Individual and Systems Change Advocacy

What is Advocacy?

People with disabilities want the same opportunities as those without disabilities. However, they often need additional support in pursuit of their civil rights and personal needs while accessing local businesses, employment, transportation, education, housing, and the ability to vote.

  • People with disabilities can receive advocacy assistance from Ability 1st’s center staff.
  • This advocacy is both for personal and system change to facilitate policy changes in their communities for themselves and others.

Our goal is to teach individuals to advocate for themselves, with assistance from their Independent Living Specialist or Life Skills Trainer.

Individual Advocacy

Individual consumer advocacy is provided to help individuals to learn necessary skills in obtaining important support services from other community agencies.

This one-on-one service is designed to increase self-sufficiency and independence. Through this service, our consumers learn to be assertive when faced with obstacles in pursuit of their independent living goals.

They are empowered through education of advocacy methods and are encouraged to directly advocate for their own issues, as well as issues that affect others.

What is Systems Change Advocacy?

Systems Change Advocacy is defined as the process of changing policies to make government, transportation, and housing systems more accessible to people with disabilities.

  • It involves removing barriers and increasing community access for all people, including people with disabilities.
  • Working in partnerships with other individuals and organizations with similar goals enables change to be made.

Community advocacy may involve consumers, center staff, board members and volunteers. These groups of people initiate activities to make changes in the community, which makes it easier for all persons with disabilities to live independently in communities.

Ability 1st Utah is designed to work with people that alert us to issues that have presented barriers in accessing community facilities and services.

Speaking up for yourself or someone else.

Know it when you see it:

  • One person is a person in need.
  • Two people is a race.
  • Three people is a party.
  • Four people is a protest.
  • Five people is a national movement.
  • Fifteen people is a revolution!

“Never Doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever does.”

Margaret Mead

Asking for what you want!

  • Talk to someone who has the power to make a change
  • Send a letter
  • Work with the supervisor or person in charge

 

Taking an action!

  • Make a call
  • Send an email
  • Send a letter – don’t forget to sign it!
  • Write a letter to the editor
  • Write a newsletter article on an issue
  • Talk to the media (news reporter, radio announcer, etc.)

Talk to a policy-maker

  • File an appeal or grievance when you don’t agree with a service provider’s decision
  • File an ADA complaint with the Utah Attorney General or U.S. Department of Justice
  • Learn your rights and responsibilities
  • Volunteer on a political campaign – this can get you their ear if they win!

Use your Civil Rights

  • File an appeal or grievance when you don’t agree with a service provider’s decision
  • File an ADA complaint with the Utah Attorney General or U.S. Department of Justice
  • Learn your rights and responsibilities
  • Volunteer on a political campaign – this can get you their ear if they win!
  • Start or sign a petition