Self advocacy

individual with intellectual disability walking with advocate

Your self advocates

DDS advocates want you to live your best life. They partner with you and your family to help you live, learn, work, and enjoy life. The advocates can help you:


  • Know your rights
  • Have lifelong opportunities
  • Make choices and take responsibility
  • Enjoy the dignity of risk
  • Have safe and meaningful relationships
Self advocacy means speaking or acting for yourself. It means you and your family decide what is best for you and take charge of getting what you want. It means standing up for your rights as a person.

Self advocacy highlights

What is self advocacy? 

Self advocacy is all about knowing your rights and speaking for yourself.

Success stories 

People tell us about their lives, their careers, and the choices they make.

Understand Your Rights (PDF) 

Everybody in America has rights that help them live the life they want.

Take the pledge 

Read, sign, and live the pledge to place people before any disability.

Advocate accomplishments 

Learn what DDS Self Advocacy Coordinators have achieved.

Living the mission 

Learn about DDS' mission to serve you and see some great ideas you can use.
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