This document provides information about self-advocacy for people with disabilities. It defines self-advocacy as speaking up for oneself and taking control of one's own life. To become a self-advocate, a person must believe they are first a person and not defined by their disability, and that they have the same opportunities as others. The document encourages learning about one's strengths and limitations, as well as resources available for accommodations. It provides tips for advocating for oneself, such as having a plan, being respectful of others, and following up. Finally, it lists several advocacy resources and organizations where readers can learn more.

1. Self-Advocacy
Who tells people what you need?
Presented by Andrea Buening, IL Special Projects Coordinator
The Independent Living Center
abuening@ilcenter.org
www.ilcenter.org

2. What is an Advocate?
A person who speaks or writes in support or defense of a
person, cause, etc.
A representative who will see that a person’s needs are
met.
They can counsel you, speak for you, help you understand
your rights, and help you find services
They work to protect people with disabilities against
discrimination, abuse, neglect and or exploitation.

3. Who Can Be An Advocate?
Anyone Can be an advocate
– If they believe in a cause
– If they are a professional or family member
– If they have resources to help people with
disabilities
– If they respect other people’s opinions

4. Self-Advocacy:
is a civil rights movement so that every
person with a disability has control over his
or her own life and needs so that people
with disabilities are treated the same as
everyone else.

5. What is a “SELF”-Advocate?
A person with disabilities who speaks up for himself or herself.
A person with disabilities who takes control of his or her own life.
A person with disabilities who makes decisions for himself or herself.
A person with disabilities who is in charge of their own medical care
in medical systems.
A person with disabilities who takes action about a cause they believe
in.

6. Becoming a “Self-Advocate”
If you believe these things you ARE a
Self-Advocate
– You BELIEVE that you are a PERSON first and NOT your disability
– You BELIEVE that you can have the same opportunities as other people
– You BELIEVE in and work with others to help them take control of their
own life
– You BELIEVE that people with disabilities can be independent
– You BELIEVE that people with disabilities can make their own decisions
from choices available to them

7. JUST LIKE EVERYONE ELSE

8. If you are a Self-Advocate,
what would you do?
You would speak to others about what you believe in
You would be a leader and example
You would know your rights and stand up for them
You would take responsibility and control of your own life
You would fight stereotypes and discrimination
You would work to improve your life and the lives of
others with disabilities.
In effect, you would work for the benefit of all people
whether they are disabled or not.

9. How do you start?
First, know yourself and learn what you are good
at, what you can do and what your limitations are.
– Not all of us are good at all things. LEARN
your strengths and LEARN your limitations
• Do you like to be in groups?
• Do you like to work alone?
• What do you do well?

10. How do you start?
Brain Injuries cause various problems for people.
Professionals can usually tell us what
we can’t see ourselves
• Anger
• Impulsiveness
• Memory problems
• Balance problems
• Organization problems
• OVERLOAD
• Time management problems
• Communication problems
• Inappropriate behavior

11. Where do you start?
Accept your disability and work with it. Don’t hide it and don’t ignore
it.
– Learn as much as you can about the problems you have and ask for and
accept help when you need it
– BE PROACTIVE ABOUT YOUR PROBLEMS AND WORK TO MAKE
THEM BETTER
– Set goals and write steps to reach them
– Learn what accommodations are and how to get them
• This doesn’t mean using your disability as an excuse to get out of doing things
that you can do for yourself

12. How do you start?
Do you know what you need? Can someone help you decide by giving
you choices?
Find a resource specialist and let them give you resources, then YOU
follow up on them
Imagine a list of 5 choices and you can’t decide on one of them. Then
what do you do?
– TAKE TIME to think about the choices
– DISCUSS the choices with someone
– TELL the person you are working with what you like, you want, and what
your goals are
– TELL the person who can help you what problems you might have that
are keeping you from reaching your goals
– TELL the person helping you if you need more time to answer

13. How to Advocate for something you
believe in or for yourself
Have a plan and work your plan
Know what you are talking about and why you want to
talk to someone
Be respectful of the person’s time and their opinions and
restrictions
Practice what you want to tell them with someone else
Speak as slowly as you need to and look into their eyes
Repeat back to them what you heard them say to make
sure you got the information correctly
Be ready to compromise and smile even if is difficult

14. ALWAYS check back with them
Find out the best time for you to contact
them again
Don’t be a pest
ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS tell them
thank you for their time and their help

15. Resources on Self-Advocacy
U.S. Department of Health and
Human Services
200 Independence Avenue, S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20201
877-696-6775
www.hhs.gov
Missouri Department of Health and
Senior Services
800-235-5503
Americans with Disabilities Act
(800) 514-0301
TTY 800-514-0383
www.ada.gov
Center for Self Determination
MetroPlace Center
35425 Michigan Ave W.
Wayne, MI 48184-1687
(734) 722-7092
www.centerforself-
determination.com/
Independent Living, U.S.A.
Web site: www.ilusa.com/

16. Resources on Self-Advocacy
Institute on Community Integration
Unversity of Minnesota
150 Pillsbury Drive, S.E.
Minneapolis, MN 6645
612-624-6300
http://ici.umn.edu/
National Association of Councils on
Developmental Disabilities
1234 Massachusetts Ave,
NW, Suite 103
Washington, DC 20005
202.506.5813
www.nacdd.org
Missouri Advocates for Individuals with
Developmental Disabilities
573-751-4054
Missouri Protection and Advocacy
800-392-8667
www.moadvocacy.org
People First of Missouri
www.missouripeoplefirst.org
800-444-0821
President’s Committee on Employment of
People with Disabilities
1331 F Street N.W. Suite 300
Washington, DC 20004
www.dol.gov/odep/
Missouri Developmental Disability Resource
Center
www.moddrc.org
800-444-0824
Missouri Planning Council for Developmental
Disabilities
1716 Four Seasons Drive, Suite 103
Jefferson City, MO 65101
(573) 751-8611
www.mpcdd.com

17. Resources on Self-Advocacy
President’s Committee for
People with Intellectual
Disabilities
Hubert H Humphrey
Building, Room 352 G
200 Independence Avenue SW
Washington, DC 20201
www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/pcpid/
Self-Advocacy Groups
The ARC
www.thearc.org
www.arcofmissouri.org
Self-Advocates Becoming
Empowered (S.A.B.E.)
P.O. Box 105CI
New Fairfield, CT 06812
www.sabeusa.org
Self-Advocate Leadership
Network
www.hsri.org/leaders/leaders.html
ADAPT
www.adapt.org

18. Find the Center for Independent
Living Nearest You
ILRU Nationwide Directory of CILs
www.ilru.org/html/publications/directory/index.html
Missouri Directory: www.mosilc.org
Missouri Directory via telephone: 1-888-
667-2117

19. Questions?
My contact information:
Andrea Buening
Independent Living Special Projects Coordinator
The Independent Living Center
2639 East 34th
Street
Joplin, MO 64804
417-659-8086
800-346-8951
abuening@ilcenter.org
www.ilcenter.org