Self-Advocacy

Self-advocacy is about taking the reins to effectively communicate our needs, rights, and preferences, and to take action to protect our interests and wellbeing. It starts with knowing ourselves, our strengths and challenges, and what we need to thrive. It also involves having a voice, making informed decisions, and being able to fully participate in our own lives. Self-advocacy is a difficult but essential skill for ND individuals to learn, because it’s often at odds with neurological predispositions. It starts with our learning assertive communications, so we can clearly and respectfully express our needs and opinions to others. But more than talking, it’s about taking action to achieve our goals. Being successful in self-advocacy leads to increased self-confidence (short-term) and independence and overall wellbeing (long-term). Examples of things to advocate for: appropriate treatment or support, specific accommodations in school or work, for rights and preferences in a therapeutic settings.