What is individual advocacy?

  • Amplifying the voices of people with intellectual developmental disabilities (IDD) by working in partnership with individuals and their families

  • Providing people with IDD and their families with information, skills, and tools to make self-directed and informed choices regarding their lives or the lives of their loved ones

  • Speaking up about the civil and human rights of people with IDD and where necessary, speaking on behalf of people who are too vulnerable to do so themselves

  • Supporting people and families to resolve concerns that arise with the resources, services, and supports they and their loved ones access

How do we provide Individual advocacy?     

The ACL provides advocacy through a team approach. Team members consult, collaborate, and support one another so that people requesting and receiving advocacy benefit from their collective knowledge, skills, and expertise. Although there may be a primary advocacy coordinator designated, a secondary advocacy coordinator, and other members of the ACL team may move in and out of the advocacy situation as needed.

A person or family requesting individual advocacy will typically consult with one or two advocacy coordinators to discuss the issue, situation, or concern for which advocacy is requested. Every situation is different and every person or family we meet with is unique. Thus, advocacy will look different for different people, and can range from one consult to ongoing communication. Together we will decide how advocacy might look for you and your situation.  

 

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For Adults

We believe you have the right to decide how you live your life, and we are here to help you speak up and access the services, supports, and community resources that you want and need. We can support you to do things like: lead your own meetings, find service providers and community resources that match your interests, and resolve concerns that might arise with providers and systems. To access our adult advocacy request form, click here.

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For Children

The ACL strives to help parents of children who have an intellectual developmental disability (IDD) become the best advocates for their children. We provide advocacy to families with children who need special education services through Boulder Valley or St. Vrain Valley School Districts. We provide consultation, education, advice, resources, and problem-solving to support children with IDD and their families, free of charge.   To go directly to our online form to request advocacy for your child, click here.