Awareness campaigns are a powerful way to inform the community. A good campaign will include general information and a way to contribute to the cause. Some campaigns are annual events, such as autism awareness month. Others, like the ice bucket campaign for ALS, consist of short bursts of education and training.
But are awareness campaigns enough?
A colleague recently asked me this question and it made me wonder, at what point do we move beyond a need for awareness and shift to a call to action? Awareness absolutely has its place for a variety of causes. However, when it comes to autism or other disabilities, maybe it is time we shift to action. We need a call to stretch beyond awareness or acceptance to a place of true action. And, our action should include the individual with a disability, as a self-advocate and leader. Maybe what we really need is a campaign to empower?
Empower: make (someone) stronger and more confident, especially in controlling their life and claiming their rights.
The Britney Spears court case has recently called into question the concept of power and, ultimately, who has power. In Britney’s case, it is not her. Britney’s case calls into question the true definition of empowerment. She wants nothing more than the right to be confident and control her own life. This seems like a right that the majority of us have simply because we have had 18 birthdays. The reported reason for her losing the right is that she made one too many bad decisions. But again, why is she not allowed to make a bad decision? Don’t’ we all make mistakes? Isn’t that considered learning?
Britney’s case highlights the legal policies that dis-empower individuals all across the country. This is especially prevalent within the disability community. It is for this reason that I am calling to you, the next time there is a disability awareness campaign, leverage the energy and emotion to call for empowerment. This will not be easy and will require that we become informed and use multiple strategies.
One way to inform and empower individuals is through the Tennessee Center for Decision Making, shared in a previous post. There are also many small ways to help empower individuals including:
- Allowing someone a chance to make a choice
- Supporting a choice that is not the one you would make
- Listen to their words and actions
- Ask for their ideas and be willing to hear them
- Watch for their lead
- Seek leadership training through your state disability council or other state or advocacy agencies
- Seek out postsecondary opportunities and choices
- Work with a benefits counselor to better understand the options
- Be the cheerleader, and not the coach
These are just a few ideas, and hopefully, they empower you.
