Families of people with disabilities play a big role in speaking up for their loved ones. They help with medical care, school, jobs, and making sure their family members are included in the community. Advocacy also means teaching others about disabilities and working toward a fairer world.

It’s just as important for kids to learn to speak up for themselves. Self-advocacy means knowing their strengths, needs, and rights, and understanding how to ask for help when needed. Parents are their children’s first advocates, but teaching kids to do it themselves will help them in school, work, and life. The earlier they learn, the more confident and prepared they’ll be for the future.

This page is here to help! You’ll find useful tools and information on how to advocate and how to support your child in his/her journey toward self-advocacy. Together, we can create a world where everyone has the chance to succeed.