People showing off their advocacy wrist bands

There are laws on the books to assure people’s rights to an education:

  • Individuals with Disabilities Education Act

  • Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act

And be included in their communities:

  • Olmsted Decision

  • Americans with Disabilities Act

However, advocates need to be educated on their rights

And to find their voices to help assure these rights

Max and Craig practicing Tae Kwon Do

In addition, services and accommodations need to be available so funding and public policy needs to be adequate

This requires people identifying their own personal needs and what it takes to live their best life

Art of Advocacy offers resources for personal support such as:

  • how to find your voice,

  • how to tell your story,

  • how to identify effective ways to live your best life;

  • as well as, how to become more effective in overcoming barriers, and for those that can, do system advocacy

different colored wristbands with the levels written next to each color

Art of Advocacy is patterned after Tae Kwon Do, but instead of belts we use wristbands, and we encourage celebrating when someone moves up to the next Band level

All new advocates start with a White wristband; a Yellow Band is earned by completing all of the items on the checklist for that level

The Yellow Band focuses primarily on personal advocacy, finding your voice, developing a trusted circle of supporters, and expressing what you need to live your best life

As you gain in advocacy skills you may transition into the higher Bands and doing system advocacy, but this is not for everyone and that’s okay

The Bands go from White to Black with Black being the highest