Self-Advocacy

What is Self Advocacy?

Self Advocacy is when someone speaks and acts for their self to present their case. Many people who self-advocate come together to form a collective voice on issues that impact on their lives. This is also sometimes called group advocacy.

York Advocacy supports self-advocacy in a number of different ways:

Self-Advocacy for Individuals

When working with people who need an advocate we always look at how we can support people to self-advocate and have their own voice. Your advocate will work in partnership with you and encourage and support you to self-advocate and develop your own skills and confidence. They will support you to speak at meetings so other professionals and services know what you want.

Self-advocate ‘super heroes’ leading the way in good practice

York Mind were awarded a Celebrating Participation in Healthcare grant from NHS England. The grants are awarded to  community groups that have developed innovative and creative ways to get patients and the public involved in shaping healthcare services. Our self-advocates forum for people with learning disabilities in York has been working with a range of organisations to develop good practice and highlight the importance of involving people with learning disabilities in the health services they use. They used the grant to develop a comic book featuring super-hero advocates who save the day and make positive changes to healthcare services and information.

The comic has now been finished and you can view both the comic and find out how we created it from the links below. We hope you enjoy reading the comic as much as we all enjoyed producing it!

Health Action Superheroes Comic

Health Action Superheroes Comic – Creating the Self-Advocates Comic

For more information on community grants and participation in healthcare please visit the NHS England site https://www.england.nhs.uk/2015/10/27/community-grants/

York People First

York People First is an independent self advocacy group run by people with learning disabilities, for people with learning disabilities.

Lives Unlimited

Lives Unlimited are a family led group of disabled people, family members and supporting professionals who are working to promote equal chances and ordinary lives. (just check this link still works otherwise take this bit out)

CANDI (Children and Inclusion)

CANDI is a forum for parents and carers of children and young people who are disabled or who have additional needs aged from 0- 25 in the York and surrounding area. (just check this link still works otherwise take this bit out)