health Association seemed genuinely moved by the talk and I noticed that at the reception many of the Public Health delegates made a point of visiting with you to further discuss your views. On a personal note, I learned so much from your talk that I am having it transcribed for future reference.
I highly recommend you as a speaker on issues related to human rights and achieving social justice for people diagnosed with mental illness. Thank you for your important work and unwavering commitment to human rights!
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ENDORSEMENT BY EVENT ORGANIZER:
Sebastien Maltais, on behalf of AGIDD-SMQ in Quebec, Canada (Association des groupes d’intervention en defense des droits en sante mentale du Quebec); Montreal, Quebec,
EVENT:
Keynote on human rights and empowerment of psychiatric survivors at 400 person conference, followed by workshop on legal rights issues involving coerced psychiatric drugging, 2001.
WHERE:
Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
RECOMMENDATION:
Last November 4-5-6, 2001 we organized a North-American symposium about empowerment in Montreal. We invited for that historical event a lot of people from everywhere in North-America. Around 400 persons participated at the symposium. We invited Mr. Oaks to do presentations about human rights, psychiatric survivors and empowerment.
First, Mr. Oaks had to participate to an interactive plenary presentation. The theme was “Resisting instruments of control.” Mr. Oaks did his speech brilliantly and the paticipants were amazed by his analysis of the situation. After his speech we’ve received a lot of good words about him and his presentation from participants.
He also had to do a workshop about psychiatric drugs. He was also really appreciate for this workshop. His message was so clear, like a rallying call that invited people into action.
Mr. David Oaks is really engaged. We are looking to reinvite him in Quebec for another conference. He’s a great speaker! So we recommend to other groups or organizations to invite him as a speaker about human rights and psychiatric survivors.
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ENDORSEMENT BY EVENT ORGANIZER:
Jessica Jonikas; National Research and Training Center on Psychiatric Disability; Mental Health Services Research Program; University of Illinois Chicago Dept. of Psychiatry.
EVENT:
Self-Determination and Independent Systems Change in the Mental Health System, 2001.
WHERE:
Chicago, Illinois
RECOMMENDATION:
David Oaks recently was one of the featured speakers for our national Self-Determination Workshop Series. David was a pleasure to work with in planning this event, demonstrating his enthusiasm, extensive knowledge of the topical area, responsiveness, and flexibility throughout the process. His presentation brought a much-needed focus on advocacy and community organizing as methods for empowering people labelled with psychiatric disability to take charge of their own lives. David handled questions from the audience in a very professional but approachable manner. We enjoy working with him and are pleased to recommend him as a speaker for other such events.
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ENDORSEMENT BY EVENT ORGANIZER:
Loren Mosher, M.D., psychiatrist; Mosher/Schreiber Soteria Associates; San Diego, California, USA.
EVENT:
Keynote of full-house public lecture on “Human Rights and Mad Pride,” 2001.
WHERE:
San Francisco
RECOMMENDATION:
David Oaks is a knowledgeable, thoughtful, dedicated, passionate spokesperson for the consumer/survivor movement. His ideas are clear and well presented — hence understandable by varied audiences.
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ENDORSEMENT BY EVENT ORGANIZER:
Ben Hansen, Mich. Dept. of Community Health Recipient Rights Advisory Committee
EVENT:
Two keynotes in Michigan: State-wide advocacy meeting on empowerment of people diagnosed with psychiatric disabilities, and public presentation on human rights in mental health system, 2001.
WHERE:
Michigan.
RECOMMENDATION:
David Oaks is an eloquent champion of human rights. The keynote panel he was on included a diversity of opinions, and he built bridges between positions while at the same time maintaining a strong stand for human rights. I highly recommend David Oaks as a presenter.
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ENDORSEMENT BY EVENT ORGANIZER:
Liz Thor-Larsen Vancouver/Richmond Mental Health Network Society Editor of society newsletter, “The Bulletin.”
EVENT:
Speaker at rally and symposium on human rights of people diagnosed with mental disabilities, July 2001.
WHERE:
Vancouver, BC Canada
RECOMMENDATION:
I consider David Oaks to be a very important spokesperson on behalf of people who suffer because of being labelled with “mental illnesses” by the psychiatric community. He acts to redefine the entire notion of mental health and to challenge treatments which many of us feel are barbaric and constitute serious abuses of human rights. I feel that his leadership in the area of mobilization and organization is the most important element of the anti-psychiatry movement in North America today.
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ENDORSEMENT BY EVENT ORGANIZER:
Vanessa Jackson Healing Circles, Inc. Author, In Our Own Voice: African American Stories of Oppression, Survival and Recovery in Mental Health Systems; Atlanta, GA USA
EVENT:
Keynote speaker at seminar on human rights and civil rights as part of American Public Health Association’s October 2001 annual conference.
WHERE:
Atlanta, Georgia, USA.
RECOMMENDATION:
I am writing in support of David Oaks’ request to serve as a presenter/trainer for your organization. I recently assisted in the coordination of seminar on Human Rights/Civil Rights as part of the American Public Health Association’s October 2001 conference in Atlanta, Georgia. David’s presentation on the connection between the psychiatric liberation movement and the civil rights movement was inspiring and well informed. He has a unique ability to weave his personal story with larger social change issues in a way that engages the audience.
David’s leadership in the psychiatric liberation movement has resulted in Support Coalition International being granted non-governmental organization status by the United Nation that allows the critical issues of consumer/survivor empowerment and choice to be placed on the international agenda.
David’s greatest gift as a speaker and a trainer is the model that he brings of long-term commitment to a struggle while retaining a joy of life, personal and professional integrity and an openness to emerging leadership.
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ENDORSEMENT BY EVENT ORGANIZER:
Millie Strom, Director Madness 101, Vancouver, Canada
EVENT:
Keynote speaker at seminar on human rights and civil rights as part of American Public Health Association’s October 2001 annual conference.
WHERE:
Vancouver, Canada
RECOMMENDATION:
David Oaks, director of SCI, was the feature speaker at the inaugural Madness 101 – Critical Psychiatry Dialogue Series held in Vancouver in July 2001. The first of the series was launched following the Mad Protest at the World Assembly on Mental Health at Canada Place. David Oaks was both an organizer of the protest and a presenter at the Assembly. The latter was part of his very good strategy planning and gave mental health professionals the opportunity to hear the concerns and the demands of the psychiatric survivor community.
At Madness 101 David spoke on the topic of human rights in psychiatry and the globalization of psychiatry by the World Health Organization. The WHO’s new mental health division aims to take the North American medical model to developing countries.
David’s talk was well researched, persuasive and engaging for the participants. As director of Madness 101, and on the recommendations of many participants, I will definitely invite David Oaks to speak again.
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ENDORSEMENT BY EVENT ORGANIZER:
Chuck Areford, MS, mental health worker, Eugene, Oregon, USA
EVENT:
All-day Institute on mental health workers and psychiatric survivors uniting for systems change.
WHERE:
International Association for PsychoSocial Rehabilitation Services, May 2001, Houston, Texas, USA.
RECOMMENDATION:
I have been employed in the public mental health system for 20 years. I have worked with David Oaks in community organizing around mental health issues for the last 10 years and have participated in several speaking engagements with him. Most recently, David and I co-facilitated an all day pre-conference Institute at the International Association of PsychoSocial Rehabilitation Services (IAPSRS) annual conference in Houston Texas, in May, 2001.
David’s extensive history of activism combined with his knowledge of mental health issues and his fine public speaking skills make for an impressive package. I find him to be an exciting, articulate and well organized presenter. While he has no shortage of material to present, he is also effective in terms of engaging audience participation and when appropriate, limiting the involvement of the audience so he can maintain control of the presentation. Feedback on these joint speaking engagement indicates that the audience has been pleased with David’s presentations. I wholeheartedly recommend him as a public speaker.
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ENDORSEMENT BY EVENT ORGANIZER:
Sally Zinman, Director, California Network of Mental Health Clients
EVENT:
Keynote of State-Wide Annual Conference of the California Network of Mental Health Clients
WHERE:
Sacramento, California, USA
RECOMMENDATION:
I highly recommend David Oaks as a keynote speaker for conferences. David did a wonderful job as a keynote speaker at the California Network of Mental Health Clients annual state-wide conference, with several hundred participants. David honored the unification that we have achieved in the continuum of mental health consumers/psychiatric survivors from left to right in the psychiatric political spectrum. David motivated and inspired CNMHC members and others in attendance to do the work of that year, and we successfully stopped a bad bill in the state legislature that would have expanded forced treatment.
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ENDORSEMENT BY EVENT ORGANIZER:
Wanda Joseph, Brethren, Michigan, USA, on behalf of the Recipient Rights Officers of Michigan.
EVENT:
Keynote on “Human Rights and Psychiatric Survivor Movement” at the State-Wide Annual Meeting of the Recipient Rights Officers of Michigan, August, 2001. This was followed by a workshop for participants about “The Role of Community Organizing in Advocacy.”
WHERE:
Manistee, Michigan, USA.
RECOMMENDATION:
David Oaks challenged the Recipient Rights Officers’ of Michigan to look closely at the way we advocate for people with mental disability diagnosis. He gave us a disturbing wake-up call when he named forced treatment a human rights abuse. With compassion and clarity, he described what it is like to be on the sharp end of the needle.
David Oaks provided practical training for organizing for community change for people who work in and receive services from the mental health system. His masterful use of role play gave us concrete experience in defining the changes we want and how to make it happen.
Months after his presentation, I remember how he talked respectfully of the honor of working with survivors, to be able to watch the human spirit recover and resist oppression. David speaks with passion and conviction.
Carry on!
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