1. What Advocacy Is and Is Not, and the Role for Advocates: Serge Resnikoff, MD, PhD ICO Director for Advocacy

2. Advocacy? Advocacy is the process of influencing people to create change. Advocacy ≠ education and communication –Education and Communication inform and help create understanding of an issue –Advocacy, on the other hand aims to persuade. This is done through requests, calls for specific actions Advocacy is a skill, and it can be taught. Opportunities in conjunction with regional meetings

3. Advocacy Basics: seven-step process for implementing an effective advocacy plan 1.Defining the situation (surveys, case studies…) 2.Establishing your goal and objectives (the request) 3.Identifying your target audiences 4.Developing your key messages to influence your target audience 5.Developing your advocacy plan 6.Engaging media interest 7.Monitoring and evaluation

4. VISION 2020 Ten Years To Go: How Advocates Can Contribute

5. ICO Advocates Support the implementation of the WHO action plan Build relationships with all stakeholders Mailings will alert on specific issues Urgent need to collect information on existing situation Success stories in prevention of blindness and eye care development e.g. Australia Establish a data base, starting with ophthalmologists in practice and training

6. 10% decreasing 55% increasing Ophthalmologists – available data (Apr 20, 2010)