It’s a new year and you know what that means: resolutions! And lots of people discussing resolutions. And some people actually making and keeping resolutions.
But here’s the thing. Resolutions don’t have to be grand gestures. They don’t have to be about overhauling your life. In fact, sweeping resolutions tend to fail because it takes more than a change in the calendar to make something happen. It takes thoughtful consideration, realistic expectations, and planning.
And if the idea of making resolutions is too much pressure, that’s okay. The fact is, the beginning of a new year is a great time to take a step back and evaluate your life. What’s most important to you? What do you wish you were doing more of? What’s an intentional change you could make to increase your quality of life? Again, it doesn’t have to be a seismic shift. Something that will provide you some comfort or pleasure isn’t frivolous. It is worth doing. You deserve it.
While resolutions will vary from person to person, there is an intentional change that everyone in the disability community can and should make if at all possible for 2025. And that is to become an advocate for yourself. Of course, you’ve no doubt heard this before. But the truth is that speaking up for yourself is hard, especially if you’re being discriminated against, ignored, or otherwise dismissed. Self-advocacy takes time and practice. What one person is comfortable with another person might not be.
And no wonder. People with disabilities and their needs aren’t usually front and center in daily life for anyone other than the person with a disability and their immediate family or support system. Far too many people don’t think about what someone with a disability would need or think about people with disabilities at all. The omission isn’t necessarily malicious, but it causes harm nonetheless.
And this is why speaking up and advocating for yourself is so important. Whether you’re an experienced lifelong advocate or someone who finds self-advocacy intimidating or difficult, set a goal for yourself this year to find a way you can increase your self-advocacy.
A big part of self-advocacy is knowing your rights. There are state and federal laws (most notably the Americans With Disabilities Act) prohibiting discrimination and outlining what kinds of accommodations people with disabilities are legally entitled to in various areas, including employment, education, and voting rights. That said, unless you are a disability rights lawyer, this can be a daunting task. In Michigan, there are groups such as Michigan Disability Rights Coalition and Disability Rights Michigan that can help people navigate the law and understand their rights. You can also contact your local Center for Independent Living for support and resources.
Every step toward self-advocacy is important, no matter how small. When you advocate for yourself, you’re also advocating for everyone else who wants or needs the same accommodations, considerations, and modifications as you, but who are not comfortable or not able to speak up on their own.
There are far too many assumptions made regarding people with disabilities: What a person with a disability looks like, their ability to be independent, mental acuity, physical capability, quality of life, and more. When people with disabilities advocate for themselves they challenge these assumptions and demonstrate not only that their disabilities do not define them, but also that they are not invisible and they will not be ignored.