Finding Your Voice: Simple Tips for Disability Advocacy   

It can be hard growing up in a world that wasn’t built for you. Hard to feel proud when everything around you seems to suggest you’re wrong or not enough. But here’s the truth: it will get better. And while it’s not all your responsibility to fix, you do have power. Power to speak up, to make choices and to create a life that truly reflects who you are. 

At its heart, disability advocacy is about knowing your rights, using your voice and helping others do the same. Whether you’re pushing for better access in your local area, navigating the NDIS or just wanting to be heard and understood, advocacy can feel uplifting but also overwhelming. 

It’s okay to rest. You don’t have to take on every battle, every day. Looking after yourself is just as important. 

And remember, you don’t have to start big. You get proud by practicing. 

American disability activist Laura Hershey captured it in her poem: You get proud by practicing: 

“You can find someone
who will listen to you
without judging you or doubting you or being
afraid of you
and let you hear yourself perhaps
for the first time.
These are all ways
of getting proud.
None of them
are easy, but all of them
are possible. You can do all of these things,
or just one of them again and again.
You get proud
by practicing.” 

Read the rest of Laura’s poem here. 

That’s just as true here in Australia. Each time you speak up, connect with others or say what you need, you build more confidence and a stronger sense of control over your life. Here are some practical ways you can start.

Know your rights

Understanding your rights under Australian laws like the Disability Discrimination Act or the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities gives you a solid foundation. You don’t need to memorise legislation, but knowing you have the right to equal access, participation and respect can help you feel more confident to speak up when things aren’t fair.

Start small and local

Advocacy isn’t always about speeches or big campaigns. It might be asking your local café to add a ramp, requesting easy-read documents from a service provider, or letting your support worker know what matters most to you. It could even be learning everyday hacks like picking things up with kitchen tongs if bending is tough. All of these moments count.

Find your community

There’s a lot of power in connecting with people who understand. Joining a peer group, an online forum or a local disability organisation can give you support, helpful tips and new ideas. Find someone you admire and pepper them with questions!

Use your voice in the way that suits you

Laura Hershey also wrote: 

“Power makes you proud, and power
comes in many fine forms
supple and rich as butterfly wings.
It is music
when you practice opening your mouth
and liking what you hear
because it is the sound of your own
true voice.” 

Maybe that voice is in an email, spoken up at a meeting, shown through art or shared with a friend over coffee. It might be asking for assistive technology to make your home safer or taking your case to the AAT to appeal an SDA decision. However you choose to express yourself, it matters.

Reach out for help

If you’re dealing with discrimination, struggling with the NDIS or simply want someone in your corner, there are advocacy organisations all over Australia ready to help. You can contact DARU (Disability Advocacy Resource Unit), SARU (Self Advocacy Resource Unit), search through the Disability Advocacy Finder, or reach out to our team at Guardian Living if you want to explore housing options and understand your rights. 

Remember, pride grows with practice 

None of this happens overnight. It takes time to build your confidence, learn your rights and figure out the best ways to speak up. Try to celebrate the small wins along the way. And always know it’s okay to rest. Every time you advocate, whether for yourself or someone else, you’re helping to create a more inclusive society. 

If you’d like more resources or want to explore SDA housing that respects your independence, our team at Guardian Living is always here to listen. Together, we can keep finding ways to grow proud, practice advocacy and build a future shaped by respect, choice and community.