If you don‘t stand up for your
self who will
Ana Lipicar
Natasa Mauko
What is self advocacy?
• No definition
• The process of people speaking out for
themselves, thereby gaining or regaining
control over their lives
• It means that you arm yourself with the tools
and skills necessary to feel comfortable
about asserting yourself and communicating
clearly about your needs
What is self advocacy - 2
•
•
•
•
•
•
Fighting for your rights
Standing on your own two feet
Doing your own thing
Telling people what you want
Sharing problems
Making choices
What is self-advocacy - 3
• Taking responsibility for your own life.
• Enjoying the same rights as everyone else.
• Getting rid of words like 'spaz, 'cripple' and
'handicapped'.
• Being part of a support group.
• Not letting parents and carers run our lives.
• Coming and going when we like.
One for us, http://www.oneforus.com/Self_Advoca.31.0.html
Why is self-advocacy
important?
• Gives a feeling of having a control
over your life
• Is a way of reaching out to others
• It can improve quality of life
• Self-advocacy groups – important for people
with intellectual disabilities
• Small groups usually lead by professionals
• The aim - to create a save environment
where people can talk about their problems
• Different topics which are discussed and
sometimes they make different initiatives
• The European Platform of Self-Advocates
(EPSA)
Where can you Self-Advocate?
• There are many places that you might want to
speak-up for yourself or ask for what you want such
as:
• At home
• At work
• At school
• At the hospital
• At the doctor
• At the shops
• On the bus
How to become
your own best
advocate?
How to become your own best selfadvocate
• Say what you think and feel,
• speak-up for things you believe in,
• understands and know about your rights
and responsibilities,
• take responsibility for your own life,
• make decisions that affect your life,
• help to improve your life,
• try to change the way things are done.
Remember ...
• The internet is a powerful tool
for self-advocacy and also it is
able to promote selfadvocacy.
Influences
• Society as a whole
Inaccessible environment
Not only physical barriers but
also communicational barriers
Dependent
Attitude towards disabled
people
•Is a mirror of society
•Prejudices – lack of confidence
•Attitude of disabled people
• Educational institutions
Big influence on our personality
and values
Regular school
Faculty – to demanding or to
little
• What can be done?
Website information
Open to suggestions
Informed
Communicate
• Home environment – what can
parents do
 Advice and support for parents
 Encourage their children to stand
up for themselves
 Set of choices
 Child speaks to others about
matters regarding him
Where can selfadvocacy lead
Example from
Slovenia
Our organisation, The Slovenian
Association of Disabled Student
• 1995 - left on their own, without support and
adjustments
• 1996 – Club of disabled students (24
members)
 providing adopted transportation and daily care
free of charge
 collecting information regarding disabled
students and informing faculties and society
about their special needs
Today
• Association of 210 members
• Support free of charge
• Strong voice for students
• International active
Self-advocacy isn‘t
• just about rights; it's about
responsibilities too,
• just for the most able; people with
severe learning difficulties have a voice
too,
• something you do in a group, it's a way
of life,
• isn't a current fad; it's about
personal and civil rights,
• isn't a solution to all problems;
society will have to change for
people to get their rights,
• isn't about being bolshy and
aggressive,
• isn't about getting everythin you want;
it's about being part of the real world
like everyone else,
• isn't just about consultation with
services; people decide what they want
to speak up about not the services or
staff.
One for us, http://www.oneforus.com/Self_Advoca.31.0.html
It’s something
students need to learn
because they’ll be
doing this the rest of
their lives
The Slovenian
Association of Disabled
Students
info@dsis-drustvo.si