EQUIP FOR EQUALITY
Advocate for Yourself!
Training Institute on
Disability Rights
Self-Advocacy
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What is it?
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Protect your rights
Make sure your needs are met
Make sure you are supported in making
decisions for yourself
When is it time to start self-advocating?
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Kinds of Self-Advocacy
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Individual
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Results that help one person
Systemic
Advocacy efforts that help many people
through a change in the system, a new law
or a better policy
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Individual Self-Advocacy
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Examples
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Asking for an interpreter for an important
meeting
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Bringing someone you trust to your doctor’s
appointment, so they can explain anything you
don’t understand.
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Systemic Advocacy
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Examples
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Asking the hospital, “What is your policy for
hiring sign-language interpreters?”
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Talking to your legislature about changing a law
so more people with disabilities can get help
finding a job.
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Why Self-Advocacy Is Important
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Make sure your needs are met
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Make sure your rights are protected
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Power in numbers!
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Steps to Follow to Be a
Self-Advocate
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Understand that you are important
Decide what needs to be changed
Choose a goal
Do the most important thing first
Get information
Make a plan of action
Look back
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How to Self-Advocate
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Understand that you are important
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You are a lawmaker!
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You are a voter!
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You are a PERSON!
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How to Self-Advocate
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Understand that you are important
Share something about
yourself that’s unique about
you.
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How to Self-Advocate
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Decide what needs to be changed
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What have you been having problems with?
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Is there something that you want to improve in
your life?
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How to Self-Advocate
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Define your goal
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What is going on now that isn’t working?
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What do you need?
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What do you want to be able to do that you can’t
do now?
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How to Self-Advocate
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Do the Most Important thing first
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Which issue on your list is most
important?
Which is second? Third?
Helps you decide what you want to do
first
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How to Self-Advocate
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Get information
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What do you know about your issue?
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Do you have all of the facts?
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Where can you find information?
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How to Self-Advocate
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Plan of action
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What could you do to reach your goal?
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What steps can you take?
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What is the best plan?
– Where can you find support?
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How to Self-Advocate
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Look back
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Helps you stay motivated
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Helps you improve
You will see how much you have
accomplished!
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Self-Advocacy
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QUESTIONS
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