Self-advocacy is the act of speaking up for oneself and one’s interests. It is used as a name for civil rights movements and mutual aid networks for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Self-advocacy means speaking up for our rights, our needs and the things that are important to us.
We self-advocate in many ways and we do it for many reasons.
We self-advocate when we make everyday choices for ourselves, like what clothes we want to wear and what food we want to eat.
We also self-advocate when we:
- let other people know what is OK and not OK in our life;
- ask for a change in a situation when something is not OK for us;
- talk about our skills and what we can offer in a job interview;
- identify a problem in our life, work out who can help us fix the problem, and then communicate with that person to get it solved;
- talk to people in power, like politicians, about what matters to us and the changes that we want to see made in policies and laws.
We self-advocate
- to make our lives better;
- to remind people that we have rights and that we should be treated fairly and with the same respect as everyone else;
- to have our say in the decision-making in our families, communities, and in the world of politics.
We self-advocate because we all share the same human rights.
Why is self-advocacy so important?
Self-advocacy raises awareness. It makes others aware of the issues you’re facing. If you never speak up, there’s a good chance your peers will not be aware of any challenges. Speaking up for yourself and communicating needs identifies gaps, blocks, and issues earlier, allowing your team to begin addressing them.
Self-Advocacy means: You are able to tell people about your thoughts and feelings. You are able to ask for what you need and want. You know your rights and you speak up for your rights. You are able to make choices and decisions that affect your life and take responsibility for the choices you make.
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