Individual and Systems Change Advocacy
What is Advocacy?
People with disabilities want and deserve 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 available to help individuals 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.
Systems Change Advocacy
Systems Change Advocacy means advocating for change to make government, transportation, and housing systems more accessible to people with disabilities. It involves removing barriers and increasing community access for all people. Ability 1st staff, board members, volunteers, and consumers themselves work in partnerships with other community members and like-minded organizations to make changes. By working together, we can make it easier for everyone to participate in their communities and live independent, fulfilling lives.
Ability 1st Utah is designed to work with people who alert us to issues that have presented barriers in accessing community facilities and services.
Speak 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 has.”
~ Margaret Mead
Ask for what you want
- Find out who’s in charge
- Talk to someone who has the power to make a change
Take action
- Make a call
- Send an email
- Send a letter – don’t forget to sign it!
- Write a newsletter article on an issue
- Talk to the media (news reporter, radio announcer, etc.)
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
- Start or sign a petition