Individual Advocacy
Effective Advocacy
Keep the following suggestions in
mind throughout the advocacy process.
Know Your Rights
To be able to speak up for yourself, you must first be aware of your rights.
You can find out what your rights are by talking to others, such as a
representative of a disability organization, or by reading materials,
such as government publications.
How you decide to learn about your rights is up to you as there are many
sources available. Be sure that the source you use is credible - that
is, it is giving you trustworthy information. Sources that may seem to
be aimed at providing information are sometimes aimed at a different purpose
and you may end up with misinformation. It is a good idea to confirm information
that comes from a questionable source.
Rights are described both as human rights and legal rights. Most human
rights - basic rights that belong to every living person - are also legal
rights - rights guaranteed through the law. For example, the basic human
right to equality is a legal right in Canada.
Be Assertive
To be most effective, you will need to be assertive when dealing with
others and speaking up for yourself. Being assertive means standing up
for what you feel and believe, without being passive (letting things happen
without saying anything) or being aggressive (being too forceful or demanding).
You need to not let others push you around but you need to be open to
compromise and reason. If you are too passive nothing will change. If
you are too aggressive, you will have trouble getting the information
and assistance that you need.
Focus on What You Can Do
You know yourself and your abilities best. Where you have been negatively
labeled or treated unfairly, you may start doubting yourself. It is important
for you to focus on your strengths, abilities and your rights. Think positively!
Negative thinking will prevent you from achieving your goals.
Know Your Goals
f you know your rights, you should be able to know what you want to achieve.
Whether you are seeking to obtain a benefit, educate others, or get a
workplace adaptation, you should know your goal before you begin. If you
are advocating without a goal in mind, you won't know where to go or what
to do. As well, you won't know when you've reached your goal and you may
end up wasting valuable time and resources.
Work with Others
Don't think that you need to advocate on your own. Others not only support
you - they will want to help you. Family, friends, other advocates and
other people with disabilities will be able to provide you with resources
and support that can be invaluable. Depending on your goal and the extent
of your disability, you may not need the help of anyone or you may require
extensive assistance.
Be Organized
Being organized involves a practical approach. For example, when you are
applying for something (e.g. a government support), you will have to fill
out numerous forms. Make sure you have photocopies of everything you submit.
If you talk to someone from a program, write down the name of the person
and the date that you spoke to him/her. Keep all your information in one
place. Being organized in this sense is critical to being able to advocate
for yourself effectively.
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