Self-advocacy, or having a voice of your own, is fundamental to both asserting yourself and exploring yourself. This is important because it is directly linked to building confidence and self-esteem. It is important to have the possibility of talking about your life and your experiences so that who you are can be validated by others. In this way having a voice of your own has the power to construct your identity.
Katherine Owen and Jackie Downer, University of Hertfordshire
As the authors state, having a self-advocacy mindset can be instrumental in helping people with disabilities develop confidence, self-esteem and pride in their own unique identity.
Meet Jordan – A fierce advocate for people with disabilities
Jordan’s childhood was often marked by being teased for his intellectual disability. “I have actually been teased growing up, because people didn’t know how to deal with it,” Jordan recalls. “It made me feel bad.” But today, Jordan is an independent man and the definition of a self-advocate. But make no mistake: Jordan doesn’t just advocate for himself. Jordan is a fierce advocate for the entire disability community. “I’m proud of my disability community and being a part of it.”