We have really enjoyed taking part in Advocacy Awareness Week and we hope you have enjoyed our daily posts. We see advocacy as not just listening to our members or talking for them. Rather, by making sure they can be heard, and they feel in control of the decisions being made about them. So, Judy’s story sums up perfectly how important this is and how advocacy is key to making sure this happens.

Judy’s Story

“My experience of advocacy has been through my involvement with Talkback. In 2006 they began running self-advocacy sessions where I lived. At the time, I was not feeling that all my concerns were being taken seriously. However, at the sessions, I listened as they told me how it was so important to speak up and tell people in an assertive way, not an angry way, that you wanted better.

“By 2009, I was a ‘train the trainer’ and started to present awareness courses to prison, police and hospital staff. I had built up my personal confidence to the point that I felt able to present myself and my autism to others and conduct myself in a way that gave people a much better understanding of my autism, as well as other people’s experiences.

“Talkback has always treated me as if I have a brain and I have always been supported by them.  So, even during this awful pandemic, my weekly phone call with them has really helped me to talk things through.

“Because where sometimes I would feel decisions were being made behind my back, I now feel that I am in control of these decisions that affect me. So, I recognise when my rights are being stripped away from me and act, accordingly. Always, reminding people to not be harsh, treat me with respect and support me in ways that make sense to me.

“So, I will always be grateful to Talkback for supporting me to find my voice.”

#AAW21

#HearMyVoice

#AdvocacyinAction