NothingAboutUsWithout UsCenteringtheMovement AroundNothingAboutUsWithout UsCenteringtheMovement Around
Self-Advocates 



History 


People 
with 
disabilities 
have 
historically 
had 
people 
around 
them 
making 
decisions 
that 
impact 
their 
lives. 
Other 
people 


havedecidedwhattheycando, whattheyneed, andwhattheycanhave.

Self-Advocacy 
Movement 


• 
In 
the 
1960’s 
the 
self-advocacy 
movement 
began 
in 
Sweden. 
• 
The 
idea 
began 
to 
spread 
to 
Great 
Britain, 
Canada 
and 
the 
United 
States 
in 
1972. 
• 
In 
Oregon, 
a 
group 
called 
“People 
First” 
was 
formed 
because 
they 
felt 
that 
their 
disabilities 
were 
secondary 
to 
their 
being 
a 
person 
first 
and 
foremost. 
From 
there, 
the 
idea 
of 
self-advocacy 
spread 
across 
North 
America. 

What 
do 
we 
mean 
by 
“Self-Advocate”? 


• 
A self-advocate 
is 
someone 
who 
has 
the 
learned 
to 
speak-up for 
themselves 
and 
the 
things 
that 
are 
important 
to 
them. 
They 
can 
ask 
for 
what 
they 
need 
and 
want. 

Rights 


• 
Self-advocates 
are 
aware 
of 
their 
rights 
and 
responsibilities. 
They 
make 
the 
choices 
and 
decisions 
that 
affect 
their 
lives. 

Authentic 
Involvement 


Authentic 
involvement 
of 
self-advocates 
requires 
that 
you 
include 
them 
in 
meaningful 
ways. 
You 
need 
to 
set 
an 
environment 
where 
they: 


• 
Are 
allowed 
to 
make 
decisions 
• 
Have 
the 
opportunity 
to 
learn 
leadership 
skills 
• 
Can 
see 
change 
and 
progress 
as 
a 
result 
of 
their 
contributions 
• 
Have 
ownership 
and 
control 
in 
decision-making processes 
• 
Are 
respected, 
valued 
and 
trusted 
and 
their 
voices 
are 
heard 
and 
valued 

Self-Advocate 
Panel