Advocacy... What is it anyway?

September 22, 2012

What is Advocacy?

According to the BCACL“Advocacy is a strategic communication

which aims to create the social and political incentives to attract resources, shape policy, and remove barriers”

Plain language please...

Advocacy - Definition

People First provides the following definition:“Advocacy is helping a person or a group of

people to stand up for their rights and get what they need – helping support someone to make their own choices.”

- Advocacy is gaining access to decision making

- Advocacy means changing the power relationship between decision makers and the people affected by their decisions

- Advocacy means making real change in people’s lives

Other Useful Definitions

Self-Advocacy: Knowing your rights and speaking for yourself to get what you need or want (People First Canada)

Ally: Someone who works with a person or group to bring about change, and to ensure rights are acknowledges. An ally provides resources and shares power

Advocacy Makes Change

At any given moment in time, your advocacy and leadership are building a better and more helpful bridge from a weaker past to a stronger future

On any given day your advocacy efforts are a link from a person’s life of vulnerability to one that is stronger and less vulnerable

Types of Advocacy

• Self Advocacy – an individual speaks for her or himself

• Individual Advocacy – a person acts with or on behalf of an individual who has a concern

• Group Advocacy – several people advocate together for a common goal• Systems Advocacy – broader systems, Social

policy change

Effective Advocacy• A process through which individuals, families and/oradvocates can constructively express dissatisfaction andcontribute to creative solutions to identified problems• Assertive Communication (vs. aggressive, passive

aggressive)• Empowering• Builds towards long lasting positive solutions = real

system change• Time, patience, relationships, good communications,systems understanding, negotiations, and allies

Qualities of an Effective Advocate

• Focused• Informed• Articulate• Committed• Persevering• Assertive• Respectful• Self confident• Acts with honesty and integrity

The Value of Knowing What Has Come Before

-The effectiveness of advocacy efforts is often in direct correlation to the advocate’s understanding of what has come before

-And, of course, it is best to be as clear as possible about the vision for the future

Strategies for Advocacy

1. Be Organized2. Know the Facts3. Identify the Problem4. Identify Key Decision -Makers5. Respectful and Assertive Communication6. Get Support When Needed7. Link Individual Advocacy with Collective

Advocacy

Strategies for Individual Advocacy

8. Stay cool and listen with both ears9. Resolve the issue at the lowest possible level

– e.g. “don’t use a cannon when a pea shooter will do!”

10. Develop compassion for the other side and respect their values

11. Get to know people who can help you12. Take care of yourself!

In Other Words...

Advocacy is: Pleasantly, Patient,

Persistent, Persuasive and Sustained Action

Let’s Look at a Specific Example

• Identify issue – institutional placement of people with intellectual disabilities in NS

• Identify others who care about this issue• Who can help solve this problem?• Developing community partnerships, alliances and

coalitions.• Find out what is getting in the way of solving thisproblem• Figure out how to get the message across…

Advocating in the Community

• Be visible when and where you can. Be an inclusive advocate. Resist isolation.

• Try, try again…• Dialogue with parents, advocates and

allies• Know your rights

Things to consider when advocating...

Seven Service Principals - handout

Support services enable full inclusion when they are:

Seven Service Principals1. Person Centered: Planning supports and services are based on the wants and

needs of the person who receives them. 2. Individualized: Support programs ensure freedom of choice and provide

individuals with the option to receive direct funding to create and manage their services.

3. Holistic: Program choices and options improve quality of life on all levels (home,

physical health, mental/emotional health, education, recreation, income, employment, etc.)

4. Flexible: Services provided are responsive to individual circumstances and

changes that occur over time.

Seven Service Principals5. Capacity Building: Support options are developed from the

perspective of the person's strengths. assets and abilities. Strong networks of family members and friends are recognized as the foundation of support and the best safeguard.

6. Portable: People can move out of a home, community or

province and take their funding with them. Provision must also be made for travel outside of Canada.

7. Universal: All people who have determined that they need particular supports will receive those supports.

You Can’t Do It Alone!

And there is no need to! There are many parents, families, and self advocates in Nova Scotia who are working on the same issues. Let’s ride the wave together and ensure that the future is bright!

If we want to see change, we need to make some noise!

Thanks!

To BCACL for giving me permission to borrow from “The Ripple Effect – A family Advocacy and Leadership Development Retreat”

To Halifax ACL for giving me permission to borrow from “Emotions to Advocacy”

To Josh Horner for the graphicsAnd to you for coming!