What is independent disability advocacy
Independent advocacy means the advocate is on the side of the person with disability and is not aligned with the Government or service providers.
QIDAN’s definition of independent advocacy is:
Independent advocacy for people with disability is working alongside people facing disadvantage to promote, protect, and defend their human rights, interests, and wellbeing.
Independent advocates do this by:
- Being person-led and supporting their will and preference
- Being partisan, remaining loyal and accountable
- Being professional, culturally safe, and vigorous in pursuit of fundamental needs
- Avoiding conflicts of interest
All of the members of QIDAN are independent disability advocacy organisations. They provide different types of advocacy including individual advocacy, systems advocacy, citizen advocacy and self-advocacy resources.
Types of disability advocacy
Self-advocacy
This is when you speak up for your rights and needs.
It can look like:
- Researching your rights and supports
- Correcting misconceptions about disabilities
- Telling someone when something is not right
- Writing to your local Member of Parliament
- Taking notes during appointments
- Asking questions
- And much more!
Resources:
- Self-advocacy resources from Aged and Disability Advocacy Australia
- Self-advocacy resources from People With Disability Australia
- My Life, My Voice from TASC
Citizen advocacy
This is when a community volunteer advocates for a person with disability. A Citizen Advocacy agency will match you with a person with disability and support you to learn how to advocate on behalf of that person.
You will develop a relationship with that person and support them to have their voice heard.
Individual advocacy
This is where a professional advocate works alongside a person with disability to help them voice their rights.
Individual advocates can help people to:
- Understand their rights
- Make sure their voice is heard on things that matter to them
- Get what they need from the NDIS and other services
- Stop discrimination and unfair treatment
- Make decision and stay in control
- Build skills to speak up for themselves
- Make sure basic needs are met
- Get legal help if needed and find other services that can assist.
Systems advocacy
This focuses on influencing and changing systems to benefit people. This involves pushing for inclusive services, legislation, and policies that create lasting change and support.
QIDAN advocates for long-term and sustainable changes to barriers experienced by people with disability. This involves pushing for inclusive services, systems, legislation, and policies that create lasting change and support.
We do this by:
- Engaging with advocates across the network
- Analysing data
- Writing submissions and reports
- Working on campaigns
Our approach to systemic advocacy is driven by the experiences, identified gaps and concerns raised by independent disability advocates in collaboration with people with disability. Our priorities are based on people’s fundamental needs and are viewed through a cultural, social justice, and human rights framework.
The common barriers experienced by people with disability include:
- Attitudinal and cultural barriers (such as stereotypes, stigma, prejudice, and discrimination)
- Social barriers (such an underemployment, access to healthcare, access to education, and experiencing violence)
- Accessibility barriers (such as inaccessible environments or communication)
- Policy barriers (such as being denied access to programs, services, or opportunities to participate)
- Systemic barriers (such as systems / structures that treat people with disability unfairly, or legislation failing to properly address the needs of people with disability).
QIDAN is committed to addressing the additional barriers experienced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, LGBTIQA+ people, those in rural and remote locations, and closed environments in all our systemic advocacy efforts. QIDAN focuses on human rights, supported decision making and de-institutionalisation in all systemic advocacy work.