Self-advocates are people with intellectual disabilities who speak up for themselves about the things that are important to them.

 

Self-advocacy is about:

• understanding your own rights and the rights of other people with intellectual disabilities

• coming together in groups and giving one another peer support

• sharing experiences and learning from one another

• building confidence and power

• taking action by holding organisations and governments accountable

 

A person must be supported to understand the responsibilities of being a self-advocate and representing others.

 

Not all people with intellectual disabilities are (or want to be) self-advocates. 

An inclusive organisation will support self-advocacy.

 

This may be by providing time and space for people to develop their self-advocacy skills, or by employing self-advocacy organisations to support their work. 

Organisations should give self-advocates opportunities to speak up.  This shows that an organisation values the opinions of self-advocates.

 

For example;

• in your activities, like projects 

• in decision making in your organisation 

• in campaigns or advocacy

• in communications, like sharing experiences though social media posts

Connecting with self-advocacy groups can be difficult depending on where you are.

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Family or service provider organisations often support self-advocacy groups and can help you connect. 

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Be aware that sometimes organisations talk about their "self-advocacy work" but this work is more about social and leisure activities, not about rights. For example, some organisations call their exercise or drama groups "self-advocacy".

 

Self-advocacy groups often grow out of social groups. But people with intellectual disabilities taking part in these groups may not have had a chance to learn about their rights or understand about representing others. 

Self-advocacy is not about what organisations think!

 

Organisations that work closely with self-advocacy groups, provide funding or opportunities must understand that self-advocacy is about what people with intellectual disabilities think, not what the organisation thinks.

Remember that if you are including self-advocates in your work, you must support them and make sure they can fully take part.

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To understand how to do this well, review the guidelines sections for different areas of your work and listen to what self-advocates say they need from you.