Personal Perspectives on Autism

Definition

Definitions of self-advocacy vary; it has been described as follows:

An individual’s ability to effectively communicate, convey, negotiate or assert his or her own interests, desires, needs and rights. It involves making informed decisions and taking responsibility for those decisions. (Van Reusen et al. 1994 as cited in West et al. 1999)

Also, as a civil rights movement (Williams and Shoultz 1982 as cited in Goodley, D. and Ramcharan, P. 2005).

However, it is currently defined and it is most often referred to by what could be termed as outsiders – those who aim to define and enhance the concept of self-advocacy but who do not consider themselves to be engaged in self-advocacy; definitions are laden with assumptions and values framed within a normalization agenda. Self-advocacy is seen as something that disabled people may engage in to improve their lot and something that may increase their chances of a more normal or self-directed life. Nondisabled individuals do not...