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aDVOCACY rESOURCES
wHAT IS aDVOCACY?
Advocacy is action to support a cause or policy.
Disability advocacy is promoting or protecting the rights and wellbeing of people with disabilities.
Advocacy can involve sharing your lived experiences or helping people with disabilities speak out about their rights and needs, educating people, and writing or speaking with lawmakers about the rights and needs of people with disabilities.
WHo IS AN ADVOCATE?
Anyone can be an advocate! An advocate is anyone who takes action to support a cause.
People with disabilities who advocate for their rights and needs are called "self-advocates."
WHAT DO ADVOCATES DO?
Advocates take action in many ways, including:
- Calling, writing, or visiting lawmakers
- Participating in awareness events like marches, townhalls, or social media campaigns
- Educating people through workshops, webinars, panel discussions, and fact sheets
- Sharing personal stories with lawmakers and other people making decisions that impact the lives of people with disabilities
- and more!
WHY SHOULD i BE AN ADVOCATE?
Everyone has unique experiences and ideas that can be useful in advocacy! Advocates usually join together to take action because more people can have a bigger impact. If you think something is important, become an advocate for it!
advocacy tips and training
How to be a strong advocate
- The Georgia Council on Developmental Disabilities (GCDD) has created these tools for advocates:
An Advocates' Guide to the Ropes: How to speak to your legislators during session
Navigate Before You Advocate: How to get to the Capitol and Coverdell Legislative
Office Building
Finding Your State Legislator: How to know who represents you under The
Gold Dome
- Read more about how to be a strong advocate in plain language and Easy Read resources on ASAN's website: https://autisticadvocacy.org/policy/toolkits/
- SABE has created a Self Advocacy Resource and Technical Assistance Center (SARTAC) loaded with videos, guides, and information for self-advocates: https://selfadvocacyinfo.org/
- The Arc and National Council of Self-Advocates created "Tools for Contacting Your Member of Congress" that shows you how to call or email your congressperson: https://thearc.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/NCSA-Congress-Toolkit-24-1.pdf
- Sign up for email updates about policy and find out who your elected officials are by visiting The Arc's Action Center: https://p2a.co/lRPDZ5C
- Learn how to create an advocacy story by reading The Arc's "Storytelling Toolkit": https://thearc.org/resource/storytelling-toolkit-for-advocates/
- Hear from disability rights advocates who met with their congressional representatives about their experience: https://thearc.org/resource/real-stories-real-impact-advocates-on-capitol-hill/
Learn more about HCBS Advocacy
- ASAN (Autistic Self Advocacy Network) created "Accessing Home and Community Based Services: A Guide for Self-Advocates" that explains HCBS waivers and how to access them: https://autisticadvocacy.org/resources/books/accessing-hcbs/
- Here is a toolkit about HCBS from ASAN: https://autisticadvocacy.org/policy/toolkits/hcbs/
- Here is a toolkit about the HCBS Final Setting Rule from ASAN: https://autisticadvocacy.org/policy/toolkits/hcbsrule-2/
- The HCBS Advocacy Coalition created a guidebook called "The Medicaid HCBS Settings Rule: What You Should Know!": http://materials.ndrn.org/HCBS/HCBS-Settings-Rules_What-You-Should-Know-5-13-19-final.pdf
- Here is a list of toolkits, informational sheets, and videos from national organizations gathered by the HCBS Advocacy Coalition: https://hcbsadvocacy.org/disability-advocacy-organizations-resources/
nATIONAL aDVOCACY gROUPS
This is a list of national organizations that lead advocacy efforts across the country. Visit their websites to learn more about their organization and advocacy efforts.