ABSTRACT
This chapter describes the advocacy work of Samoa’s only self-advocacy organization, Nuanua O Le Alofa (NOLA), illustrating the vital role of disability advocacy in driving legislative and policy change across the country. It highlights the ‘advocacy work’ of NOLA, as coined by its members, and the challenges they continue to face in a changing society. Self-advocacy organizations practise concepts and skills associated with self-determination. Research suggests that people who are self-determined have better post-school outcomes. NOLA is an organization that advocates for and promotes the rights and abilities of people with disabilities. In terms of organization make-up, NOLA’s infrastructure is partially supported by government agencies, which complicates the inter(dependent) relations they deal with on a daily basis. Advocating and changing policies are two priorities for NOLA. In terms of education, disabled students did not attend formal schools due to the negative belief that they were ‘uneducable’.
