disability advocacy

Disability advocacy organisations can support you with speaking up for your rights, and making sure that you are treated fairly. They can help you to become more included in your school, workplace, and the healthcare / legal system. 

Some examples of how a disability advocate can help you:

• Talking to your school or employer so that they can accomodate the needs of people with disabilities. 
• Help you if you are experiencing discrimination, abuse, or neglect.
• Giving information about your rights and available services. 
• Help you during a crisis by linking you with available services and making sure that you are safe. 

People with communication disabilities often face challenges accessing fair treatment or appropriate support.  These challenges are compounded by the invisible nature of communication disabilities and the difficulties individuals may face in advocating for themselves.

Speech pathology aims to give our clients the communication tools and skills they need to engage fully in their lives, participate in their communities, and handle daily tasks independently. As part of our work, we often focus on developing clients' language skills to effectively advocate for themselves.  This work is crucial for empowering individuals to express their needs, make decisions, and advocate for their rights. 

At the same time, we recognise that inclusion and independence depend on more than just our clients.  

It also requires creating supportive systems and environments. Disability advocacy organisations are essential in not only individual advocacy, but also in creating system-wide change. 

A disability advocate may be helpful in the following scenarios:

• Your school is not able to adjust for your learning needs (e.g., providing appropriate support, assistive technology, or a tailored curriculum). 
• You have an individual learning plan (ILP), but it is not being implemented effectively. 
• You are being excluded from activities due to your disability (e.g., sports, excursions, or school events). 
• You feel that there is a lack of understanding or collaboration from school staff or administrators.  

The Department of Social Services (DSS) oversees the National Disability Advocacy Program. They keep a registry of disability advocacy organisations that exist in each state. 

Within NSW, the Disability Advocacy Futures Program lists providers based on their location as well as their specific services.