Self Advocacy – sharing thoughts and experiences and taking joint action to build a better life and safeguard human rights. Sometimes just by meeting, talking and speaking up participants feel included and more valued. Other times people taking part agree to take action and support each other to change things.

Self advocacy means that people have a right to join in, to have a voice, to be heard and to be listened to. People support each other to plan their own lives, to make sure that they don't just fit in when staff or managers say they know what's best. We think everyone has a right to be involved in decisions that affect their lives. People with learning disabilities have a right to be included in community life and to help build better communities where there are no opportunities or where they are excluded. Self advocates support each other to stand up to people who talk in negative ways about people with learning disabilities and to stand up to bullying.