Self-advocacy is the ability to speak up on your behalf effectively. You have the right to assert your own best interests. You might do this to bring about positive results in any of the various contexts in which you interact – whether at work, in organizations, school, community, or family.
Critical Elements of Self-Advocacy
While it is often associated with people who have particular conditions or disabilities, self-advocacy is something that everyone can learn, practice, and encourage in others.
- The value of self-determination skills isn’t limited to special education. It’s a conversation that every person benefits from.
Believe in yourself
Self-advocacy requires that you know yourself, what matters most to you and why.
- Having the courage to take on the challenge, knowing that you have prepared and allies are all around gives you greater power and freedom to choose how you will approach the situation – without fear of losing a privileged position.
Understanding yourself, your values, your needs, and your rights
Self-advocacy requires that you first understand yourself
- What are your values and what matters to you most?
- Are there particular needs that you need to accomplish tasks, feel respected, and have emotional, physical, and financial well-being, and what are your strengths and growth areas?
Benefits of Self-Advocacy
Empower yourself and others by practicing and honing self-advocacy skills
- Build a psychologically safe and inclusive environment where other people are more apt to share their ideas and flourish
- Take control of your own life by setting the boundaries and making choices based on your values
- Understand what matters most to you and why
- Use open-ended questions to engage in conversations
- Be an effective problem solver
- Develop yourself continually
- Speak up for yourself
Understanding your context
You need to understand yourself in the context of your role within the larger group
- Have a good understanding of the organization’s values, rules, rights, and resources
- Be aware of the rules governing your role, workplace, and/or situation
- Familiarize yourself with the resources allocated to support you
Know your strengths
Collect the feedback of family and friends on what they consider to be your top strengths. Reflect on them, and consider how they have served you in the past and in the present, and how they may help in the future
Cultivate support
4 steps to build up a support system
- Develop a robust and direct line of communication with your manager
- Join – and lead – organizations that are there to support you and others
- Connect with like and unlike individuals who are united in building visibility, programming, and policies to support people in your organization
- Be an ally and advocate for others
How to communicate your needs
For effective self-advocacy, it is your responsibility to do the work of presenting your issue in a clear and compelling way that others will see as an issue worth solving.
- When the time comes to advocate for yourself and others, make sure to take the following steps: prepare, consult, draft, and state your case
- To prepare, start by documenting your concerns in detail
- Do your research: What laws govern the issue on a federal, state, and local level?
- Consult your support network for their feedback and input
- Know your rights and have alternate areas of influence
