Tiffany Hunter was involved with People First since the beginning of the Carson City chapter. About four years ago, her friend opened this branch and today, Hunter is an officer.

“[People First] gives people new information,” Hunter said. “The more information you have, the better off you’ll be.”

But attending meetings is not all Hunter has done through People First. She has testified at the State Legislature, protested budget cuts at the capital, and sat on the Community Advisory Committee and the Governor’s Council on Developmental Disabilities.

Part of Hunter’s protesting work was promoting the Respectful Language Bill. This bill petitioned the Nevada state government to use respectful language in all its documents when referring to people with disabilities. Respectful language includes writing the person first and the disability second (“a person with autism,” not an “autistic person”).

Hunter and other went to the capital building and handed posters promoting the bill to the assemblymen as they were leaving. Hunter said the experience was intimidating and definitely a little scary.

“But if it’s something that’s really important to you, you just do it,” she said. Hunter values the independence that People First can help its members gain.

“You can be an advocate for yourself or someone else,” she said. “You can be independent.”

A winter-time move to Florida is in Hunter’s future, but it won’t slow down her activism.

“I’ve heard there’s a People First chapter there, so I’ll check that out.”

Tiffany Hunter is also a VISTA volunteer. Read more about VISTA at:
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