Thread by @_HannahHeath

Today is the 30 year anniversary of the ADA! In honor of that, let's take a moment to talk about advocacy.

Specifically, what it takes to be an advocate. Thread.

#ADA30 #DisabilityPrideMonth #advocacy

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As some of you know, I am a disabled college student. It's rough. I've had to learn how to be bold. How to be loud. How to come forward and say: "This is wrong." How to stay in the forefront until someone answers with: "We will work with you to fix this." (2/?)

This is not easy for me. I am an introvert. I am not particularly eloquent. I have anxiety. I am easily angered. And, thanks to my disabilities, I am always in pain, always tired, always unwell.

Two years ago I would have told you that I am not advocate material. (3/?)

But here's the thing: There's not such thing as "advocate material." There is simply inequality and the people who are stubborn enough to fight to fix it.

That being said, there are many things I wished I had known when I first began to advocate for my community. (4/?)

(you can read about my first venture here:

https://twitter.com/_HannahHeath/status/1142244245522141186

)

If you want to be an advocate, here's what you should know:

(5/?)

1. Don't go alone. Advocacy is physically and emotionally exhausting. Find people who will fight alongside you. Make sure you have people to turn to when things get heavy.

2. Go wide. Send your emails and proposals to dozens of people. Set up group meetings....

(6/?)

...People are less likely to ignore you if they know others are watching.

3. Never point fingers. Problems are usually larger than a single person or organization. Take time to reach out to these people/groups to understand why they are the way they are. Take it from there.(7/?)

4. Be patient. Change takes time. There's no way around it.

5. Be polite and firm. When presenting problems, tell it like it is. But also remember that you are talking to a possible ally, so take time to build bridges by being kind and cordial.

(8/?)

6. Stand your ground. Sometimes people won't respond well to your requests. Or, even worse, they might ignore you. Don't back down. Don't settle. Plant yourself like a tree and keep speaking up until somebody listens.

7. Follow up. Even if people agree to make changes...

(9/?)

...be strong enough to come back a few weeks/months later and question them. Did they do what they said they would? Holding people accountable is uncomfortable, but necessary.

8. Thank people who support you.Give them examples of how their work has helped you and others...(10/?)

...You may just inspire them to become advocates themselves.

9. Remember why you started. Advocacy is exhausting and sometime dispiriting. Re-focus on why you began this journey: Not because you hate something, but because you love something... (11/?)

...Not because you oppose someone, but because you support someone.

10. Be proud. Remember that your actions make a difference. People will try to make you feel small, unintelligent, unimportant. But here's the thing: They don't have to power to do that. Only you do....

(12/?)

...Choose to be proud of yourself, to recognize your kindness and your strength.

11. Celebrate. Celebrate even the smallest victories. Advocacy is a long process, so if you don't take a few moments (or even a few days) to celebrate breakthroughs, you will burn out.

(13/?)

Being an advocate isn't about being a natural leader. It isn't about being a great writer or a great speaker. It isn't about being a person with unlimited time and energy.

(14/?)

Being an advocate is about believing in something, being stubborn enough to stand your ground, and being patient enough to see a job through.

It's about caring for others enough to be willing to sacrifice your time and energy for them.

(15/?)

In short, being an advocate is about stubborn love. If you have that, you have enough. You are "advocate material."

And you have the power to effect change.

#ADA30 #ADA #DisabilityPrideMonth #disabled