How Do You Advocate for Someone?
Advocating for someone can uplift their dignity and rights—but be cautious of oversimplified guidance. Here's how to spot what's missing and do better.
"Advocacy is not just about speaking up—it's about dismantling systems that silence."
Resources for carers and supporters often miss the mark. They oversimplify, ignore lived experience, or avoid naming systemic harm. Here's what to watch for—and how to advocate with dignity and purpose.
Red Flags to Watch For
Superficial Definition of Advocacy
- Defines advocacy as simply "speaking up," bypassing the emotional labor, systemic barriers, and power imbalances inherent in advocacy.
- No reference to how race, disability, gender, language, or socio-economic status can affect someone’s ability to advocate or be heard.
No Centering of the Person Being Advocated For
- The person receiving care is mentioned only in terms of what the carer does *for* them—not their rights, wishes, or autonomy.
- Reinforces a paternalistic framing that disempowers the individual.
Token References to Rights and Discrimination
- Vague mentions like "make sure they are not discriminated against" without any detail or guidance.
- Avoids engaging meaningfully with structural inequities or injustice.
Vague and Passive Support Recommendations
- Suggests carers contact “peak bodies” without naming any, creating additional labor for carers.
- Fails to evaluate whether recommended services are culturally safe, trauma-informed, or accessible.
No Lived Experience or Diverse Voices
- Advice is presented in generic terms, with no quotes, reflections, or realities from carers themselves.
- Flattens complexity and invisibilises those most affected.
Checklist Tone Minimizes Complexity
- Tips like "be clear and firm about what you want" oversimplify trauma, exhaustion, and fear of retaliation.
- Treats advocacy like a series of steps, not a relationship-based, emotionally demanding process.
What Authentic Advocacy Looks Like
Core Principles
- Center the voices and choices of the person you're supporting.
- Use your position to challenge injustice—not just speak politely.
- Draw on community wisdom, lived experience, and collective action.
- Support includes listening, elevating voices, and holding systems accountable.
Toward Authentic Advocacy
Caregivers deserve better than generic advice. Advocacy is about more than being assertive—it's about confronting systems, honoring autonomy, and building coalitions for justice.
Center Voices & Experiences
Move beyond token inclusion to genuinely center the voices and experiences of both carers and the people they support. This means creating space for their stories, concerns, and solutions to guide the advocacy process.
Name Systemic Barriers
Explicitly identify and name the systemic barriers—racism, ableism, classism, and other forms of discrimination—that impact care and support. Provide concrete tools to challenge these barriers rather than working around them.
Emotionally Honest & Culturally Safe
Create guidance that acknowledges the emotional complexity of caregiving and advocacy. Ensure resources are culturally safe, trauma-informed, and accessible to diverse communities.
Reflect the Complexity of Care
Let's aim for advocacy resources that reflect the complexity of care—not just the optics of support. Authentic advocacy requires us to:
- Question whose voices are missing from the conversation
- Challenge power imbalances in care systems
- Build solidarity across different experiences of care
- Create sustainable support networks
- Hold institutions accountable for their promises
✅ Key Ways to Advocate with Someone Authentically
Listen First
Center the person's lived experience and ask how they want to be supported. Don't assume you know what's best.
Amplify, Don't Override
Elevate their voice rather than speaking over them. Quote them, cite their work, or defer to their lead when appropriate.
Use Your Privilege Strategically
If you have access, credibility, or power that they don't, use it to open doors—not to claim credit.
Stay in Solidarity, Not Saviorism
Avoid framing yourself as a "rescuer." Instead, show up consistently and with humility.
Challenge Harmful Systems
Advocate not just for individuals but to change the conditions that marginalize them—policies, practices, attitudes, etc.
Be Specific and Action-Oriented
Don't settle for vague "support." Name specific actions (e.g., "I'm requesting a policy change to address ableist language.")
Respect Boundaries and Consent
Don't share someone's story or identity unless they've given explicit permission.
Reflect and Learn Constantly
Be open to feedback. Advocacy isn't a one-time act—it's a practice.