For some, self-advocacy is not an easy thing. As those who have a disability know, though, it is an essential part of their very being, and yes, everyday life. I’ve come to understand that self-advocacy is the most important, if not vital, skill a person who has a disability can have.
For those who know me, I’m a people-pleaser, and try to always make the best out of every situation. I’ve learned, though, from past experiences that if I don’t advocate for myself, I will be taken advantage of and it will happen time after time.
I had the good fortune to be raised by fabulous grandparents, who taught me the value of self-advocacy. I saw how they advocated for me in my younger years, especially concerning the school system. Unfortunately, teachers and other school officials pegged me as “intellectually disabled” because of my inability to communicate my thoughts quickly.
Of course, this angered my grandparents. As time progressed, they received the help of an advocate, and then I could enroll in mainstream classes. This, in turn, made an indelible impression on me about the importance and value of advocacy and persistence.
As a teenager, I was shy and retiring (even more than I am today,) and I found it difficult to advocate for myself. Looking back, I often wonder why I didn’t understand that I was as capable as any other student, it just took me extra time to complete certain tasks. My inability to advocate for my own needs frustrated me to no end and made me feel different from the rest of my peers.
After high school, I matriculated at St. Andrews Presbyterian College in Laurinburg, N.C, an institution that was known for its wheelchair-friendly campus. Self-advocacy was a crucial ingredient to be successful there, however, and I felt that I was stuck in the same pattern that I was in high school. Having to rely on someone else other than a family member to fulfill my needs was very strenuous at best, and the fact that I felt unable to speak up was more than I could handle. I came home after three years.
Although my time at St. Andrews was rough, it taught me a valuable life lesson—to be my own advocate no matter what. Armed with this new knowledge after a break from academia, I started to attend Messiah College. It was a completely different experience than St. Andrews, and I could more easily self-advocate for myself with the help of my Mom, academic facilitator, and personal care attendants. I completed my coursework and graduated with honors and a very special award!
Through life experiences, I have learned that self-advocacy is the key to success, and, most importantly, happiness. It has proven to be a winning component to overcome life’s greatest challenges, and increases the chance for success.
-Hope Johnson
