The Power of Advocacy Turning Voices into Action Presented by: Leah & Carrie Intro & Housekeeping Ą Names, visual, identities Ą Exits Ą Please ask questions Ą Please take care of yourself Ą Interpreters Ą Microphone Đ if you ask a question, you must wait for the mic Ą DonŐt forget about the sticky notes! Family Voices of Tennessee Ą The FV team Ą FV History Ą FV TN Work Ą Programs Definition of Advocacy Advocacy is the active process of supporting, pleading for, or championing a cause, policy, or group of people. It involves taking action to influence decision-making within political, economic, and social institutions to bring about lasting change. Types of Advocacy Individual Ą Self-advocacy, case advocacy, peer advocacy, Community & Organizational advocacy Ą Group advocacy Đ power in numbers! Ą Systems advocacy Đ impacting systemic change Tell usÉ By a show of hands or noise, how many of you have advocated? Advocacy is easy, right?! No! When should advocacy start? Infants/Toddlers Children/Preteens Teenagers Adults Who should we be advocating too? Parents/caregivers Peers Teachers/schools Doctors/medical team Elected officials Employer Policy Advocacy vs ageism Can you start advocating for policy before you can vote? YES! Teach them young! Say the thing Give them the language. Kids & adults with disabilities, need the information/education to be an effective advocate. Americans with Disabilities Act -we donŐt call it Americans with Special Needs Act! What IŐm Asking for MY ACTION I am asking that the following Be Ą Law Ą Changed Ą Regulation Ą Eliminated Ą Policy Ą Added Ą Practice Ą No goal Ą Little purpose Ą Lack of communication (needs not expressed) Ą Burring bridges, not building them. Ą Not open for conversations and learning. Ą Understand when someone is meeting you where youŐre at Đ negotiation Where advocacy goes wrong Are You the Right Person for the Job?? Are you making space for other people to be the messenger. Make space for someone elseŐs lived experience to be spotlighted. Real Advocacy Ą Takes time Ą IsnŐt easy Ą There isnŐt always a win at the end of the day. Ą Learn from your missteps and find a workaround. Advocacy Today The tools of advocacy are changing, but the goal remains the same: ensuring people with disabilities have power, voice, and influence in the decisions that affect their lives. Ą Digital-First, Not Digital-Only Ą Lived Experience Is Expertise Ą Intersectionality Is Expected Ą Importance of equity Đ brining all parts of you to every space youŐre in Ą Authenticity Matters More Than Formality Ą Accessibility Is FINALLY Becoming the Baseline Expectation Ą Captions, large print, transcripts Thank you! Leah, Leah_w@tndisability.org Carrie, Carrie_c@tndisability.org