The ABCs of Advocacy

A host of activities fall under the rubric of “advocacy”. One dictionary defines advocacy as “the act of arguing on behalf of a particular issue, idea or person”[1]. Another defines advocacy as “telling your story to someone through various means, with the express purpose of compelling that person or body to do something”[2].

These definitions highlight the political and apolitical significations of the word advocacy. But in this article, we will look at advocacy in a health context: bringing about changes to an existing framework or belief for the purpose of improving people’s lives.

Who Performs Advocacy?

Advocacy can be performed by organizations, governments, businesses-and yes, individuals. Large advocacy organizations usually dominate the headlines because their methods are sound, their initiatives are well-funded, and their influence is extensive.

Organizations typically aim at the broader goal of effecting societal change through legislation. Bolstered by public and/or private donations, such organizations often get the ear of policymakers through public demonstrations and political lobbying.

But the role of the individual advocate shouldn’t be underestimated. What was once known as “performing one’s civic duty” is now dubbed advocacy. You are probably familiar with advocacy in its popular forms: writing letters to the editor, contacting political representatives, organizing community meetings, distributing brochures, wearing special ribbons, etc. These efforts may seem small, but every little bit helps. The journey of a thousand miles begins with one advocate.

Why Advocate?

Put simply, to bring about change. Here are a few examples of the benefits of advocacy in the context of health and disability. Among other things, your advocacy efforts can:

• improve awareness of a health condition in the public psyche
• provide greater access to resources to those afflicted with a particular health condition
• reduce systemic discrimination towards those afflicted with a health condition
• dispel misconceptions of a health condition
• ensure more relevant research is conducted into a health condition
• promote preventative measures to reduce the incidence of a health condition

Perhaps most of all, advocacy efforts should help a person or a group of people in some tangible way.

Best Advocacy Practices

Benjamin Franklin once said, “the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results.” So jumping into any advocacy venture without doing your homework will likely yield dismal results.

There’s a reason some advocacy organizations recruit top executives to sit on their Board of Directors–with their limited resources, they want superior results without making costly mistakes.

Ask ten advocates for suggestions on getting results and you’ll get ten different answers. But a quick environmental scan of advocacy strategies reveals three basic stages which organizations must master to become effective:

Education - Educate yourself before you attempt to educate others. This means doing your homework. Get relevant statistics to understand the nature and gravity of the problem you are confronting. Conduct library research and internet research to quickly get up to speed. Speak to leaders and educators who are familiar with your issue to accelerate the education process.

Articulation - You can’t solve a problem until you have defined it. Armed with the important facts, you can articulate your issues more succinctly. Professional advocates utilize the best public speakers to convey their message to the public and policy makers. These individuals are trained mouthpieces with a gift for elocution and rhetoric.

Demonstration - Advocates must demonstrate a nexus between the stated problem and the desired changes. Without this link, your argument will be unconvincing and collapse. If you are seeking funds from the government, be prepared to bolster your case with reliable statistics and comparative data from other jurisdictions. The more organized the advocacy effort, the more emphasis must be put on this phase.

“Enthusiasm is one of the most powerful engines of success. When you do a thing, do it with your might. Put your whole soul into it. Stamp it with your own personality. Be active, be energetic, be enthusiastic and faithful, and you will accomplish your objective. Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm.”

–Ralph Waldo Emerson

You Are An Advocate

It is important to remember that you can be an advocate, too. You don’t have to wear a uniform or belong to an organization to become an advocate. Here are some everyday examples of advocacy which we can all do:

• Talk to someone on the street about your condition
• Hand a skeptical doctor a printout of some research on your condition
• Educate your spouse or family members about your condition
• Distribute informational brochures relating to your condition

And best of all, you can do these things daily, weekly, monthly or yearly-whenever your schedule permits. Just decide on your level of involvement. Some prefer working with large advocacy organizations while others prefer going it alone. It’s up to each individual to decide how their time and energy is best spent.

Lastly, all advocates, large or small, should heed the advice of the great philosopher Ralph Waldo Emerson: “Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm.”

Be a passionate advocate for your cause and you’ll find that doors will open and people will listen. You can make a difference.

About the Author:

Jessie Baker is the founder and senior editor of Fog Magazine.

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[1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Advocacy
[2] www.advocacysolutions.ca/whatisadvocacy.php