SELF-ADVOCACY & FUTURE PLANNING

Self-advocacy occurs when people with disabilities speak up for themselves and take control of their own lives, including being in charge of their own care in the medical system. This post will deliver self-advocacy and future planning information to individuals with disabilities and their care givers. Four Steps to Self-Advocacy http://www.suite101.com/article.cfm/disability_advocacy/6244 is an article promoting self-advocacy of individuals with disabilities by making changes in the status quo. The article teaches individuals with disabilities and their care givers to become self advocates. The article suggests following these steps:

• Remove all negative words from your vocabulary to avoid sounding like a complainer or a radical.
• Die to your disability and enlighten the public.
• Stick your neck out and enlighten the public.
• Dress appropriately to make people listen and become enlightened.

Wrightslaws’ website http://www.wrightslaw.com/info/future.plan.index.htm is an excellent source of future planning information for parents, relatives, and health care providers of children with disabilities. The site provides links to information pertaining to:

• Special Needs Trusts
• Guardianship
• Advance Directives
• Medicaid and Medicare
• Social Security Programs

Florida Grassroots Self-Advocacy is a website http://www.floridaselfadvocacy.com/ created to support self-advocates in Florida. This information is useful for individuals with disabilities and their care givers who are located in the state of Florida. Make sure you check out the self-advocacy resources. Key links include:

• Organize local, independent self-advocacy groups.

Network with other self-advocates throughout the state.

Provide resources to give self-advocates a voice in the decisions and issues that affect their lives.