Family Support and Networks 

Self Advocacy and Individual Advocacy

Self Advocacy is when you speak up for yourself and your rights.  This isn't always easy for a number of reasons.  Self-advocacy requires you to have self-confidence, to be assertive and to have an understanding of your rights.  

Individual advocacy is one-on-one assistance for a person with disabilities to help solve a problem. Individual advocacy helps you to speak up about what you want, get the information you need to make your own decisions, and to explore the choices you want to make.

There is support available in the form of self and individual advocacy groups.  The Self Advocacy Resource Unit is a good place to start.

The Better Health Channel Online

The Better health channel has a great list of links to disability groups and networks.  Getting to know people with same or similar lived experiences as you can be a great way to make new friends, get informal advice and information, and to give and receive support

Some of the links are state specific and some are national organisations.