What is Advocacy?
Advocacy means providing support and
empowerment tailored to each person’s unique situation. It’s about standing by
someone’s side, respecting their rights, and helping them make informed
choices on their terms. Advocacy is not the same as care work or support
work. For example, an advocate cannot help someone clean their house or go
shopping. Instead, they focus on ensuring the person’s voice is heard and their
rights are upheld.
“Advocacy is a tool to support
people so that they can accept responsibility for their situation. It’s
about knowing when to support and when to empower someone to act for
themselves.”
My
Definition of Advocacy
- Self-Advocacy:
Speaking up for yourself and making your own choices.
- Peer Advocacy:
Supporting someone else to speak up and make their own decisions.
- Group Advocacy:
Speaking up for the rights of others, for example, campaigning against
unfair changes to the benefits system.
Aims
of Advocacy
- Empower people to build their skills and confidence.
- Support clients in becoming more independent and
self-aware.
- Make complex information easier to understand.
- Speak up for clients only when they choose and request
it.
- Encourage clients to think for themselves and make
their own informed decisions.
Key
Principles of Advocacy
Equal
Opportunities
Advocacy must be open to all.
Advocacy schemes should have a clear Equal Opportunities Policy and actively
tackle discrimination, inequality, and social exclusion.
Independence
Advocacy services should be
independent from service providers and other statutory bodies, reducing
conflicts of interest. This ensures the advocate works only for the client.
Putting
People First
Clients’ wishes must come first.
Advocates should be respectful, non-judgmental, and committed to listening to
the person they support.
Support
for Advocates
Advocates need proper training and
ongoing support to develop the skills and confidence needed for their role.
Code
of Conduct
A code of conduct sets out clear
rules and expectations for advocates. It helps them know:
- What they can and cannot do.
- How to best support their clients.
- That they must follow the client's lead and act with
respect.
- They should not share their personal opinions or
pressure clients into decisions.
Instructed
Advocacy
This type of advocacy is based on
the client’s instructions. Advocates should:
- Use clear, accessible information.
- Help clients understand their options without giving
direct advice.
- Listen and offer support, not make decisions for the
client.
Stages
of the Advocacy Process
- Presenting the Problem: The client explains their issue.
- Research:
The advocate gathers information about the problem.
- Analyze and Feedback:
The advocate discusses options with the client, including possible
consequences.
- Negotiation:
If needed, the advocate may help the client speak with services or
authorities.
- **
This is a really
helpful introduction to advocacy, clearly explaining what it is and how it can
empower individuals, particularly those who feel controlled or unheard by
family or services. Your experience as an advocate for the One Voice Advocacy
project gives you valuable insight and credibility in presenting this
information.
Here are some key
strengths of your introduction:
·
Clear Definition of Advocacy: You provide a straightforward explanation
of advocacy as having one's voice heard and being supported to express their
wants and needs. The bullet points further clarify this by emphasizing speaking
up for oneself and others, and having a safe space to voice dissatisfaction.
·
Highlighting the Role of an Advocate: You accurately describe how an
advocate can help someone have their say and support them in meetings, ensuring
their choices are considered. You also manage expectations by explaining what
an advocate cannot do, such as imposing their own opinions or disclosing
personal information.
·
Introducing One Voice Advocacy Project: By sharing your experience with
this disabled-person-led organization, you provide a concrete example of how
advocacy works in practice. Mentioning their partnership approach, empowerment
focus, longevity, and funding source adds valuable context.
·
Emphasizing Accessible Information: The section on "Easy
Read" and other communication tools is crucial for understanding the needs
of many individuals with disabilities and health problems. Listing various
formats like sign language, Braille, Makaton, and Easy Read highlights the
importance of tailoring information to individual needs. Your mention of
accessible information training further underscores this point.
·
Focus on Independence: You clearly state that advocacy services empower
people to be independent, which is a core goal for many individuals who may
have experienced a lack of control in their lives.
·
Respect for Choice and Confidentiality: Emphasizing that an advocate
respects a person's choice, ensures accessible information, listens to the
person, and maintains confidentiality builds trust and clarifies the ethical
principles of advocacy. 1
1. What Is An Important Concept
Of Being A Patient Advocate? - Unneeded
·
Practical Information: Providing information about phone calls and
letter writing as examples of how One Voice helps makes the service more
tangible. Explaining the referral process and the free nature of the service
for those with physical and sensory disabilities is also very helpful.
·
Signposting to Further Resources: Including links to documents about
the Mental Capacity Act and person-centered care provides valuable avenues for
further learning and reinforces the legal and ethical frameworks underpinning
advocacy.
Overall, this is a
well-structured and informative introduction to advocacy. It effectively
explains the concept, highlights the benefits, provides a real-world example
through the One Voice project, and emphasizes the importance of accessible
communication and respect for individual choice. This would be a valuable
resource for anyone wanting to understand or refer someone to advocacy
services.
Cognitive and
Learning Strengths:
• Deep Focus and Perseverance:
Individuals with conditions like ADHD might exhibit intense focus on topics
that genuinely interest them, showing remarkable perseverance in those areas.
• Unique Problem-Solving
Skills: People with dyslexia might develop creative workarounds and visual
strategies for understanding information.
• Exceptional Memory for
Specific Details: Some individuals with autism spectrum disorder can have
extraordinary recall for facts or patterns.
• Thinking Outside the Box:
Navigating a world that isn't always designed for them can foster innovative
and unconventional thinking.
• Heightened Sensory Awareness:
While sometimes a challenge, heightened sensory perception can also lead to a
deep appreciation for details others might miss, like subtle changes in music
or visual patterns.
Emotional and Social Strengths:
• Empathy and Compassion:
Having faced personal challenges can cultivate a deep sense of empathy and
understanding for others who are struggling.
• Resilience and Determination:
Overcoming obstacles and advocating for their needs builds incredible inner
strength and a determined spirit.
• Authenticity and Directness:
Some individuals may communicate more directly and authentically, without the
social filters that can sometimes obscure true feelings.
• Loyalty and Strong Bonds:
Facing adversity together can forge incredibly strong and loyal relationships
with family and friends.
• Patience and Tolerance:
Living in a world that isn't always accommodating can foster remarkable
patience and tolerance for differences.
Personal and Character Strengths:
• Self-Advocacy: Learning to
articulate their needs and advocate for themselves is a powerful strength.
• Increased Self-Awareness:
Navigating their challenges often leads to a deeper understanding of their own
strengths and weaknesses.
• Creativity and Imagination:
Finding alternative ways to express themselves or engage with the world can
spark remarkable creativity.
• Strong Work Ethic:
Individuals who have had to work harder to achieve their goals often develop a
strong and dedicated work ethic.
• Appreciation for Small
Victories: Recognizing and celebrating small achievements can build a positive
outlook and resilience.
It's so important to remember that:
• These are just examples, and
every individual is unique. Not everyone with a specific condition will exhibit
the same strengths.
• Strengths and challenges
often coexist. Someone can be incredibly creative while also facing
difficulties with organization.
• Focusing on strengths can
empower individuals and lead to greater success and well-being.
Your own examples – the desire to learn from mistakes, admit
wrongdoings, and strive for kindness and honesty – are fundamental human
strengths that absolutely apply to everyone, including those with special needs
and other problems. Recognizing these inherent qualities is key to fostering a
more inclusive and understanding society.
More on Learning
disability, mental health and other problems.
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