In general, self-advocacy is the process of people speaking out for themselves, thereby gaining or regaining control over their lives. It often involves people working as a group and often self-advocates become peer and/or citizen advocates.
For NYSACRA, self-advocacy refers to the disability rights movement for people with developmental disabilities, also called cognitive or intellectual disabilities, referring to people with disabilities taking control of their own lives. The self-advocacy movement is (in basic terms) about people with disabilities speaking up for themselves. It means that although a person with a disability may call upon the support of others, the individual is entitled to be in control of their own life decisions without undue influence or control by others.
NYSACRA's strategic plan has a goal to shape industry standards by a number of methods, including expanding collaboration with self advocates and others.
