WHAT
IS ADVOCACY?
Promoting, Dignity, Equality and Self-Determination
Washington Protection & Advocacy System
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Table of Contents:
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What is Advocacy?Advocacy is problem solving used:
Why Choose Advocacy?Progress - change for the better - will not happen without advocacy. Advocacy is the tool citizens use in our democracy to bring about improvements. People with disabilities have seen major changes in the laws, the service system, and public attitudes in recent years. Communities have begun to see that people with disabilities have a right to fully participate in all aspects of life. This awakening began, with great effort and behind-the-scenes preparation, because people with disabilities have decided for themselves it is time to use advocacy for change. Advocates must be careful to not allow others to define who they are and what they want. The words "advocate" and "advocacy group" are seen by some as negative terms. Some think of an advocate as conveying a tone of "harshness", "unreasonableness", or "selfishness". This perception of the term "advocate" reaches beyond the disability-related advocacy - it includes the advocacy of special interest groups in Congress, lobbying, and other contexts. The reputation of advocacy, and advocates, who work on behalf of the rights of people with disabilities will suffer or improve depending on our advocacy approach. This tutorial is designed to give you some ideas for how you can be effective as an advocate. |
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Washington Protection &
Advocacy System
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