On this page, we talk about speaking up for the person you care for.
When you speak up for a person with disability, you are an
An advocate is someone who can:
- support people with disability
- help people with disability have their say
- give information and advice.
What it means to be an advocate
When you are an advocate for a person with disability, you look out for:
- what they want and need
-
their
Rights are rules about how people must treat you:
- fairly
- equally.
You also support them to live their life the way they want.
This includes helping them to:
- reach their goals
- fix problems
- speak up for themselves.
When you are an advocate for a person with disability, you can make a big difference in their life.
How to be a good advocate
It is normal to feel angry or frustrated if someone has treated the person you care for unfairly.
It is a good idea to talk about your feelings before speaking up for them.
You will be able to advocate for them better if you are calm.
To be a good advocate you need to:
- understand the problem the person you care for is facing
- understand their rights in their situation
- know who to talk to about fixing the problem.
You also need to understand what the person you care for wants and needs in this situation.
Ask them what they would like to happen.
When you have meetings with the person, it is a good idea to make a list of:
- questions you want to ask
- ideas you want to share.
You do not have to do it on your own.
Talk to other people who have experience being an advocate.
It is important to look after yourself while you try to fix the problem.
You can find out more on our page about caring for yourself.
When to be an advocate
The person you care for might need you to be an advocate for them if they:
- are not getting the experiences they want or need
- are having trouble reaching their goals
- are feeling stressed at work or school.
You might need to be an advocate if the person you care for:
- has health problems
- needs help to understand medical advice.
The person you care for might also need you to speak up for them if they experience
Violence or abuse is when someone:
- hurts you
- scares you
- controls you.
You can also be an advocate if the person you care for experiences
Discrimination is when people or services treat you unfairly because of a part of who you are.
How to help the person you care for speak up
It is important to know when to support the person you care for to speak up for themselves.
You can do this by:
- listening to what they want and need
- helping them get ready to speak up for themselves
- offering support, like going to a meeting with them.
You can also find ways to support the person you care for to do things without your help.
