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Independent Living Resource Centre

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Self Advocacy

WalkingAbout Self Advocacy

Self Advocacy Program

The Self-Advocacy program is designed to provide you with the skills necessary to successfully advocate independently. We offer skills development through dynamic and interactive workshops. contact us for more information.

To register for an Individual Advocacy workshop, or if you require community resource information, please contact Information and Referral at ILRC.

What is Self Advocacy?

Self Advocacy is:

  • learning more your rights and responsibilities
  • exercising your rights and navigating advocacy issues
  • making choices about directing your advocacy goals

The Self Advocacy Program at ILRC is designed to support you in gaining the skills and knowledge necessary to advocate for yourself across different systems and issues.

Information and Support

The following are just a few of the areas in which we offer information and support:

  • Rights to Essential Services
  • Home Care
  • Human Rights
  • Tenant and Housing Rights
  • Social Services and related benefits

The goal of Self Advocacy is to support you in gaining a practical set of advocacy skills which can be applied to any area of your life.Independence is not the quality of tasks you can perform without assistance, but the quality of life we can live with help.

Zola

Self Advocacy

December 17, 2019

woman attending classDid You Know …?

Advocacy Tips

  • Self-Advocacy DOES NOT mean you have to do it alone! Everyone needs supports to be successful
  • Before advocating for an issue, do some research. The more you know, the better equipped you will be to successfully advocate.
  • Create a plan of action
    • Who needs to be contacted?
    • How will you contact them?
    • Has anyone else experienced a similar issue?
    • Who else might be able to support you or the issue?
    • Does any legislation, regulations or policies exist that support your position?
    • When does this need to be done by?
    • How long will you wait before doing a follow-up?
  • When advocating for an issue, get as much information as possible in writing, this helps create a paper trail, and provides hard copies to refer back to if necessary
  • Save copies of any letters or emails that you send
  • Be aware that any information you send via email can easily, and sometimes accidentally, be forwarded on to other people
  • When possible, peer with people who have experienced similar issues. What barriers did they experience? What resources were useful? How were they able to resolve the issue?
Self Advocacy

April 17, 2019

Man in wheelchair working at construction siteSelf Advocacy Resources

The Self Advocacy Program at ILRC is designed to support you in gaining the skills and knowledge necessary in becoming a successful Self Advocate.

For advocacy resources sorted by category please click here

ABC's of Advocacy Workshop Forms

  • Priority Worksheet
  • SMART Goals Worksheet
  • SWOT Analysis Worksheet

Click here for a brief breakdown of the skills required for self-advocacy.

Program and Appeals Links

  • Canada Pension Plan Disability Benefits
    • CPP Disability Benefits Application Form
    • Canada Pension Plan appeal process
  • Employment and Income Assistance
    • Social Services Appeal Board
  • Home Care
    • Home Care Appeals
  • Manitoba Human Rights Commission
  • Residential Tenancies Branch
  • Winnipeg Transit Plus
    • Winnipeg Transit Plus Appeals
  • Workers Compensation Board of Manitoba
    • Workers Compensation Appeals

For an overview for many of these appeals process please click here to see the appeals processes document. (Revised November 2020)

Self Advocacy

April 17, 2019

INDEPENDENT LIVING RESOURCE CENTRE

Take risks · Make choices · Promote integration · Accept responsibility · Promote consumer control
Celebrating more than 35 years
100 - 167 Lombard Avenue · Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada · R3B 0V3 · Ph: (204) 947-0194 Fax: (204) 943-6625
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