National Disability Advocacy Conference The Importance of Self Advocacy Monday 16th July 2007 Melbourne Julie Loblinzk Self Advocacy Sydney Inc

What is Self Advocacy Speaking for yourself Learning to do things for yourself Having rights and responsibilities Understanding your rights Making real choices Learning new skills Making friends Helping each other to change things

Self Advocacy Why Self Advocacy is important for people with Intellectual Disabilities Most of our lives other people have made decisions for us We are often not given the chance to learn how to do things for ourselves & to make our choices We want to learn how to speak up for ourselves & to make our choices

Self Advocacy Self Advocates believe that people with Intellectual Disability Have the same rights and responsibilities as everyone else Have the right to do things for themselves or get support Have the right to have choices and make decisions To be treated with respect just like everyone else

Consumer Outcomes Self Advocacy supports consumers with having choices, so they make a decision from the choices. Our consumer state whether pictures are added to any information. All consumers choices, decisions and outcomes are identified and achieved through: Individual consumer action plans Individual training sessions Group monthly training workshops Recorded action sheets (signed off by staff and consumer)

What makes Self Advocacy different to other advocacy types In NSW, Self Advocacy Sydney Inc is the only advocacy service that is run by and for people with intellectual disability – all of the Board and most of the paid staff have an intellectual disability. It is important of people with intellectual disability are involved with the direction and management of the service as this Ensues the service is relevant to people with intellectual disabilities Gives them experience and practice of management skills Provides a role model for other people with an intellectual disability Shows the community what people with intellectual disability can do

Why people with intellectual disabilities need self advocacy services People with intellectual disability - Can have trouble speaking up for themselves when they are with other people who have different disabilities. They don’t get listen to, interrupted, not given enough time to think and speak. Not taken seriously with what they say Presented with information in a manner they do not understand Often say ‘yes’ if under pressure Therefore specialised self advocacy services for people with intellectual disabilities are very important to ensure they learn to speak for themselves!