People with disabilities make up the largest minority group in the
United States as well as in the entire world. Anyone, at any time, can become a
part of the disability community. However, people with disabilities
are underrepresented and often unheard. Even though the way people with
disabilities are perceived and treated has greatly improved throughout the past
forty years, ableism still has a strong presence here in the United States. The
best way to abolish this poor treatment of people with disabilities is to
eliminate ignorance through education; education is the key to an equal
opportunity.
Educating the populous includes practicing self-advocacy. Others are not going to know what you need unless you educate them. Speak up about what you can do and speak out against all the misconceptions about the things society believes you cannot do. You are your best advocate; you know who you are and what you need. Do not allow the world to define who you are, educate the world on who you truly are.
If you are
not able or do not feel comfortable being your primary advocate, designate
someone you trust that will relay your wants and needs by being an advocate on
your behalf. This action, in itself, is being a good self-advocate as you are
expressing that you need help in the area of advocating.
Practicing self-advocacy is not only beneficial to one’s self, but can grow into advocating for others; with becoming confident in
being an advocate for one's self, comes the realization that being a
self-advocate can translate into advocating for others. And as one with a
disability advocates for others with similar needs, allies will realize the
importance of education and access, and come along side in the advocating journey.
Advocacy is a
way to educate society on the importance of access that will provide an equal
opportunity for all.
