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This booklet is protected by copyright under United States law and by international copyright laws and treaty provisions. You may copy and distribute the work provided that you use the work for personal, noncommercial use; do not add the work to a collection or use it with any other text, photographs, artwork, etc; do not modify or alter the work in any way or delete or modify any copyright; and do not publish or post all or any part of the work on any Internet site or in or on any other media without obtaining the prior written consent of Ohio Legal Rights Service. Copyright © 2005 Ohio Legal Rights Service. All rights reserved. IntroductionOhio Legal Rights Service developed this publication, Signs of Advocacy in the Mental Health System, with direction and guidance from the PAIMI Council (Protection and Advocacy for Individuals with Mental Illness Council). The intent of the booklet is to reach out to people who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing to inform them about advocacy and inspire them to become self-advocates. The booklet promotes the idea that self-advocacy is a way to solve problems in everyday life — in restaurants, in places of business, at sporting events, in recreational facilities, in mental health agencies or hospitals. The illustrations in this booklet were developed to reflect the breadth of individuals who are helped by advocacy, focusing especially on people who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing and those who come into contact with individuals who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing. The drawings were done by Kurt Stoskopf, a freelance artist who is Deaf. Mr. Stoskopf is an Assistant Professor in the Arts and Imaging Studies department of the National Technical Institute for the Deaf at the Rochester Institute of Technology, located in Rochester, New York. His website can be found at www.onemonkeystudio.com. Hopefully, this booklet encourages you to become a self advocate. Everybody AdvocatesThe following are examples of how people advocate each day:
When you know your rights, it is easier to advocate for your self and others. About AdvocacyAdvocacy is your voice being heard. Advocacy helps yourself, others, and your recovery. Advocacy provides support. For example, when a parent asks for an interpreter for his son who is Deaf, this support will allow his son to understand his classes and have a chance to get better grades. Advocacy happens at different levels:
What is Advocacy?Advocacy is informing and educating people to understand rights. Advocacy helps you in your recovery. Advocacy is speaking out, having your voice heard to get something you or a group needs or wants to solve a problem. Who can Advocate?Anyone can be an advocate! Advocates can be you, your family, and your friends. Advocacy influences people, such as individuals, groups, and state policy makers. Why Advocate?Advocacy protects your rights to get the services you need and want. For example, an employee is about to be fired because her manager feels she can't communicate in group projects. A co-worker advocates for her by suggesting that all the manager needs to do is get an interpreter for her. Advocacy influences people. For example, a father is upset because his daughter who uses a wheelchair is not able to go to a museum with him because the bus is not accessible. He decides to call the bus line to get this resolved. How to Advocate?There are many ways to advocate. Contact the person directly:
Contact the person indirectly by:
How does Advocacy work?Advocacy has an influence on people. Advocacy has an impact. Where to Advocate?In Ohio's Mental Health System, you can advocate for change by contacting these people:
When does Advocacy work?Advocacy works when Advocates:
Advocacy in ActionThe following are examples of how advocacy can work. In all examples, it shows that advocacy works! Advocacy Example #1A woman who is Deaf checks in with the receptionist for her therapy session. She tells the receptionist that she needs an interpreter for her therapy session. The receptionist tells her, "we don't provide interpreters here." The woman remembers that someone once told her about advocating for her rights. She tells the receptionist, "I need an interpreter to communicate effectively. The ADA law says I have that right. I would be more than happy to send you a copy of the ADA!" One month later, another person checks in with the receptionist for his therapy session and asks for an interpreter. This time, the receptionist at the front desk tells him to let a staff member know. Advocacy Example #2A man and his friends who are Deaf are planning to attend a play. The man contacts the theater to ask for an interpreter for him and his group of friends. The woman at the theater says that she will try to provide one, but asks where she can find interpreter services. The man gives her the phone number to an interpreting agency. The woman from the theater thanks him and says she will call him back. Later, she calls the interpreting agency and tells them about the request and schedules an interpreter. The woman also decides to advertise on the posters and newspaper ads for the play that a sign language interpreter will be provided. Advocacy Example #3A woman complains to herself that every time she goes to Emergency Services, there are no TDDs for her to make calls on. She decides that she is going to advocate for all people who are Deaf and start a petition. She gets the signatures that she needs and takes the petition to Emergency Services. The manager at Emergency Services says that he did not realize there were so many people who are Deaf who could benefit from TDDs at Emergency Services. As a result, more TDDs will be installed at Emergency Services. In addition, an article is printed in a newspaper about this change. Funding for this PublicationOhio Legal Rights Service prepared this publication with funding from the Ohio Department of Mental Health through a grant from the Center for Mental Health Services of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration of the United States Department of Health and Human Services and through the Protection and Advocacy for Individuals with Mental Illness (PAIMI) Act of 1986, also administered by the Center for Mental Health Services. Ohio Legal Rights Service Related Topics:
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