At Ability KC, we believe everyone deserves the opportunity to live, work, and fully participate in their community. However, we recognize that individuals with serious injuries or disabilities often face barriers that make accessing medical care, finding employment, pursuing education, and navigating their surroundings more challenging.This is why advocacy is so important. Advocacy can be key to the development of inclusive services, research finds.
Advocacy means speaking up for people who need support and pushing for changes that make life easier. In general, disability advocates seek to make sure no one is left out. Learning more about advocacy can help you become more aware of existing advocacy goals and how you can make a difference.
3 ways Ability KC advocates for people with serious injuries or disabilities
- Improving access — One of the biggest challenges for people with disabilities is getting the services they need to live an independent life. Many people struggle to find doctors, therapy programs, schools or jobs that support their needs. At Ability KC, we’re committed to removing barriers to care and essential resources. We want to make sure people can get the help they need. To broaden treatment access, we offer a range of rehabilitation services to people of all ages. After a serious injury or illness, people often need therapy to regain movement, speech and functional skills. We work to help these people access the services that are right for them. We also have an inclusive therapeutic preschool, which provides both education and therapy to children with disabilities. We strive to ensure that all patients receive the care they need, regardless of their ability to pay.
- Providing education — One of the best ways to support people with disabilities is through education and awareness. Many people may not fully understand the challenges that children, adults, and seniors with disabilities encounter every day. Ability KC provides educational opportunities to help people learn and take positive action. We educate people in a few different ways. One way is hosting community events such as workshops. At these events, we often touch on topics like disability rights, accessibility and inclusion. We also provide free online resources, including videos, informative blog posts and handbooks. Education is a powerful tool. It can help remove stigma, break down barriers and create a more supportive society for people with disabilities.
- Teaching self-advocacy — Advocacy is not only about organizations speaking up; it’s also about helping individuals learn to advocate for themselves. Ability KC’s Beyond Transitions seasonal program is designed to help with self-advocacy. We teach adolescents with disabilities how to express their needs, understand their rights and become more independent. Adolescents in the program can learn how to advocate for themselves, which can improve independence and build confidence. By learning self-advocacy skills early, young people with disabilities may be better prepared for school, work and adulthood.
How you can advocate in your community
Advocacy isn’t just something big organizations do. Anyone can be an advocate. Here are some simple ways you can help make your community better for people with disabilities:
- Speak up for accessibility — There are many ways you can advocate for accessibility. Advocacy can be as simple as encouraging a local business to install a wheelchair ramp. You can also speak up in your workplace. For example, you could brainstorm with your company on how to offer flexible work options or assistive tools.
- Educate others about disabilities — Sharing facts and lived experiences can help correct misconceptions and stereotypes. You can educate friends, family and others in your community. By spreading awareness and knowledge, you can help reduce discrimination against people with disabilities.
- Support local advocacy events and organizations — Attend local events that raise awareness for disability rights. Write to local lawmakers about disability policies. Volunteer or donate to organizations that support people with disabilities. These are all ways you can support disability advocacy-centered movements around you.
- Be a supportive friend and neighbor — One of the best ways to be an advocate is to help those in need. If you know someone who has a disability, listen to their needs and do what you can to offer support. If they need medical care, therapy or job support, you can help them find resources and professional treatment providers like Ability KC.
Get treatment and continual support at Ability KC
Advocacy helps build a better world. At Ability KC, we work hard to advocate for people with serious illnesses, injuries and disabilities in our community. With our help, you can get the support you need and become an advocate for yourself.
Ability KC is a designated Comprehensive Outpatient Rehabilitation Facility (CORF) with a Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF) accreditation. Contact our team today for more information or to schedule an initial appointment.