Advocacy is when a person or a group has the knowledge, skills, and awareness to stand up for their needs.
Self–advocacy is the ability to identify your strengths and weaknesses and make personal goals. It enables you to be clear, assertive, and make good decisions. Being able to explain your own hearing loss is a good example of an early self-advocacy skill.
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Resources for self–advocacy
Deaf Victoria Self-Advocacy Toolkit
Deaf Victoria developed a Self-Advocacy Toolkit as part of the Deaf Victoria Capacity Building Project funded by the NDIS ILC Grant. The toolkit includes the following:
- Advocating for yourself: a step by step infographic for deaf & hard of hearing people to advocate for themselves
- Common Barriers for Deaf and hard of hearing people: advocacy tips – where to go, what to do
- Emergency Services: advocacy tips for deaf community eg. know your right to request an Auslan interpreter in a hospital setting
- NDIS Reviews and Appeals: if deaf & hard of hearing people are not happy with their NDIS plan, this infographic will guide them on how to request for a NDIS review or appeal.
Their Self-Advocacy Toolkit is at https://www.deafvictoria.org.au/self-advocacy-toolkit/
Deaf Australia – Advocacy
Learn about the areas that Deaf Australia is engaged in advocacy for Deaf people.
Barriers to Self Advocacy
Tips on developing successful self-advocacy skills from the Canadian Hearing Society.
Self Advocacy Checklist (PDF download)
A checklist of important knowledge required for strong self advocacy developed for deaf and hard-of-hearing students.
Planning Guide for Teenagers with Hearing Loss
A guide for teenagers and young adults with hearing loss that was put together by a team of audiologists and deaf educators through Phonak.
Deaf Society – Your Rights and Advocacy
An introduction to Australian laws surrounding discrimination and human rights to empower advocacy by the Deaf Society.
Deaf Forum – Organisations That Can Help
A list of useful support and service organisations collected by Deafness Forum of Australia.
Disability Groups and Networks (PDF download)
A linked list of disability networks, support organisations and groups for people with disabilities from Better Health Channel including networks and advocacy for people with disabilities.
Resources for Teachers: Self Advocacy for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Students
Teaching resources and activities surrounding self advocacy developed by independent teachers of deaf and hard-of-hearing students.
Understanding and Supporting Teenage Students with Hearing Loss
Information from the perspective of a person supporting a teenage student and how to best facilitate their learning from Aussie Deaf Kids.
