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Self Advocacy
Speaking up For  Yourself

​Self-advocacy means speaking up for yourself and your rights.

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It is about:

  • knowing your rights

  • understanding what you need

  • telling people what matters to you

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Self-advocacy supports you:

  • be involved in decisions about your life

  • say what you want — and what you don’t want

  • build confidence and independence

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Why Self‑Advocacy Matters

 

Self-advocacy:

  • gives you voice and control

  • builds confidence and independence

  • supports inclusion in everyday life

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Parts of Self-Advocacy?

Knowing Your Rights

Understanding your rights, including disability rights and human rights.

 

Understanding Your Needs

Knowing what support you need to live your life the way you choose.

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Communication
Telling people clearly what you want, need, and prefer.

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Decision-Making
Being part of decisions about your life.

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Confidence
Believing your voice matters.

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Seeking Support

Asking for support when you need it.​​

WARNING: The following image may contain images and voices of deceased persons.

Picture of people at a meeting

 

Speak Out supports self-advocacy through

  • Road to Success training (co-designed with people with intellectual disability)

  • Monthly self-advocacy meetings across Tasmania

  • National Self-Advocacy Conference

  • Opportunities to speak up to government and decision-makers

 

These activities support people:

  • learn about their rights

  • build confidence

  • connect with others

  • influence real change

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Examples of Self Advocacy

  • A student with an intellectual disability asking for extra time on tests.

  • An employee requesting reasonable accommodations at work.

  • A person challenging a service provider for an incorrect bill that they have receive.

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