Advocating and Awareness

One big thing in the counseling world today is advocating for your client, or if you're a person with a disability, then advocating for yourself.

What does advocating mean though?

Well webster defines it as :
"to speak or write in favor of; support or urge by argument; recommend publicly"

Basically, you're fighting for what you feel you need or what you feel is best. 

Counselors will advocate for their clients in many ways. They will push to get them the accommodations they need, an example of this is the ADA with making buildings accessible for those with disabilities. Another way counselors advocate is by getting their clients extra help or services provided to them.

You can advocate for yourself by making it known what it is you exactly need. 
Not everywhere is accessible and often times, it can be harder for those who have disabilities to get places because it is so inaccessible.  

By advocating for yourself and your disability, you are bringing awareness to the topic. That's one of the most important things, in my opinion, that counselors and those with disabilities should strive towards. We should strive towards bringing awareness to issues that are in the dark in order to normalize them. 

Below you'll find some links to some interesting reads and videos that highlight bringing awareness to certain issues. 

Here, Demi Lovato (formerly a star on the Disney Channel) is bringing awareness to her mental heath struggles. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dMCb9cE3oPY


Here is a website that features information, resources, and facts about how kids can get arthritis too!

http://www.kidsgetarthritistoo.org/

What's great is there are tons more websites and links out there for many disabilities and mental health problems that provide people with information on the subject. Advocating for yourself and raising awareness on things that are important to you, are both important steps in shedding light and normalizing disability and mental health.


Stay tuned! Next week we will be learning about coping skills!

Have an awesome day!!