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Self-advocacy means speaking up, solving problems and taking action to help you live your best life. Here, we share tips for getting to know what you want. We explain how to stand up for yourself in a way that helps others listen and share your vision.
When you stand up for yourself, you know your rights, tell others what you want and need and do things to support your wellbeing.
The benefits include:
Feelings of power and pride come from knowing what you need and want and working towards your chosen goals.
The first step is to know what you need and want. Think this through for yourself.
Be clear. Don't hold back! You need to know what you want in order to have your needs met. A good approach is to list:
Take action. The most exciting (and sometimes scary) part of standing up for yourself is taking action to meet your needs and achieve your goals. The good news? You don't need to do it alone.
When taking action, you could be helped by:
You can find self-advocacy groups and information on the Disability Australia Hub website (external link).
If you would like some support to advocate for yourself you can use the Disability Advocate Network Australia website's advocacy finder page (external link).
The Circles of Support and Microboards website (external link) explores other ways people can find advocacy support.
People with disabilities have the right to make choices about what they want out of life and take action towards achieving their goals. They have the right to speak up about problems they face, like discrimination at work. They have the right to solve problems in ways that suit them.
Well-meaning people might try to solve problems for you. It can take away your power. It can focus on issues that don't matter much to you. You have a right to stand up for yourself: to identify and take action on issues that matter to you.
Ellie has a co-worker who often offers help when Ellie hasn't asked for it. He does Ellie's work when she would prefer to do it herself. Ellie writes in her journal about the frustration she feels. Then, she thinks about how she could change the situation. She decides to talk to her co-worker directly. She tells him that she can meet her workload and will ask for help if she needs it. She also talks to her manager about the problem, asking for support if it happens again.
We all have the right to live full and flourishing lives, free from violence and abuse. This section looks at the history of human rights and United Nations conventions. We also outline the rights of women and gender-diverse people with disabilities in the Australian legal system.
Find out moreA personal boundary is something we won't do or won't accept from others. It can be about touch, like saying no to hugging. It can be about words, like saying no to insults or yelling. Clear boundaries support wellbeing and healthy relationships. Here, you can learn what boundaries look like. You can get help setting yours.
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