Advocacy
Personal Advocacy
Social Network
Developing a Support Network:
Self-advocacy takes practice and can be emotionally draining. It's easy to
get caught-up in feelings of guilt that you are asking for special
treatment. Having a supportive friend and/or support group to help "coach"
you through this process is important to keeping you grounded.
1. Develop a support network. Connect with others whom you can call on for information, understanding, encouragement, and advocacy.
2. Use your support network to plan strategy, boost morale, rehearse
statements or questions, etc.
3. Know who to contact when questions or problems arise.
4. When requesting an accommodation or needed service, take someone with you
who will help you stay with your plan and also make observations or take
notes to augment your own.
Remember: “We’re all in this together.”
Suggested Advocacy Activities:
1. Contact churches, hospitals, doctor’s offices, restaurants, clubs, etc.
regarding making the programs or visits accessible. Services may include
hiring qualified interpreters, providing ALDs, note takers (in the doctor’s
office, for instance), or written materials (such as a notes for the sermon
at church).
2. Ask employers to include a person with hearing loss on planning
committees for office picnics, parties, and other events so that social
functions will be accessible for deaf/HOH employees.
3. Encourage community groups such as Kiwanis, Lions, and Jaycees to have
programs about people with hearing loss. Make sure that deaf/HOH people are
included in the planning and presentation of the programs.
4. If you see a television show which portrays deaf/HOH people in a good
way, write a complimentary note to the producer and to the station airing
the program.
5. Welcome children’s questions about hearing aids and CIs. Their questions
are normal. Children get their information and attitudes from you.
6. Write and send Letters to the Editor. The letters to the editor section
of a newspaper is open to ordinary citizens on a local level. Letters to the
editor tend to be short and one-paragraph submissions are definitely
acceptable.
7. Remember, ADA materials from the Dept. of Justice are free. Publications
are available in standard & large print, Braille, computer disk, and audio
tape. Automated service is available 24 hours a day for recorded information
and to order publications.
http://www.ada.gov/publicat.htm
8. Give a talk at a senior citizen’s home.