https://www.autismdailynewscast.com/autistic-advocacy-can-ever-take-someones-voice-away-opinion/ Autism News and Research Mon, 16 Mar 2015 09:05:16 +0000 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.7.5 https://www.autismdailynewscast.com/autistic-advocacy-can-ever-take-someones-voice-away-opinion/#comments/113032 Sun, 15 Mar 2015 01:59:57 +0000 http://www.autismdailynewscast.com/?p=24227#comment-113032 ). In advocating you often need to step back and think..Am I pushing for or portraying what they want or what I think they want? This becomes even more complicated if you are speaking for someone non-verbal. There will always be a need for advocacy in society but it is a role that must involve clear thought and insight.]]> What an excellent article and very thought provoking. I often take the on the role as an advocate in both my professional life (as children nurse) and my family life (my son has aspergers). The difficulty of the role should be realised. In advocacy you are not speaking for yourself in fact the ideas and opinions may be contrary to your own. Making decisions in the best interests of your child or patient, although good parenting/nursing, is NOT advocacy. My Son often asks me to speak to people for him and when this happens I confirm with him exactly what he wants to be heard. I prefer also (if possible) for him to be present when this happens so he is able to confirm that I have got the message across right. As he is becoming older I’m becoming less of the decision maker and more of an advocate in his personal life (not that there aren’t still rules at home☺). In advocating you often need to step back and think..Am I pushing for or portraying what they want or what I think they want? This becomes even more complicated if you are speaking for someone non-verbal. There will always be a need for advocacy in society but it is a role that must involve clear thought and insight.

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