A Guide A Guide 
A 
Guide to Self 
Advocacy 



Concept and content 
created by 
Self Advocates in Leadership (SAIL) 


Special thanks to Dale Colin, Dewey Mee and Emily Rogers 
for their vision and guidance in developing this booklet. 

Published by The Arc 
of Washington State 
Copyright 2005 
All Rights Reserved 


Revised January 2010 

This booklet is a grant from the 
Washington Disabilities 


A 
word from the artists... 

Artist: Mary Jo Sizemore 

“The stripes 
in the background represent the different colors of people around the world. The hands represent advocacy/reaching out.” 

Artist: Elizabeth Glidden 

“This picture 
is about having to make your own 
decisions 
about what path you choose in your 
life.” 

Artist: Clara Link 

“To me, this photo represents self advocacy. 
Among so many pink tulips, there I 
am, the 
beautiful and unique white tulip. 
It 
stands out, 
in front of all the other tulips, and that 
is what I 
want to do.” 

Artist: George Adams 

“It’s about self advocacy, going to the state 
capitol and 
speaking up. 
I put the whole 
concept of the picture together in my head and 
then painted 
it.” 

Artist: David Stadden 

“My 
mom was in Olympia while I was in school 
reading a book about the 
Legislature. 
I was 
thinking about the state 
capitol where mom 
goes, and the two bills she was talking to 
people about. “ 

For 
more information, contact: 

The Arc of Washington 2638 State 
Avenue NE Olympia, WA 

888.754.8798 
. 
www.
arcwa.org 


T he Self Advocacy Initiative Project, funded by 
the Washington State Developmental 
Disabilities Council, promotes self advocacy efforts 
throughout our state. 
The project offers presentations and workshops 
for beginners and seasoned advocates, as well 
as technical assistance to advocacy groups and 
individuals interested in writing letters, learning 
about specific issues and hosting legislative 
receptions or “coffees.” 
For more information about strengthening and 
supporting self advocacy in your area, contact: 
Emily Rogers . 1-888-754-8798 
emily@arcwa.org 
Self Advocacy Initiative 
20 
Hello! 
I am so pleased that you have decided to learn 
more about self-advocacy! Self-advocacy means 
different things to each person. Since we all have 
lives of our own, our reasons for learning to 
advocate for ourselves and others are unique. 
It is important that we speak up, or otherwise 
communicate our desires. By doing this, we begin 
to take back the power to direct our own lives and 
rekindle the dreams we each have. 
Throughout this booklet you will have the 
opportunity to hear the stories of several people 
and how they have advocated for themselves. Be 
encouraged, you can do it too! On these pages 
you will also find images that mean self-advocacy 
to their creators. 
You are at the beginning of a wonderful journey of 
self-advocacy! Enjoy the ride, there will be ups 
and downs but in the end you will look back and 
say what an incredible experience it has been, 
indeed! 
In the spirit of Advocacy 
Emily J. Rogers 
Longtime Washington State Advocate 

WHOis this booklet for? IF YOU... ...Need support to live, work 
or be active in your 
local community. 
(Support might come from 
people such as: family, paid staff, payee, case 
manager, or a teacher.) OR ...Receive in-home personal care, health care, housing assistance, communication aides, 
mobility aides, employment support, education 
or any other paid service. OR ...Attend meetings in which your life is the — such as your job, your education, situation, or plans for your future. OR 
...Have a friend, family 
member or someone you 
are paid to support who fits 
one of the 
descriptions above want to learn how to support them in speaking ...THEN THIS YOU 
WHO is this booklet for? IF YOU... ...Need support to live, work 
or be active in your 
local community. 
(Support might come from 
people such as: family, paid staff, payee, case 
manager, or a teacher.) OR ...Receive in-home personal care, health care, housing assistance, communication aides, 
mobility aides, employment support, education 
or any other paid service. OR ...Attend meetings in which your life is the — such as your job, your education, situation, or plans for your future. OR 
...Have a friend, family 
member or someone you 
are paid to support who fits 
one of the 
descriptions above want to learn how to support them in speaking ...THEN THIS YOU 
TIPS FOR GREAT SUPPORT 
..
Ask us 
what would be helpful. 
If we are going to a meeting, we might like assistance 
beforehand to prepare, such as practicing 
what we want to say. 
..
Be positive. 
Help us think of ways to make 
our ideas and dreams 
work. 
If we have 
barriers, it’s 
more useful to think of ways to 
move past them than to find reasons we can’t. 
..
Believe in our abilities. 
We are all more likely to succeed when we build on our talents. 
..
Help us communicate 
our thoughts 
and ideas (if we ask) without speaking for us. Artwork by David 2 
19 



 Supporting Self 
Advocacy 
Supporting Self 
Advocacy 
Change 
Your Life 
Change the World 
S 
S
upporting self advocacy is a fine balancing act. 
It’s giving support 
without taking over. 
It’s being there to help, but 
also being okay with taking a back seat. 


Many of us who want 
to strengthen our voices 
need some support. 
Maybe it’s 
a ride to meetings, 
personal assistance or help with scheduling. 
Mostly, though, what we 
need is to be heard and 
respected. 

Everyone is different when it comes to what he or she needs to be supported, but there are some general guidelines 
in supporting self advocacy. 

First and foremost, we ask that others do not speak for us or instead of us. 
If people who are there to us also 
participate in our meetings and it takes 
away time and opportunity us to have a voice. 

“When you speak for me, I feel that my thoughts and ideas don’t count.” 
Dewey M. Ellensburg, 
WA 
Great support comes people who understand 
the importance of their without overshadowing 
our presence. 

C 
C
hange is an inside job. 
It starts 
with our 
personal lives and widens 
to impact our circle 
of family, friends, neighbors, local communities, 
state and nation. 

Advocacy skills are tools that 
help us make a 
positive difference for ourselves and others. 
Use 
them any way you home and hiring support staff to working on 
legislation that creates justice. 



 Self 
Advocacy is Something We 
All Do 
Self 
Advocacy is Something We 
All Do 
S 
S
elf advocacy is 
something we all do when we 
speak up for ourselves. 
It can be an everyday thing, like deciding what we are going to wear or eat for dinner. 
It can also be a big effort, like 
buying a home, finding a job, or helping to pass a 
bill into law. 


Self 
Advocacy is a way of 
thinking about things 
differently, thinking up 
solutions for ourselves. 
We 
can find ways to get what we want and need… ways that no one else can think of because we already know what works best for us. 

Too many people become 
people pleasers, but they 
never think to please themselves first. 
The condition of our homes, the food we eat, the friends we have…. all have to do with getting point across. 

“The ideal is when you get past 
advocacy 
as a special event. 
It’s just a natural thing you do.” 
Dewey M. Ellensburg, 
WA 
After a while, it’s 
not even self It’s just living. 


Artwork by George 
Adams 

Central Washington Disability 
Resources 1-800-240-5978 (v/tdd) 

Ellensburg 

Coalition of Responsible Disabled (CORD) 1-509-326-6355 

Spokane 

People First of Washington 
1-800-758-1123 

Chapters throughout the 

Self 
Advocates in Leadership 

(S.A.I.L)1-888-754-
 What’s 
the Big Idea? 
Join a Group! 
It’s 
About 
Making 
Choices... Not Just Having Them 
What’s 
the Big Idea? 
Join a Group! 
It’s 
About 
Making 
Choices... Not Just Having Them 
A 
A
re you interested in 
advocating for issues that 
affect other people, such as disability rights, 
health care, transportation, 
or funding for services? 

The best way to learn the ropes of 
big systems 
advocacy is to join a group that has values and 
goals you believe in. 

 Dale’s 
Story 
I’ve been involved in 
advocacy for 
over twenty years, starting with People First in 1981 and then Self Advocates of Washington since 
1993. 
I’ve also been on the board 
of 
The 
Arc, the Pierce County 
Advisory Board, 
co-chair of the Self Determination Forum, and 
the planning committee for 
Tools for Success. 
As part of a project 
for people moving out of Rainier School, I checked to make people who left 
the institution were happy in 
their new homes. If people had told 
me in the 1960’
s and 70’
s 
that I would be doing I would have 
told them they were Now, I’ve got a whole 
wall of certificates my advocacy, and I feel 
good about Dale C. Edgewood, WA 
W 
W
e can have lots 
of choices, but self 
advocacy means we are the ones doing the choosing, not someone else. 

Artwork 
by Elizabeth Glidden 


Some people use the term describe those of us who 
speak up for ourselves, 
but self advocacy is 
something we do, it is not who 
we are. 

In this booklet, we encourage think about 


Self Advocacy Begins At 
Home Self Advocacy Begins At 
Home 
A 
A
dvocacy can mean asking for help to tie our 
shoelaces or joining a group to advocate for 
better laws. 
The important thing to remember is 
that speaking up for ourselves begins at home! 

Mike’s Story Me and my wife needed to have our home remodeled. 
The floor in the bathroom was sinking and we were worried. 
We 
went to my payee and case manager to see 
about getting a loan. 
My payee helped with all 
the paperwork. 
We 
got a loan approved and 
got started on the house. 
We 
got a lot more than 
a new bathroom floor. Both the bathroom and kitchen were with new sinks, cabinets and paint. 
I feel real 
good about it. All my years in advocacy 
taught me to speak up 
for myself and get things If I did not ever 
get involved in advocacy, I would have been 
upset over things, how to take care 
of problems. 
I say to 
everyone out we can do Mike 
R. Tacoma, WA 
15 
Alexa’s Story 
I love my life. 
I cherish my family 
and friends, working at Chili’s in Issaquah, and spending time with my boyfriend. 
Tim was my high school sweetheart and we’ve 
been together for about four years. High school has precious memories for me. 
That’s 
when I did a lot of fun things and was more 
independent. 
It helped me and made me kind of 
wise. People say I’m a role model, but I try to bring that 
down a little and be less in 
the spotlight. 
I know I 
need to buckle down on some 
things, like if I want to move out and get my own place to live. 
I am 
starting a great new job at 
Starbucks in 
Issaquah by the QFC. I need a career job so I can out. I would say one of my best qualities is 
that I’m 
very good at giving advice. 
People are important 
to me and I like to be fair 
and honest with them. My advice to others is: and think, 
what are some qualities Really think about what you cherish in your life. 
What do you want in 
your future? 
Care 
about yourself. 
That’s 
a good place Alexa A. Bellevue, WA 

Speaking Up Speaking Out 
Speaking Up Speaking Out 
T 
T
he following advice and insights 
come from 
people who have had experience speaking up 
for themselves and advocating for the rights 
of 
others. 
Like you, they 
are the experts when it 
comes to self advocacy. 

“Interact with different groups. 
Research what 
they 
are about and find a good fit. 
You can be part 
of a group and bring 
your 
individual voice. William F. (Yakima, WA) Be comfortable and say 
what’s on your mind. 
You have to go against the There are nay-sayers who say 
you can’t do it 
and you have to overcome that rejection. Larry M. (Seattle, WA) 
“Reach for the go for the Michelle H. (“The best thing about self advocacy 
is 
that you have respect for 
yourself, respect for 
others and being independent to do what you 
want.” Terri R. (Richland, WA) 14 
Terri H. 
Bellingham, WA 
Terri’s Story 
I’ve been an advocate for individuals with developmental 
disabilities for three years. 
I know 
first hand what it takes for people 
to get what they want. In my own life I’ve had some challenges with in-home providers not respecting my property, my 
privacy and my rights. Being that I have had past experiences with 
letting care providers go, 
I know what it’s 
like to 
stand up for myself. I used my choice and power and had to go through some battles to get what I wanted to become as 
independent as I possibly can. 
I felt nerve wracked doing this, but I felt I was having control over what I needed to have control 
over. 
Being independent means seat. 
Sometimes, this means If 
something isn’t working speak up and say something. 
Be patient and 
stand up for your rights and 
what you believe From my experiences, made me a 
stronger person. “Being independent means being in the drivers’ seat.” 
7 

 If We 
are Silent, 
Other People will Speak for Us 
If We 
are Silent, 
Other People will Speak for Us 
If 
If 
we don’t speak up for ourselves, how are people going to know what we really want? Can we expect someone 
to read our minds? 
Of 
course not. 
We have to clue other people in 
or 
they will end up thinking they know what is best for 
us. 

Advocating for ourselves also helps 
other “Speak up so other people won’t control your life.
” Chris P. Ellensburg, WA 
people in similar situations. Maybe you’re having a problem 
getting respect from a service 
provider or bus driver. 
By speaking up, you help change the situation, and this helps 
other people. 


by 
Clara Link 
I want to stand out and speak up for my 
rights, I don’t want to let other people make all my decisions for me. I say as self-advocates, out and speak “Stand Out and Speak Up” 

Follow 
Your Dreams 
Clara’s Story 

It was a dream of mine to turn my 
hobby of taking pictures into 
becoming a professional 
photographer. 
It is something 
I 
have a gift for and I love doing. 
With the help of my mother and 
friends, I started my 
own business 



Clara L.
and now I get to live my dream. 
Tacoma, WA 

I have taken pictures for magazines, books, 
pamphlets, and television programs. 
One of 
the projects 
I’m most proud of is a yearly calendar for the Down Syndrome Community called “Living it Up!” 

I also travel around the 
country and the world, 
taking pictures and speaking about living with 
a disability. 
I have worked hard for my dream, and I am here to help others 

I have a good life and I want other people have a good life too, that is their 
right! 

[See Clara’s winning page.]


Adrian’s 
Story Throughout my life, other people have been negative about me because of my disability. 
It’s 
been hurtful. It was hard to deal with being rejected, especially by girls. 
I 
wanted to prove to them and myself that I have a lot to offer. 
I want people to accept 
me for who I am and not 
look at my disability and think that’s 
me. 
It took 
me a long time and a lot of years to understand 
who I am and to know 
the good things about 
myself. There have been a lot of ups and downs to get where I am today. 
I have battled tough 
personal issues and overcome some pretty big barriers. 
It 
took courage to feel good about myself when others tried 
to hold me down. My advice to others is and do 
not lose faith in yourself. 
Nobody can say you can’t get that job you are looking for. 
Believe in yourself be determined Adrian P. Everett, WA “Nobody can 
say 
you can’t get that job you want, or relationship you are looking for.
” 

It Takes Work 
to Find Work 
F inding a job you like, or developing a 
career that suits you, takes a lot of 
hard work. 
Strong self-advocacy skills go a long way to 
helping you land a job that lights your fire (or at 
least gets you moving in the right direction of your 
goals). 
Shimika’s Story 
I’ve worked at Traditions Café for 
about a year, and I really like it. I 
go to school at the local college, 
so I haven’t planned much about 
what I want to do in the future. 
For now, this is where I want to 
be. 
My job makes me feel great. It gives me money 
to buy clothes and pay back my mom for money I 
owe her. It makes me proud to work hard and do 
a good job. 
One of the things I really love is being part of 
fashion shows at the café. I stand on stage and 
model Free Trade clothes. I like being in the 
limelight, and the owner of the cafe says I look 
really good in the clothes. 
Shimika B. 
Olympia, WA 
10 
Believe 
in 
Yourself 
“I’m a person who helps any way I can. I have 
been an advocacy coordinator for The Arc of 
Washington State, the state President for Self 
Advocates of Washington, a member of the Kitsap 
County DD Board and a courtesy clerk for Safeway 
(for four years!). 
The first time I walked into a SAIL meeting, I was 
totally blown away. I thought it was really cool that 
there was a coalition that talked about things that 
were important. I helped pass four bills that were 
really important to people with disabilities. I love 
what I do.” — George A., Bremerton, WA 
George 
11