The initial step to advocacy is to create awareness among the public about people with disability. The activism involves engaging different organizations to enhance mobilizing the public in masses. Creating awareness among the citizen because they withhold national values for the common good of everyone in the society, including the vulnerable such as people with disability. Creating awareness influences the rebels to change for the better (Brydon, 2010). Rebels also help to protest against the mistreatment and exploitation of people with disability. The awareness enhances changes in attitude toward different people in the society for common excellence of the society. Creating awareness helps the public to keep informed on the strengths and weaknesses of people with disability.
Self-advocacy is essential in my contribution to social action as I express my interests and desires toward people with disability. Addressing the public and people I relate with to share my desires, application of the knowledge acquired, and set personal goals on the social action towards the minority in the society that seem disadvantaged in different aspects of the left (Edwards, 2010). Individual advocacy is part of my personal contribution through representing and supporting people with disabilities as they participate in various social activities. Additionally, I have participated in formal advocacy in the organizations I have worked and accessed by advocating for the inclusion and acceptance of people with special needs. Society requires education to handle the different challenging aspects of life.
The strategies of advocacy applied are micro and mezzo level in personal advocacy and social action. I have worked closely with families and friends of people with disability to enlighten them on the complexities of the individuals and counsel them on the care and support of clients with special needs as they move from one stage to another in therapy (Brydon, 2010). I also support clients to access support resources since I have information from different suppliers that help clients meet their needs. The support tools become necessary for people with disability to reduce the level of dependability on other people to access services in their surroundings. Also, educating people with disability on different health insurances that provide financial support depending on the type of coverage.
On the other hand, the mezzo strategy becomes vital for people with disabilities as its major focus is on the vulnerable facing different societal challenges. I use the mezzo strategy to help people with disabilities to accept their situation despite the challenges. I help people with disabilities to cope with the difficulties that affect their social and emotional well-being. I develop behavioral health programs to practice with the clients to improve their self-esteem and morale in the working organization. Healthcare provides a guideline on healthy living, including the appropriate diet for specific disabilities and complications. Also, I engage organizations to fund programs to educate people with disabilities on income-generating projects for their economic growth.
Moreover, I have joined several social advocacy groups that effectively help in helping people with special needs and other vulnerabilities (Edwards, 2010). The groups influence social action policies that help to provide support and care for people with different needs to cope with challenges in life. The groups create a platform to engage and make decisions by providing instructions and sharing contacts of the representatives that provide effective information on social advocacy. The groups share powerful information that includes; beliefs, motivations, and mobilization of supporters. The groups also create internet platforms such as blogs and wikis that enhance the powerful sharing of issues and concerns related to social advocacy. Web advocacy has become the new trend that promotes research through the internet. Web tools provide information necessary to help the vulnerable and minorities in society. The internet also helps to access support resources for people with disabilities that are important for coping and aiding their flexibility and mobility for the physically impaired.
On social action, I come together with other advocates with the mission to help the vulnerable and minorities in society. The mission involves gathering information and sharing ideas with the people in the community that share similar interests, desires, and skills to handle the vulnerable in society. Political contexts, aspirations, and intentions on social actions make appropriate actions in advocacy against social injustices (Scourfield, 2021). I have participated in several volunteer activities that engage in helping and creating awareness of people with disabilities in diverse cultures. I supported the people through guidance and encouraging the community to support the people’s access to education and other services. Emotional support is also crucial for people with disability to cope with life challenges.
I have also engaged in peer support in activities that enhance the exchange of emotions and practical support. Learning from each other helps develop advocacy and social actions for the vulnerable and disadvantaged. Interactions with professional in social work helps to create chances for advocacy and social actions for people with special needs. Social action contributes to supporting the community (Edwards, 2010). Volunteer services help to reach different people with disability, which builds my experience and skills to handle challenging situations in the profession. Social action also teaches the importance of collective action and policy in social work.
In conclusion, my contribution to advocacy and social action has involved various activities to support people with special needs and develop policies to handle the different aspects of the social work profession. The advocacy has helped to create awareness of people with disabilities and engage the public to appreciate the vulnerable in society, and create an enabling environment for them to develop economically and socially. Awareness creates advocacy in organizations to include people with disabilities in the community. The contribution has improved my values and policies as social work professional. Web tools have enriched the research avenues improving knowledge and skills. Political contexts are learned through advocacy programs.
Reference
Brydon, K. (2010). Social work advocacy in Singapore: Some reflections on the constraints and opportunities. Asian Social Work and Policy Review, 4(3), 119-133.
Edwards, H. R., & Hoefer, R. (2010). Are social work advocacy groups using Web 2.0 effectively? Journal of Policy Practice, 9(3-4), 220-239.
Scourfield, P. (2021). Using Advocacy in Social Work Practice: A Guide for Students and Professionals. Routledge.
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