Self Advocacy
What is Self Advocacy?
Self-Advocacy is defined as "the act of speaking up for oneself and one's interests." Our mission statement is “giving a voice to every individual with a developmental disability” because we want to empower and encourage self advocacy to be used by everybody with the emphasis on individuality in which everyone has their own specific needs that must be met.
3 Steps to Self-Advocacy
These 3 steps to Self Advocacy are vital for individuals with developmental disabilities to express their rights, needs, desires, etc.​​
​1. Knowing Your Needs​
It is extremely important that individuals with developmental disabilities know and understand their needs, desires, and human rights. It is equally as important that the needs, desires, and rights are understood by parents/caregivers, family members, direct support staff, and other key people that have an impact in an individual's future.​​
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2. Supporting Your Needs
Whether the individual is in special education, a day program, working a job, etc, is crucial that they are getting the support that they need in each of the respected areas of their life in which support is necessary.
3. Communication​
When a violation of an individual's rights may happen, it is important for an individual with a developmental disability to communicate their needs and rights and how they may have been violated to a parent/caregiver, family member, support staff, or other key people in their lives. If any individual with a developmental disability needs assistive technology to communicate, or for additional needs, it is essential for them to have alternative ways of communicating as well as getting their additional technological support needs addressed.