If you don‘t stand up for your self who will Ana Lipicar Natasa Mauko

If you don‘t stand up for your self who will

Ana LipicarNatasa Mauko

What is self advocacy?• No definition• The process of people speaking out for

themselves, thereby gaining or regaining control over their lives

• It means that you arm yourself with the tools and skills necessary to feel comfortable about asserting yourself and communicating clearly about your needs

What is self advocacy - 2• Fighting for your rights• Standing on your own two feet • Doing your own thing• Telling people what you want • Sharing problems• Making choices

What is self-advocacy - 3• Taking responsibility for your own life. • Enjoying the same rights as everyone else. • Getting rid of words like 'spaz, 'cripple' and

'handicapped'. • Being part of a support group. • Not letting parents and carers run our lives. • Coming and going when we like. One for us, http://www.oneforus.com/Self_Advoca.31.0.html

Why is self-advocacy important?

• Gives a feeling of having a control over your life• Is a way of reaching out to others• It can improve quality of life

• Self-advocacy groups – important for people with intellectual disabilities

• Small groups usually lead by professionals • The aim - to create a save environment

where people can talk about their problems • Different topics which are discussed and

sometimes they make different initiatives• The European Platform of Self-Advocates

(EPSA)

Where can you Self-Advocate?• There are many places that you might want to

speak-up for yourself or ask for what you want such as:

• At home• At work• At school• At the hospital• At the doctor• At the shops• On the bus

How to become your own best

advocate?

How to become your own best self-advocate

• Say what you think and feel,• speak-up for things you believe in,• understands and know about your rights and responsibilities,• take responsibility for your own life, • make decisions that affect your life,• help to improve your life, • try to change the way things are done.

Remember ...

• The internet is a powerful tool for self-advocacy and also it is able to promote self-advocacy.

Influences • Society as a whole

Inaccessible environmentNot only physical barriers but also communicational barriers

Dependent

Attitude towards disabled people•Is a mirror of society•Prejudices – lack of confidence•Attitude of disabled people

• Educational institutionsBig influence on our personality

and valuesRegular schoolFaculty – to demanding or to

little

• What can be done?Website informationOpen to suggestions Informed Communicate

• Home environment – what can parents doAdvice and support for parentsEncourage their children to stand

up for themselves Set of choicesChild speaks to others about

matters regarding him

Where can self-advocacy leadExample from

Slovenia

Our organisation, The Slovenian Association of Disabled Student

• 1995 - left on their own, without support and adjustments

• 1996 – Club of disabled students (24 members) providing adopted transportation and daily care

free of charge collecting information regarding disabled

students and informing faculties and society about their special needs

Today• Association of 210 members• Support free of charge• Strong voice for students• International active

Self-advocacy isn‘t• just about rights; it's about

responsibilities too,• just for the most able; people with

severe learning difficulties have a voice too,

• something you do in a group, it's a way of life,

• isn't a current fad; it's about personal and civil rights,• isn't a solution to all problems;

society will have to change for people to get their rights, • isn't about being bolshy and

aggressive,

• isn't about getting everythin you want; it's about being part of the real world like everyone else,

• isn't just about consultation with services; people decide what they want to speak up about not the services or staff.

One for us, http://www.oneforus.com/Self_Advoca.31.0.html

It’s something students need to learn

because they’ll be doing this the rest of

their lives

The Slovenian Association of Disabled

Studentsinfo@dsis-drustvo.si