Advocacy in general terms is "pleading for, defending or recommending an idea before other people."¹ Advocacy for D/deaf and hard of hearing people is a challenging area. Often called the "hidden disability", the impact of varying levels of deafness is frequently misunderstood - not least because even if audiologically two people are similar, there will be other discrepancies such as educational background, communication choice, exposure to language, learning styles and processing differences that will impact on an individual's ability to perceive sound and speech in the variety of settings they encounter each day.

[Edit]1 Self Advocacy vs Representation

It is largely a matter of choice whether an individual chooses Self-advocacy^? or Representative Advocacy^? by another. There are arguments both for and against. In some cases the individual wanting advocacy may not feel confident in expressing themself, or confident that they will be heard. In other cases it may be seen as raising the profile of one's abilities to manage in a situation where it has been assumed they cannot (particularly in the case of people with disabilities).

[Edit]2 Approaches to Advocacy

While there are people who simply cannot be bothered with providing equitable access for D/deaf and hard of hearing people, in most Western nations there is at least a nominal lip service paid to the concept of every person having access to all of community life. However, most people who have not encountered significant deafness or hearing loss in anyone other than aged people simply have very little understanding of what may be required for equitable access to be available.

In these cases, advocacy starts with education, usually in the form of "Deafness Awareness Training". In fact it can be helpful to approach every situation with the attitude that the person gatekeeping access is simply ignorant of the situation, and with a little friendly education of the problem and a little advice as to possible solutions, they will be happy to adjust. This type of advocacy is sometimes called "soft advocacy".

Other situations will be fiercely opposed (usually for monetary reasons), and in these cases "hard advocacy" is required. It helps to know and understand how to use the law. It may also help to have a group of people with similar complaints or experiences to band together to demonstrate how lack of access is affecting the whole group. Or approach the advocacy process as "how can we help you to help us?" by finding out what other issues the gatekeeper has to solve, and working to help them.

It is important to consider the long term effects of agreements. Some people prefer to effect change little by little, not revealing their real agenda for radical change in case others are scared off. Others prefer to present the optimal as the only result they will settle for, as anything less is seen as insufficient. Possibly the most transparent method is a combination of the two - demonstrating a dissatisfaction with the now, stating what the optimal is, and then working to effect it step by step, with everyone understanding what the ultimate goal of the advocate is.

[Edit]3 Advocacy Activities

Advocacy had many different aspects, and using them together effectively creates greater impact.

• Grassroots Organizing^? - Getting people actively involved in social justice issues through public demonstrations, rallies, leafleting, canvassing and protests to help bring important issues to the political arena.
• Strategy Development^? - Influencing the public and government to support effective public policies working together with researchers, analysts and activists.
• Alliance Building^? - Establishing networks with individuals, groups, and organizations working for social justice. When individuals, groups, and organizations become allies they form a stronger body for promoting social change.
• Media Advocacy^? - Getting the public interested in an issue through TV, newspapers, radio and the Internet. Media advocacy fuels public concern about important social justice issues.
• Lobbying^? - Persuading lawmakers to support legislation that will promote the public interest. Improving legislation is a valuable component to achieve social justice.

Taken from Advocacy Institute (http://www.advocacy.org),"Become a Leader for Social Justice: Work for What You Believe In"²

Both "bottom up" and "top down" approaches should be used to ensure everyone gets the message.

[Edit]4 Achieving Change

Many advocates know what the problem is, but they are not sure how to create a solution that is acceptable to everyone. Often the attitude is to "win at all costs" when in fact a "win-win" attitude may produce more good will and attitudinal change, which has more chance of effecting long term change.

To achieve "win-win" negotiations, it is also important to demonstrate how increasing accessibility can benefit the other person. In the words of Rick Sinclair³ ( Accessibility Consultants Association of Ontario (http://www.accessibilityconsultants.ca/)),

"Mostly, the guy across the table wants to know how you can benefit what he does. He doesn't want to know every fact and figure - he couldn't care less. The sooner we start "marketing" solutions based on a business case, rather than being "the right thing to do", the faster we will progress."

[Edit]5 References

1. An Introduction to Advocacy, Training Guide, SARA Project, quoted on www.aidsmap.com (http://www.aidsmap.com/en/docs/4A141CEB-B529-423C-8123-0DB3B399D804.asp), last accessed 28 September, 2007
2. Advocacy Institute (http://www.advocacy.org), Become a Leader for Social Justice: Work for What You Believe In, [1] (http://www.advocacy.org/publications/pdf/becomealeader.pdf), last accessed 27 November, 2007
3. Sinclair, R., Citizens with Disabilities - Ontario (http://www.cwd-o.org/), [2] (http://www.cwd-o.org/cwdo/resources/resources.php?resources=115), last accessed 27 November, 2007

[Edit]6 Bibliography

1. Citizens with Disabilities - Ontario (http://www.cwd-o.org/), http://www.cwd-o.org/cwdo/resources/resources.php?resources=115, last accessed 27 October, 2007
2. An Introduction to Advocacy, Training Guide, SARA Project, quoted on www.aidsmap.com (http://www.aidsmap.com/en/docs/4A141CEB-B529-423C-8123-0DB3B399D804.asp), last accessed 28 September, 2007
3. Sinclair, R., Citizens with Disabilities - Ontario (http://www.cwd-o.org/), [3] (http://www.cwd-o.org/cwdo/resources/resources.php?resources=115), last accessed 27 November, 2007

Last changed: 23.02.2008 08:42 by Editor -