Advocacy Skills
Advocacy can often be intimidating and overwhelming (especially when first starting out!), but luckily it’s a skill that can be learned, practiced, and improved like any other. In today’s blog, I share with you some important skills that can help you become a stronger, more effective advocate.
What is Advocacy and Why Does it Matter?
Let’s just start by briefly going over what “advocacy” means. To put it simply, advocacy “is an activity by an individual or group that aims to influence decisions within political, economic, and social institutions”[1]. Advocacy can be on behalf of yourself (e.g., self-advocacy) or on behalf of someone else (e.g., a family member, friend, community, or organization). It can also be something you do on a personal level (sometimes referred to as “informally”), or as a volunteer or professional. There are many different roles and settings that require advocacy in different ways, such as education, healthcare, and law.
Assertive Communication
Unfortunately, some professionals just don’t want to hear what you have to say. They’re rushing to finish the appointment, or think they know best, or are just having a bad day. Whatever the reason, being able to calmly but firmly make yourself heard is crucial. I understand that it’s frustrating, disappointing, scary, or a whole host of other difficult emotions. I really, truly, do.
Some practical tips to help with this include:
Write out your key points ahead of time
Keep it clear and concise
Focus on your needs and non-negotiables
Use words like “need” rather than “think” or “feel”
Setting and maintaining boundaries
Just because someone has a higher degree than you, or you are paying them for a service, does not mean that you have nothing to offer. It’s important to remember that the final decisions lie with you. After all, it’s your life! Boundaries are therefore essential when dealing with professionals and systems. Some areas for boundaries include:
Your body
What happens to it
Where it goes
What is done to it (and by who)
Your autonomy
Your time
Your resources
Topics (just because someone is an “expert” doesn’t give them a free pass to your entire life!)
Creativity
Let’s be real: our systems are broken. They’re often too rigid and involve a multitude of red tape that you have to try and navigate in order to get what you want or need. It’s frustrating, but an important skill any successful advocate quickly develops is creativity. Just because one door looks closed, doesn’t mean that it’s the only way in. Are there any loopholes that you could use, such as different intake processes, a “magic phrase” that has worked for someone else, or a different institution altogether?
I’m not suggesting fraud or anything unethical (and definitely nothing illegal!). What I am suggesting is to think outside the box to see if there are other ways to achieve the outcome you want. A great way to develop this skill and figure this out is by talking to other advocates. What worked for them? What didn’t?
Example: if a medical professional is refusing a referral or test, often asking them “I have requested X, please make sure it is documented in my chart that you are refusing” is a great way to get that refusal turned around. But there’s nothing in our standard processes that teach you that. That has been the grassroots work of many advocates realizing their rights, asserting them, and sharing this trick with others.
Teamwork
Yes, we have to advocate for ourselves — but that doesn’t mean we have to do so alone! In fact, the more of a support network we can create, the better supported we will likely be.
Wherever possible, it’s usually a good idea to have someone that you trust attend appointments with you. No, this doesn’t make you “reliant”, “immature” (even if that trusted someone is a parent!), or less “independent” or “capable”. Having another person with you:
helps ensure that you are able to retain and keep track of all the information likely being thrown at you
Tip: have this person responsible for the notes during the appointment, so that you can be free to focus on the conversation without worrying about trying to record everything for later.
provides additional insight
reduces the risk of questions or information you want to bring up getting forgotten
provides comfort and support
Confidence
I wish this didn’t have to be on this list, but the truth is, there’s a power dynamic in our society, including in institutions such as the healthcare system. If we don’t trust ourselves and know that we are the experts in our own bodies and lives, who will? It becomes that much harder to remember that we have a voice and, ultimately, the final vote. This is especially true in fast-paced, emotional, or stressful situations.
Remember:
you are capable, intelligent, and the expert of your own body and life
you are allowed to take up space
you have rights, and those rights are a non-negotiable
your needs matter
you are a human being first
Research
Before you can even begin to assert your wants and needs, it’s important to know what your options are! Many professionals don’t always have all the answers, and typically don’t have the time to provide you with all the information and ensure you understand. That’s why conducting your own research (ideally before an appointment, but definitely before you agree to anything!) is important. You can also enlist your support network to help you with this process to reduce the task.
Organized
Advocacy can quickly fill like an additional job. Depending on the nature of the case, there can be a lot of different things to juggle, such as medication, appointments, contact information, and applications/processes. It’s a lot for one person (although, hopefully by reading this, you’re going to explore creating a team to support you) to manage. Being able to stay organized and on top of things is essential. Some ways to foster this are:
create a system
utilize an electronic calendar or task management software (I personally use Notion[2] and Google Calendars)
Bonus: set up automatic reminders so you never lose track of important tasks and dates
delegate
And Finally, Take a Break
The last (but no less important!) essential strategy that you need to be an effective advocate is the ability to take a break. Whether you’re self-advocating, advocating as a caregiver, or advocating for your clients as a professional, there’s a good chance that you have a lot on your plate. You’re also a human being with other interests, wants, needs, and responsibilities outside of this advocacy work. It can become overwhelming to try and do it all 24/7, and that is the road to burnout. So let’s commit together, right now, that we are also going to recognize that:
Rest is productive.
Rest is important.
Rest is an essential part of this process.
Advocates — what did I leave out? Share your tips, tricks, and insights in the comments to help others who might be just starting their advocacy journey.
1 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Advocacy2 Notion - not sponsored or affiliated. I use a free version just think it's great.