KJ, 

 

Advocacy is doing things so that you or the person(s) you are advocating
are able to do the things you or they need or want to do.  If you're
advocating for yourself, it's referred to as self-advocacy.  

 

So, if you wanted to have the chance to go to the movies on a Friday
night, but your parents/caregivers didn't want you to go because they
were worried about your safety, a responsible self advocate would show
them that you'd thought of ways to ensure that you'd be safe while you
were doing it.  Going to the movies is just a small example, but the
same principle applies to all sorts of things you can do to increase
your freedom and independence.  

 

Another part of advocacy is referred to as "the dignity of risk."  Since
you aren't going to be able to assure that you are 100% safe 100% of the
time, it means being able to weigh the risks against the benefit you get
from doing something.  

 

There are several organizations for advocacy for issues that affect
people with disabilities.  The first one that comes to mind is 

 

ADAPT (American Disabled for Attendant Programs Today)

http://www.adapt.org/

 

Not Dead Yet

http://www.notdeadyet.org/

 

People First!

http://www.peoplefirstwi.org/

(This is a link to the Wisconsin chapter of People First!

 

and Self Advocates Becoming Empowered

http://www.sabeusa.org/

 

 

Kendall Corbett

Coordinator of Consumer Activities 

Wyoming INstitute for Disabilities -WIND

1000 E. University Avenue

Dept. 4298

Laramie, WY  82071

(307) 766-2853

[log in to unmask]

 

 

-----Original Message-----
From: Kathy Jo Pink [mailto:[log in to unmask]] 
Sent: Tuesday, January 04, 2005 4:20 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: hi,

 

What's advocacy?  Kathy Jo

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

At 12:26 PM 1/3/2005, you wrote:

>Eh?  I said "advocacy," not "advisory."   The group was advocating for

>disability rights and other issues in my area.

>

>Kat

>

>

>On Mon, 3 Jan 2005 11:59:15 -0600, Kathy Jo Pink <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

>

> >Kat,

> >

> >

> >

> >What's an Advisory Group?  Kathy Jo

> >