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RESO U RC E D EVELO PM EN T
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EQUIP FOR EQUALITY
Advocate for Yourself!
Training Institute on Disability Rights
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Self-Advocacy
What is it?
– 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
Individual– Results that help one person
Systemic– Advocacy efforts that help many people
through a change in the system, a new lawor a better policy
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Individual Self-Advocacy
Examples– Asking for an interpreter for an important
meeting
– Bringing someone you trust to your doctor’s appointment, so they can explain anything you don’t understand.
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Systemic Advocacy
Examples– Asking the hospital, “What is your policy for
hiring sign-language interpreters?”
– 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
Make sure your needs are met
Make sure your rights are protected
Power in numbers!
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Steps to Follow to Be a Self-Advocate
1. Understand that you are important
2. Decide what needs to be changed
3. Choose a goal
4. Do the most important thing first
5. Get information
6. Make a plan of action
7. Look back
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How to Self-Advocate
Understand that you are important
– You are a lawmaker!
– You are a voter!
– You are a PERSON!
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How to Self-Advocate
Understand that you are important
– Share something about yourself that’s unique about you.
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How to Self-Advocate
Decide what needs to be changed– What have you been having problems with?
– Is there something that you want to improve in
your life?
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How to Self-Advocate
Define your goal– What is going on now that isn’t working?
– What do you need?
– What do you want to be able to do that you can’t
do now?
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How to Self-Advocate
Do the Most Important thing first– 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
Get information– What do you know about your issue?
– Do you have all of the facts?
– Where can you find information?
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How to Self-Advocate
Plan of action– What could you do to reach your goal?
– What steps can you take?
– What is the best plan?
– Where can you find support?
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How to Self-Advocate
Look back
– Helps you stay motivated
– Helps you improve
– You will see how much you have accomplished!
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Self-Advocacy
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QUESTIONS
