ABSTRACT
The concept of self-advocacy does not have a simple or agreed definition. At its most basic individual level, it is concerned with the opportunity to make choices and decisions on day-to-day matters. During childhood, most of these opportunities will occur at home and at school. The right of people with learning disabilities to speak for themselves and to be listened to is increasingly accepted in many countries. At the national level, an increasing number of disabled people are on the boards of their national movements in fields such as visual, hearing or physical impairments. At local level, self-advocacy groups may consist of individuals who come together from different services to discuss ways in which disabled people can gain access to local services and facilities. Disagreements about independence are therefore more prolonged in families where there is a relative with a learning disability. Collaboration between parents and teachers is therefore essential to such developments.
