Advocacy is central to Connections for Independent Living’s mission. We offer both individual and systems advocacy. Individual advocacy is assisting an individual with a disability to protect his or her rights or to fight for needed resources. Through systems advocacy, we advance civil rights and equal access for all persons with disabilities on the local, state, and federal levels.

• Individual advocacy is done by teaching the individual self-advocacy skills. In gaining self-advocacy skills individuals can learn how to communicate and negotiate with agencies, service providers, employers, and others to obtain needed benefits, services, or accommodations.
• Systems Advocacy works for a positive change in the community, working to create awareness of the barriers to participation by persons with disabilities, and how such barriers can be removed through public awareness activities, events, and participation in the legislative process.

You are not alone, and the Connections team stands ready to be of help.