CH CDLMS Self Advocacy Initiative

This page highlights Self Advocacy initiatives in Community Healthcare Cavan, Donegal, Leitrim, Monaghan, Sligo (CH CDLMS)

What is Self Advocacy?

Self Advocacy is the process of speaking up for oneself as a disabled person, making decisions about one's own life, and advocating for one's own rights, needs and interests. It depends on being aware of one's rights, needs, and goals, and communicating them effectively to others. It also involves working with other disabled people to identify and address systemic barriers to the realisation of these rights, in the policies and practices of agencies that affect the lives of disabled people. Participation in planning and decision-making with relevant agencies is a key means of addressing these barriers and enabling effective social inclusion.

Importance of Self Advocacy

Self Advocacy is important because it empowers individuals to take control of their lives, influence decisions that affect them, and communicate their needs to others. It helps individuals to build self-confidence, self-esteem, and resilience. Moreover, Self Advocacy makes individuals more aware of their rights and opportunities, and it helps them to navigate complex systems such as education, healthcare, and employment (National Disability Authority, 2022).

Need for Self Advocacy Strategy

Findings from the Self Advocacy Learning Event organised by CH CDLMS in December 2022, identified the challenges faced by people with disabilities in speaking up for their rights and things that are important to them. The findings identified the need to create time, space and opportunity for people with disabilities to speak up and raise awareness of the challenges.

CH CDLMS Self Advocacy Strategy Sub-Group

The development of the CH CDLMS Self Advocacy Strategy was initiated by the CH CDLMS Strategic Working Group which established a Self Advocacy Strategy Group, chaired by the Head of Disability Services, to oversee the drafting of the strategy.