Citizen Advocacy is an independent, non-profit organization that creates and supports one-on-one relationships between community advocates and people with developmental disabilities.

Established in 1979, La Crosse Citizen Advocacy has supported hundreds of relationships, some over 28 years long.

Citizen Advocacy is what it says it is. We continue to be the only advocacy effort on the western side of the state where citizens are actively engaged in the lives of people with developmental disabilities on a voluntary basis.

 

We are funded primarily by individual and business donations. We also receive funds from grants, fundraisers, and various community, civic, and religious organizations. We do not receive any government funds for our program.

 

 

Mission Statement

 

Citizen Advocacy is dedicated to protecting the rights, promoting the interests, and supporting the lives of people with developmental and related disabilities.

 

 

Our History

 

Since 1979, the La Crosse Citizen Advocacy Program has been successfully matching community members with individuals with developmental and related disabilities. The purpose of this matching is to individually protect the rights, promote the interests, and support the lives of individuals with disabilities by becoming involved in their lives. La Crosse is only one of approximately 30 programs around the world. Through this unique program we have witnessed the personal power of citizens to make a difference, and recognize the profound impact that one-on-one relationships can bring to our community as a whole. Citizen Advocacy programs are based on the principles designed by Dr. Wolf Wolfensberger of Syracuse, New York.