Steps to Successful Advocacy
- Accept your disability – Have pride in yourself as you are
- Admit your disability – Don’t hide your disability when important decisions are made about your future
- Understand your learning style
- Know what you need
- Think about how your needs are different in different situations
Things to be done now:
Express your dreams and what you need to achieve them in different situations:
- Discussions with your family and friends
- IEP and other school meetings
- Support group meetings
- Interviews
- Any time you want to talk about your future plans!
Resources:
YIELDD the Power – leadership training for youth at Access Living, focusing on disability rights and self-advocacy. Email Candace at ccoleman@accessliving.org or call 312-640-2195 for more information.
INCIL: Illinois Network of Centers for Independent Living. A non-residential, community based organization, directed and managed by persons with disabilities, which is dedicated to the philosophy that all people with disabilities have the right and the responsibility to make choices to control the direction of their lives and participate fully and equally in their communities. To find the CIL nearest you: Email: : www.ncil.org or call 800-587-1227 voice and tty.
Self-advocacy trainings from Family Resource Center on Disabilities are available. Call (312) 939-3513 or (800) 952-4199 for more information.
Campaign for Real Choice in Illinois – www.realchoiceinillinois.org, (217) 493-5445
LifeMyWay – www.lifemyway.org, a website for self-advocates from the Illinois Council on Developmental Disabilities
Equip for Equality ¾ Helping people with disabilities advocate for themselves, www.equipforequality.org; 800.537.2632 toll-free; 800.610.2779 tty toll-free