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

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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)

6. 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

7. 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!