By Shannin Prather
January 2020 | 2020 Winter Newsletter
Self-advocacy allows you to say what you need, want, and hope for in life. It allows you to express how you feel in constructive ways. It is making a commitment to learn and improve through actions. It is about standing up for yourself and others in the face of injustice.
Self-advocacy empowers you to seek the knowledge needed to succeed in your goals and to participate in the decisions being made that affect your life.
The process of becoming a self-advocate includes educating yourself on support options available to you; knowing your rights and responsibilities; problem-solving; listening and learning; and reaching out to others for support. The key component of self-advocacy is communicating your needs, however you can, and gaining knowledge about self-determination−the process by which a person controls their own life.
Living with a disability can be challenging. Doctors, counselors, and Independent Care Providers (IPs) may help you live independently but communicating your perspective to others is a necessary skill for increasing your well-being and quality of life. You are the best expert on what you want and need.
Self-advocacy is simply asserting yourself formally−such as meeting with a local lawmaker−or informally, such as letting your IP know that you are tired of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. As you learn to express your needs and preferences, you gain confidence and build communication skills.
Whether you’ve got the words to express yourself or rely on others to interpret your needs, there are tools available to help you advocate for yourself. The California State Council on Developmental Disabilities offers a list of resources for self-advocates at: scdd.ca.gov/selfadvocacy.