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How can I Self-Advocate?

January 17, 2017 by Renee K Walker Leave a Comment

 

First, I want to thank the readers who have written into the post office a few times and specifically mentioned loving not only Good Cheer, but my Touch Points column specifically. It really touches my heart to know that you are enjoying my articles and that it helps people in some way. Keep writing and even suggest things that you want to know about because either me or someone else at Good Cheer will work to cover any topics that we can.

As I have talked about before, I took a training course on DeafBlind Self-advocacy last summer. I actually had a longer course which taught me how to teach the course. The course covers very important skills that we all need, but especially the Deaf/DeafBlind. I want to give you an overview of the skills in hopes that you can learn something to help you better self-advocate and lead you to find out where you can take the course in your locality.

What is Advocacy? Advocacy is about requesting and getting the support and education needed for life. It is all about making the things you need happen. How can you advocate? Know your rights. Get support. Contact the people involved. Talk to the media.

How is self-advocacy different? Self-advocacy is about doing that advocacy for yourself. You must know what you need. Why is self-advocacy so important? It helps build confidence. It gives you more opportunities. It also gives other Deaf and DeafBlind people more opportunities because you educate people and organizations about being aware and doing what is needed. It gives you equal access, and teaches hearing people something new.

There are seven steps to self-advocacy. First, you must remember to always request specific accommodations. Tell people exactly what you need to have equal access. You can’t be vague or unsure.  Second, know your rights. To do that, learn about the ADA and your own state’s laws, as well as other applicable laws or policies that might affect your situation such as Air Carrier Access Act for air travel. Third, once you have learned, educate others about those rights under the law. Don’t assume that the people you are dealing with know your rights. Often they don’t. Those in management might, but not always, explain your rights to them. Fourth, when dealing with others, know who they are and what their role and what level of authority they have. Also, know about the agency or organization and if they are capable of providing what you need. For instance, how large or successful is the business, is it federally funded, or is it a religious organization? The obligation to provide reasonable accommodation varies based on the nature of the business. Fifth, once you have done your research, follow procedure as the business has established and do so in advance being mindful that some accommodations such as a qualified interpreter take time to schedule.  Sixth, be tactful and courteous which involves knowing when to pick your battles, educating, and persuading. Be consistent and confident avoiding anger and negative attitudes and comments which might be the hardest thing to do when you are being denied something you need, but it doesn’t help really. And seventh, be willing to compromise as the situation demands. Consider other options if your accommodation cannot be granted. You don’t have to settle for less than what we actually work for you, but be open to other options that might work, though, not preferred. If all of this fails, it might be time to consult a lawyer.Green Background with green tinted American Flag and the whit text "Keep Calm and Know Your Rights

The steps for self-advocacy are easier than they seem and will get easier as you practice them. Use your failures from one experience to another to improve your self-advocacy skills. I have been forced to self-advocate many times. I can’t count the number of errors I have made including becoming angry and making comments that didn’t help me get what I needed, but I keep at it. I have now succeeded more than I have failed and along with this class that gave me these specifics, I have a good plan that helps me to stay focused and make my case more accurately and more effectively.

The Deaf or DeafBlind Self-Advocacy Training course curriculum is provided by the National Consortium Of Interpreter Education Centers. The course is taught by Deaf and DeafBlind instructors and is usually offered by state Deaf and DeafBlind agencies or other regional or local agencies. It is worth your time and effort. Contact your local or state agency to sign up or ask for this course.

Standing Up for Yourself!

January 17, 2017 by Renee K Walker Leave a Comment

ASL Sign for Support/Advocate- two closed 5 handshapes one on top of the other with top hand palm inward toward signer, and bottom hand palm facing left.
ASL Sign for Support/Advocate

Over the years that I have written this column, I have often shared my struggles with getting medical care and communication facilitated by Tactile ASL (TASL) interpreters. It is an on-going struggle that can be very frustrating. Often you feel like you are fighting a losing battle, but then a breakthrough happens, and your strength to fight is renewed. There is no way to describe self-advocacy other than It is a fight, but a fight worth fighting. Truth is, everyone needs to self-advocate because no one is going to win the battle alone. we each have to fight our individual battles, but ultimately, we are also waging the war together with others who are self-advocating. We help each other as we make our needs known. Anyone can self-advocate. You just need to learn how. Fortunately, there are Deaf and DeafBlind people out there who have been learning how to self-advocate the hard way that are now teaching others how. I recently joined those ranks.

A few weeks ago, I attended a state workshop here in Georgia taught by Bren Yuko Yunashko called DeafBlind Self-Advocacy Training. A Deaf Self-Advocacy Training class was held simultaneously at the same location. The curriculum was developed and tested by the National Consortium of Interpreter Education Centers over a 6 year year period culminated by a Train the Trainer session in 2011 at Gallaudet University. The class I attended was to give us the training as an overview and prepare us to teach the course to other Deaf and DeafBlind. That is our mission here in the state of Georgia. We want to put the power to create change into the hands of the individual.

The course is based on an “Of, by, and for the Deaf, Hard of Hearing, and DeafBlind” philosophy. It is important for the course to be presented by the very people who understand and have faced the same struggles as the audience. The course is made up of 7 modules to give you the skills and the knowledge to self-advocate. The modules are designed to help the student define self-advocacy, understand the ADA law, and introduce self-esteem and self-determination as the mindset that people need to have to achieve self-advocacy goals. The modules also give better understanding of the roles of interpreters and the services they provide in live and video remote services. all of which are important facets to understand and know when self-advocating.

In addition, discrimination is discussed and techniques for self-advocating for reasonable accommodations are presented in detail. Students also learn how provision of reasonable accommodations benefits the hearing, as well. The course provides a curriculum packed with important knowledge and time-tested strategies and solid resources to best empower you to fulfill your self-advocacy goals. Learning to face the struggles with success is the reward for you and also others who will come behind you.

I highly recommend this course. My own course was not only informative and self-empowering, it was also a great deal of fun as I strengthen friendships with other DeafBlind people I seldom see and met new ones who are now forever friends. I can better my life and help others to understand my needs which will only increase my participation and enjoyment of life and its many activities. Do yourself a favor, and ask your state Deaf and DeafBlind services agencies about this National Consortium of Interpreter Education course. If they don’t have it, begin your self-advocacy by asking that they bring this course, Deaf/DeafBlind Self-advocacy Training to your area. Let’s work together toward change for all of us. We deserve it. We can get it. We just need to know how to best to teach others how to give us what we need.

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