Self – AdvocacySelf – Advocacyand People with Brain and People with Brain

InjuriesInjuriesDaniel J. Keating, PhD

Executive DirectorThe Alliance for the Betterment if Citizens with Disabilities

dan@abcdnj.org

Health Condition Health Condition ((disorder/diseasedisorder/disease))

World Health Organization Interaction of ConceptsWorld Health Organization Interaction of ConceptsICF 2001ICF 2001

Environmental Environmental FactorsFactors

Personal Personal FactorsFactors

Body function&structureBody function&structure (Impairment(Impairment))

ActivitiesActivities(Limitation)(Limitation)

ParticipationParticipation(Restriction)(Restriction)

Self-Advocacy Self-Advocacy

Important in rehabilitation and recoveryCan affect physical healthCan affect emotional healthCan impact quality of lifeEmpowers

What is Self-Advocacy?What is Self-Advocacy?

“‘Advocacy” can mean many things, but in general, it refers to taking action.

Advocacy simply involves speaking and acting on behalf of your self or others.”

Advocacy Tool Kit: Skills and Strategies for Effective Self and Peer Advocacy; Disability Rights Wisconsin, 2008, www.disabilityrightswi.org

What is Self-Advocacy?What is Self-Advocacy?

“Advocacy is a type of problem solving designed to protect personal, and legal rights, and to insure a diversified existence.”

Advocacy Skills; Brain Injury Resource Center; www.headinjury.com/advocacy.htm

What is Self-Advocacy?What is Self-Advocacy?

There are several types of action that a person can take:

◦ System advocacy: taking actions to influence social, political, and economic systems to bring about change for groups of people

◦ Legal advocacy: what lawyers do to establish or protect legal rights

◦ Legislative advocacy: change laws, promote new laws◦ Peer advocacy: taking actions to represent the rights and

interests of someone other than yourself◦ Self-advocacy: taking action to represent and advance your own

interests

Advocacy Skills; Brain Injury Resource Center; www.headinjury.com/advocacy.htm

What is Self-Advocacy?What is Self-Advocacy?

Individual self-advocacy: speaking or acting for oneself and deciding what is best for the individual and taking charge of one’s life by standing up for oneself.Group self-advocacy: individuals join together to advocate for a common cause; Groups can become social outlets for people with disabilities

Brandt, J. Creating a New Self-Advocacy Organization – Imagine the Possibilities, Partnership for People with Disabilities, Virginia Commonwealth University.

What is Self-Advocacy?What is Self-Advocacy?

“People with…disabilities must be able to act as self-advocates, that is: to exercise their rights of basic personhood and citizenship by speaking and standing up for themselves. This means that people must have a voice in decision-making in all areas of their daily life and in public policy decisions affecting them.”

Self-Advocacy, The Arc of the United States, px?piwww.thearc.org/page.asd=2358

Advocacy SkillsAdvocacy Skills

Self advocacy skills can help you avoid or solve problems with family and loved ones, doctors and lawyers, employers, associates, and friends

Advocacy Skills; Brain Injury Resource Center; www.headinjury.com/advocacy.htm

Advocacy SkillsAdvocacy Skills

Self-advocacy skills can help you obtain reasonable and necessary accommodations in both public and private settings; i.e., education, housing, employment, transportation, and taxation.

Advocacy Skills; Brain Injury Resource Center; www.headinjury.com/advocacy.htm

Advocacy SkillsAdvocacy Skills

Self-advocacy skills can help you identify, analyze, and make informed decisions concerning choices one must make. The regular exercise of self-advocacy skills can empower one to gain greater control over one’s life.Advocacy Skills; Brain Injury Resource Center; www.headinjury.com/advocacy.htm

Self-Advocacy PlanSelf-Advocacy Plan

Effective advocacy of any kind requires building a solid strategy or plan and practicing skills to help you feel comfortable and confident in reaching your advocacy goals.

Advocacy Training Manual: Wisconsin Coalition for Advocacy, 1986

Self-Advocacy PlanSelf-Advocacy Plan

Break Down the problemEducate yourselfIdentify your rightsDevelop a solution (goal) and strategy to

address your problem

Advocacy Training Manual: Wisconsin Coalition for Advocacy, 1986

Self-Advocacy SkillsSelf-Advocacy Skills

Educate oneself about your conditionKeep good recordsProblem solveKeep a positive attitudeBe PersistentThank those who help you

Advocacy Skills; Brain Injury Resource Center; www.headinjury.com/advocacy.htm

Advocacy PlanAdvocacy Plan

Create a Plan:

Statement of the problem◦What would you like to achieve?◦A statement of general purpose or intent

Advocacy PlanAdvocacy Plan

What would you like to achieve?

◦ What are your goals?◦ What is the ideal solution◦ What are compromise solutions

Advocacy PlanAdvocacy Plan

Information available:What Information do you have?What information do you need?

Advocacy PlanAdvocacy Plan

Arguments:What are the arguments that are pro your position?What are the arguments that are con your position?

Advocacy PlanAdvocacy Plan

Step by Step Plan:Who will do what

◦What will you do?◦What will other do?

When will things be done by?◦Establish dates and deadlines

Advocacy PlanAdvocacy Plan

What will you do next if you succeed?

What will you do if you do not succeed?

ConclusionConclusion

Questions???