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Self-Advocacy

What is Self Advocacy?

Self-advocacy means speaking up for yourself and asking for your needs and wants. Self-advocacy is important because as an adult, you will want to become more independent.

African american teen girl smiling and feeling confident.

Making Decisions and Becoming More Independent

You’ll make decisions about your life:

  • your job and career choice
  • where you live
  • your health care
  • the support you need

It can also mean standing up for what you believe in such as removing barriers to people with disabilities and protecting equal rights.

Learn more about self-advocacy:

Find a Group

Many self-advocacy groups in Maryland provide opportunities to help people develop skills to speak up for themselves. The groups are usually run by people with disabilities. Here are just a few:

  • Our Own of Maryland

    On Our Own of Maryland has support groups whose members receive behavioral health services. It also supports the Transitional Age Youth Outreach Project, a peer network geared for young adults ages 18 – 30.

  • People On the Go of Maryland

    People On the Go of Maryland is a statewide group of advocates with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

  • Self-Advocacy Online

    For other self-advocacy groups in Maryland, visit Self-Advocacy Online. The website also offers lessons on self-advocacy.


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