What is the Difference Between Advocacy and Self-Advocacy?
🆚 Go to Comparative Table 🆚Advocacy and self-advocacy are two terms related to supporting individuals and their rights, but they have distinct differences:
- Advocacy refers to acting on behalf of another person or group of people. It involves representing their interests, opinions, and rights, and helping them access services that may be denied to them. Advocacy can take various forms, such as individual advocacy, where a person or group of people concentrate their efforts on one or two individuals, and systems advocacy, which focuses on changing policies, laws, or rules that impact how someone lives.
- Self-advocacy is the act of an individual standing up for their own rights, voicing their opinions, and representing themselves. It involves understanding one's strengths and needs, identifying personal goals, knowing one's legal rights and responsibilities, and effectively communicating these to others. Self-advocacy can be supported by self-advocacy groups, which are often composed of people who use services or have similar interests and work together to ensure they have a say in how those services are run.
The main difference between advocacy and self-advocacy is that while advocacy involves representing others, self-advocacy is about individuals speaking for themselves and self-representing. Both forms of advocacy aim to support people in expressing their views and fighting for their rights, but they differ in who is responsible for representing and advocating for the individual.
Comparative Table: Advocacy vs Self-Advocacy
Here is a table comparing Advocacy and Self-Advocacy:
| Aspect | Advocacy | Self-Advocacy |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | Advocacy refers to supporting others to express their views, fight for their rights, and allow them access to services that are usually denied them. | Self-advocacy refers to the individual standing up for their rights, voicing opinions, and dealing with others through self-representation. |
| Representation | Acting on behalf of another. | The person speaks for themselves. |
| Role | An advocate acts as an intermediary, representing the interests and opinions of vulnerable individuals who may need assistance in expressing their views. | Individuals with disabilities, or others who face challenges, take control of their lives and life decisions, creating a forum for self-determination and choice. |
| Examples | Advocates can fight for individual inclusion in the workplace, accessibility in the community, and access to supports for a self-directed life. | Self-advocacy movements bring out people with disabilities so that they can take initiative and control over their lives. |
In summary, the main difference between Advocacy and Self-Advocacy is that while Advocacy involves representing others and supporting them in expressing their views and fighting for their rights, Self-Advocacy focuses on the individual standing up for their rights and voicing their opinions through self-representation.
- Activism vs Advocacy
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- Lawyer vs Advocate
- Self-Awareness vs Self-Consciousness
- Therapy vs Counseling
- Self-esteem vs Self-efficacy
- Confidence vs Self-Confidence
- Argumentative vs Persuasive
- Selfish vs Self Centered
- Arbitration vs Adjudication
- Solicitor vs Attorney
- Self Esteem vs Self Actualization
- Aggression vs Assertiveness
- Self Esteem vs Self Confidence
- Coaching vs Counseling
- Charity vs Social Justice
- Argument vs Persuasion
- Advise vs Advice