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Self-advocacy in historical perspective
- Authors:
- BUCHANAN Ian, WALMSLEY Jan
- Journal article citation:
- British Journal of Learning Disabilities, 34(3), September 2006, pp.133-138.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
This paper looks at the history of self advocacy in England. It then considers different constructions of self-advocacy as they have emerged over the last 25 years. The authors highlight the tension between self-advocacy as a means for individuals to gain a voice, and affirm identity, and self-advocacy as a collective movement representing the interests of a particular group. The final section is a commentary on the states of self-advocacy in the UK. After Valuing People, people expect self advocacy organizations to speak up for everyone with learning difficulties. The authors argue it is possible to see self-advocacy as a form collective representation privileged over self-advocacy as a means to develop and affirm individual identity. The importance of finding ways to support self advocacy groups, especially those run by people themselves, to avoid this happening.