Disabled advocacy centers on knowledge, empowerment

Services for the disabled are part of the mission of many nonprofit organizations, but only one is led exclusively by disabled people.

Peer Power Alaska exists to affirm and amplify the voices of Alaskans with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The organization’s mission is based on the belief that every person deserves the freedom to live the life they choose, not the life others prescribe for them.

Garrett Dominick, PeerPower’s communications director since 2019, called it an honor to be part of the only self-advocacy organization in Alaska that is led by people with disabilities.

“Peer Power inspires people to become more independent and fight for their rights,” he said. “I feel overwhelmed that I get to be part of that.”

For too long, too many disabled citizens have been excluded from full participation in decision-making that affects them. Peer Power exists to teach self-advocacy and empower the disabled to take charge of their own lives.

“Serving people with disabilities is not just a checked box. It’s not one size fits all,” Dominick said. “We call it self-direction. What we’re working on now is 100 percent self-direction.”

That mission has gotten easier in recent years as Peer Power’s good work has attracted the attention of funding organizations. Among them has been the Mat-Su Health Foundation, which has granted more than $100,000 to Peer Power since 2019.

As part owner of the Mat-Su Regional Medical Center, the nonprofit Mat-Su Health Foundation has been investing a share of its hospital profits in community health and wellness since its inception in 2007. In that time, the Health Foundation has returned more than $140 million to the community in the form of scholarships, sponsorships, and grants to other nonprofits, like those to Peer Power Alaska.

“Grants and sponsorships are the soul of our funding,” Dominick said. “More money equals more opportunities to expand our reach and help others.”

Recent grants have helped offset the expense to individuals of participating in Peer Power’s annual Summit for Self-Advocacy. The most recent Summit drew nearly 100 people to Anchorage.

Through accessible workshops, peer-led panels and community-building experiences, participants learned not only about their rights, but how to successfully advocate for those rights. Plans are already in the works for the 2026 Summit, which is scheduled for April 24-26.

Peer Power Alaska’s executive director, Ric Nelson, said the Summit is more than an event.

“It’s a declaration. It’s a launchpad for inclusion and systemic change led by Alaskans with disabilities,” he said. “The Summit is a space where voices are amplified, leadership is cultivated, and community is built from the inside out.”

Nelson underscored the importance of donations and sponsorships, which he characterized as an investment in a future where leadership reflects the diversity of Alaska communities.

“By helping to fund this event, sponsors become part of a statewide movement that uplifts voices, builds confidence, and equips emerging leaders to shape policy, challenge barriers, and redefine what’s possible,” he said.

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