Empowerment begins with a voice, your voice. Start by thinking of the disability community as a vibrant quilt. Each service provider, resource, community member, and ally serves as a vital thread, connecting the patches of every self-advocate. This dynamic quilt unfolds to reveal a Tennessee disability community empowered with strength, knowledge, and self-determination.
Embracing your role as a self-advocate comes from understanding and knowing where to look within the wide array of services and resources available at your fingertips to make sure you receive what you need, when you need it. This knowledge is the key to unlocking the voices of everyone in the disability community.
Disability Rights Tennessee (DRT) serves as a guiding light for self-advocates and allies alike. As a nonprofit legal advocacy agency, DRT protects the rights of Tennesseans with disabilities across all 95 counties. Serving as the Protection & Advocacy (P&A) agency for Tennessee, DRT provides services across 11 programming areas, such as Employment, Voting, Policy, Traumatic Brain Injury, Children & Youth, Adults, Resource & Referral, and Social Security – all at no cost.
Being a self-advocate shouldn’t be scary. Disability Rights Tennessee (DRT) is here to offer a 6-step guide to embracing your role and identity as a self-advocate.
- Believe in Yourself!
The journey to becoming a self-advocate can be challenging, but it is important to remember that you are worth the effort. As you equip yourself with the tools needed to be a self-advocate, remember that the goal is not perfection but embracing your worth and learning to effectively express your needs and wants. - Be Prepared
Confidence in self-advocacy comes from preparation. Start by defining the problem at hand—often there are many problems happening at the same time, but this is a time to decide what is most important at the current moment. Once you define the problem you can set some goals. What does ‘winning’ look like to you? Next comes education. Knowledge is power and it is important to know that everyone in the disability community is entitled to equal rights. By gathering resources from reliable sources and partners, you can practice communicating your concerns with friends and family to build confidence and be ready for the last step in preparation, scheduling meetings. - Communicate Effectively
Effective communication is the heart of self-advocacy. These days meetings can come in many different forms, over a phone call, through a virtual meeting on a platform like Zoom, or in-person. It is critical to enter any meeting by being polite and introducing yourself and others with you. While having your voice heard is a big part of being a self-advocate, remember that what you hear may be just as important as what you have to say. Sometimes a letter, email, or voicemail will be necessary to communicate with someone, keep your message focused. Throughout the meeting process it is important to take care of yourself! Stay calm, be firm but not aggressive in what you have to say, and don’t hesitate to take a break when you need it. - Knowledge is Power!
Being a self-advocate doesn’t mean you have to do all of this on your own. Tennessee is full of policy makers, service providers, fellow advocates, and others that are here to help you achieve your goals. If one person cannot help you, don’t give up, ask who can. Which brings us to our next point, try to keep a log of who you have talked with. By keeping track of who you talked to (full name), their position, and organization, you can make sure you stay on top of your meetings and the post-meeting follow-up. - Keep Records
Documentation is your ally in self-advocacy. Provide information, requests, and concerns in writing, keeping it simple. Maintain a log of your contacts, including names, dates, and discussions. Keep copies of all communication, including emails and letters, to have a clear record of your advocacy efforts. - Follow-Up
Consistency is key! Be sure to meet deadlines and follow-up after each meeting you have. And last but certainly not least, don’t forget to say thank you!
In the quilt of the disability community, each of the 6-steps above serve as a thread, weaving together a tapestry of self-advocates filled with strength, resilience, and self-determination.
Remember, empowerment begins with your voice, and by embracing these tips, you not only advocate for yourself but contribute to a more inclusive and supportive community for all Tennesseans.
If you would like to learn more about self-advocacy or other topics/issues related to the disability community, visit our website.
Although not originally from Nashville, Lee made Nashville home at the age of 15 when her family moved from Galveston, TX. While Lee has moved away from Nashville a few times to pursue education elsewhere she has always found her way back. Today, Lee proudly serves as the Director of Community Relations and Development at Disability Rights Tennessee.
Photo of article author Lee Sherwood (l), director of community relations, DRT, and Lisa Primm (r), executive director, DRT
