Social Media in Advocacy

• Social media overview• Advocacy overview• Simon’s Story• Tips, hints and practical info• Ways to get involved and make a difference

What is Social Media?

SOCIAL MEDIA:forms of electronic communication through which userscreate online communities to share information, ideas,personal messages, and other content

Facts and Stats• 90% of young adults 18-29 use social media• 35% of 65+, up from 5% in 2005• Genders fairly equal: 68%women 62%men• Higher education and household income more likely• Urban more likely than rural• Facebook = biggest social media site, but it’s growth is fairly flat. Other

platforms are growing fast...Instagram with younger demos, LinkedInfor college students and professionals, Pinterest with women

• Most people use two ormore social media sites• 71% of adult internet users have a Facebook account• Average person spends 40 minutes a day on FB• 75% of FB activity done on mobile device• 23% of adult internet users have a twitter account• Average Person spends 17minutes a day on twitter

source: Pew Research Centre

Ways to use Social Media as anAdvocacy Tool:

• Share your message• Research• Stay involved or get connected• Not everyone can make people rally, but you can

participate in discussion online, fill out surveys, etc.• Facebook groups, events, twitter reporting,

Strategies you have found helpful?

Caitlin’s story

Simon’s Story

Advocacy Strategies• Vision: be clear of your son and or daughter dreams, desire

and life expectation, be mindful this is continuouslygrowing

• Recognizing when something isn’t working for your child• Know the outcome you are working towards• Know what compromises you are willing to make• Never go at it alone• Be confident and know your vulnerabilities• Be organized and keep track of everything• Make sure you are talking to the right person• Foster and develop relationships• Communication, Listening carefully

Do’s and Dont’s of Social Media

• Don’t go to social media first. Go through the proper channels whenever possible• Use it to build relationships, not slander. Try to empower, not fight. • Advocacy doesn’t mean ‘guns ablazing’, 99% of Inclusion Alberta’s work isrelationship building.

• Ensure that you are sharing a correct portrayal of inclusion• Avoid entering public debates that might end up detrimental to youradvocacy/inclusion

• If you area member of a board or organization, there is no separation. What yousay on social media can reflect them as well?

• Represent your kids as people. Maintain integrity and privacy

How to: Facebook•Content is (mostly) off limits to anyone not in your circle of approved friends. Most people populate their facebook with real life friends, family, coworkers,certain organizations/companies they like and trust etc.•Create your account, create your profile, search for and add friend. • Your ‘newsfeed’ becomes a stream of posts from those you are friends with orpages you have ‘liked’•Your ‘wall’ becomes a stream of things you haveposted•Can also:

•comment on friends’ content•‘like’ content• ‘like’ pages an join groups•write posts, upload and share photos•post on another’s ‘wall’•share others’ videos and links•Send privatemessages•Facebook app for smartphone

•An “information distribution channel”. Quick bursts of info, 140 charactersmax. Sharing thoughts and information with others.•Create your account, create your profile, create username (ie: @InclusionAB) and ‘follow’ who youwant. Your ‘home newsfeed’ becomes a stream of tweetsfrom those who you follow. •Others may follow you.•Can also:

• search• favourite• retweet• tag @• hashtag #•Twitter app forsmartphone

How to: Twitter

Twitter Cheat Sheet:“Home” – live feed of the tweets frompeople you follow“Me”– Your tweets and profile.You can also find your “favourites” and “lists”“Notifications”–Things other people have tweeted that relates to you. A reply, a favourite, a ‘tag’#hashtag – Unites a conversation, a keyword@username – Tag, or reply to. Directly notifies someone in their“notifications” feed that you’vementioned them.Retweet – Share that tweet to your followers through your tweetsFavourite – bookmark content you find. Author is notified, peoplecan see your favourites list. Go through at a later time and choose toretweet.

Accessibility Apps

• Easy Chirp: accessible version of Twitter that providesconsistent layout, keyboard navigation, better support forassistive technologies, works with screen readers, braille

• Mobile versions: m.facebook.com, m.twitter.com• iPhone/Android accessibility functions• Voice Dream Reader: www.voicedream.com turn text into

speech• Jing (screen recording/creating tutorials)• Zoom• Facely App

Vulnerable Persons Standard

The Vulnerable Persons Standard is a series of evidence-based safeguardsintended to protect the lives of Canadians.

These safeguards will help to ensure that Canadians requesting assistancefrom physicians to end their life can do so without jeopardizing the lives ofvulnerable persons whomay be subject to coercion and abuse.

Participation readily available for all• https://twitter.com/vps_npv/• http://www.vps-npv.ca• http://static1.squarespace.com/static/56bb84cb01dbae77f988b71a/t/56d5b1f1cf80a1c1b88ecefa/1456845297877/Sample+letter+to+a+parliamentarian.pdf

Make a difference!• PDD Safety Standards Forum• The Education Act• Vulnerable Persons Standard

• Supporting local Inclusion groups ( Inclusion Lloydminster,Inclusion GP, Inclusion Calgary, Inclusion Siskia, InclusionMedicine Hat)

Questions?