Advocacy for children, explained
What is an advocate?
An important part of my role at Now, Next & Then is to act as an advocate for children and young people. Someone who is an advocate provides advocacy, but what does that mean?
An advocate is someone who speaks up for someone else and helps them to get what they need.
So, advocacy for children means helping children and young people - like YOU - to be heard and to get what you need to feel understood and happy.
Sometimes you might not know what support you need, or you might feel that the adults around you do not understand your needs or how to help you best.
My aim is to help you to understand yourself better and to find ways for you to communicate better with the adults in your life. I will listen and talk with you and spend time with you doing activities and games to get an understanding of what you helps you and what you are like. This means we will meet a few times or several times. I might also meet with your teachers and parents.
Advocacy includes making sure that the adults in your life listen to your feelings and ideas and provide an environment where you can be understood and be yourself. This might include the school providing things that help you to enjoy each day and do well, such as having ear defenders or a quiet space to go to. There are lots of different ways that school can make life easier for you.
Your teachers or parents can also be advocates for you, such as a teacher who helps you get extra support in school, or when your parent listens when something feels difficult.
Sometimes, young people can be advocates too - when you speak up for yourself or a friend, you’re being an advocate!
Why might you need advocacy?
Advocacy is important because sometimes young people:
Don’t feel like people are listening
Need help with problems they can’t fix alone
Struggle to understand and communicate their needs
Deserve to be supported so that they can do their best
Advocates make sure that children and young people always have someone on their side and it’s my job to make that work for you.
Lara Harris
Autism Advocacy & Support Specialist