SELF-ADVOCACY IS HAVING THE OPPORTUNITY to know your rights and responsibilities, stand up for them, and make choices about your own life. By doing these things, your quality of life is vastly improved.
The self-advocacy movement began in Sweden in the 1960’s when a group of people with mental retardation drew up a list of requests about how they wanted services delivered and what they wanted from their service providers. Back then what these pioneers did was a novel idea. But not anymore. Now this idea has taken the shape of an international civil rights movement by and for people with disabilities.
What is self-advocacy ? Self-advocacy is people speaking up for what they see as important for themselves. Self-advocacy is NOT people sitting around and complaining. Self-advocacy is informed individuals expressing themselves. Self-advocacy is something everyone is capable of. It is here to stay. It is not a fad. Self-advocacy is people taking control over their own lives for their decisions and also for the consequences. Self-advocacy is an inclusive, all-encompassing ongoing learning experience for everyone involved.
What is self-determination ? Self-determination means that people will be in charge of their own services and in control of money to make their desires and dreams real. Self-determination involves people with disabilities claiming their basic civil rights including all the freedoms guaranteed by our Constitution. Self-determination is the freedom to make individual choices about one’s own life and the opportunity to fail just like any other person. In order to achieve these goals there will have to be major changes in social attitudes and policy.
Self-advocacy in its simplest form is when a person is advocating on their own behalf whereas self-determination describes a person’s right to make choices about their own life and to have the same rights and possibilities as others. It is about being in charge of your own life but is not necessarily the same thing as self-sufficiency or independence.
The self-advocate should be aware of his personal preferences, interests, strengths, and limitations. He should have the ability to differentiate between wants and needs and to make choices based on preferences, interests, wants, and needs. He should consider multiple options and anticipate consequences for decisions and be able to initiate and take action when needed. He should have the ability to set and work towards goals and possess problem-solving skills. He must strive for independence while recognizing interdependence with others. He must be able to use communication skills such as negotiation, compromise, and persuasion to reach goals. And above all, he must be persistent.
Families can help too. They can encourage independence and choice making beginning at an early age. Parents and / or families can help make informed decisions regarding services and programs. They should collaborate in creative problem solving and give confidence and raise self-esteem. Most of all, parents and / or families can support decisions the self-advocate makes for their future.
Self-advocacy is not about having all the answers. An effective self-advocate is one who asks the right questions. You can build self-advocacy strategies around asking, “what, who, when, where, and how.” WHAT does the self-advocate need to know or receive from others to accomplish his goal ? WHO is most likely to have what the self-advocate needs, and to have the power, knowledge, or ability to provide it ? WHEN is the most effective and appropriate time to raise an issue ? WHERE is the most appropriate place to discuss his goal ? And HOW does the self-advocate express himself in different informal and formal situations ? HOW much detail and background about yourself should you give when you interact with others ?
Best wishes …
