"I am an advocate for the disabled". How many times do these words ring out among persons who work with a particular disability organization? What do these people emulate when they utter such remarkable words that provoke our thoughts.? Do these people know exactly what they say? What does it mean to serve as an advocate for the disabled?

Webster's dictionary offers this definition to clarify what the word advocate entails.  "To speak in favor of; recommend, one who argues for a cause or person; a supporter or defender..." What does this definition tell us? In order to serve as an advocate, we may belong to an organization that serves to advocate for persons with a disability, or we may advocate as individuals. Advocacy begins at the home front. In our communities we may advocate for a person with a disability.  How can a person advocate for the disabled with out organizational support?

First, we should realize that advocacy serves to integrate persons with disabilities into our communities.  As individuals and organizations work together, more leaps and bounds will accomplish the goal, total unity in one society.  As the definition states, advocacy means "to speak in favor of, recommend, one who argues for a cause..." Organizations strive to lobby on the legislative level for persons with disabilities.  Organizations also serve to support or defend. Does advocacy go to a deeper level?  How can individuals implement advocacy on the home front, and still work hand in hand with organizations?

Some brief suggestions will help demonstrate how advocacy becomes a necessity on an individual level. Look at this list, and determine to become an advocate for those persons in your community who have disabilities; if you have a friend or family member with a disability who needs assistance, act as a part time caregiver when possible, when someone with a disability approaches you, cast all barriers and apprehension aside, encourage persons with disabilities to attend church, treat a person with a disability as an equal, join a disability outreach in your community or start one, and the list goes on.

 Creativity plays an active part here.  These points represent an excellent start, but additional ideas exist as well.  Advocacy must start at the home front before it can enter into the organizational level.  

Individuals comprise organizations. therefore, if individuals learn to serve as advocates on the home front, they can better serve in an organization because they enter the organization with the proper armor and ammunition to fight against, and defeat the societal prejudice and misconceptions which runs rampant in our community. How does society close the gap between the abled and disabled world? When every person advocates for one another.  If you have a topic idea please write to the column. Please write to: