180 likes | 360 Views
EQUIP FOR EQUALITY Advocate for Yourself! . Training Institute on Disability Rights. 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?. NOW!.
E N D
EQUIP FOR EQUALITYAdvocate for Yourself! Training Institute on Disability Rights
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? NOW!
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
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.
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.
Why Self-Advocacy Is Important • Make sure your needs are met • Make sure your rights are protected • Power in numbers!
Steps to Follow to Be a Self-Advocate • 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
How to Self-Advocate • Understand that you are important • You are a lawmaker! • You are a voter! • You are a PERSON!
How to Self-Advocate • Understand that you are important • Share something about yourself that’s unique about you.
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?
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?
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
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?
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? Go for it! • Where can you find support?
How to Self-Advocate • Look back • Helps you stay motivated • Helps you improve • You will see how much you have accomplished!
Self-Advocacy YOU CAN DO IT!!!