Self Advocacy

Self-advocacy is the worldwide civil rights movement led by and for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD).  Self-advocacy can take on many forms, including voting in local and general elections, participating in your Individual Education Plan and Individual Service Plan meetings, testifying at legislative hearings, and letting people know what you want and how you feel.

New Jersey is home to a thriving advocacy community, including individual self-advocates as well as local, regional and statewide self-advocacy groups and organizations. The Division even has its own self advocacy group called the New Jersey Division of Developmental Disabilities Self-Advocacy Advisory Committee (SAAC).

Trainings

It is important to learn self-advocacy skills because it helps people with developmental disabilities decide what they want and what is possible for them to expect. Having good self-advocacy skills people with developmental disabilities can have more control and make the life decisions that are best for them. Self-advocacy helps to empower people with developmental disabilities, to speak up for themselves and make decisions about their life.

Know Your Rights

Disability Rights New Jersey empowers people with disabilities to develop self-advocacy skills and stay informed about their rights with the creation of a robust collection tools and resources. 

Arc NJ

The New Jersey Self-Advocacy Project (NJSAP) was established in 1983 to challenge individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities to become involved in events, legislative policies, and issues that affect their lives or lives of others with disabilities.