Self-Advocacy and Autism Advocacy
Autism advocacy has transformed my life, and I believe it’s essential for every autistic person.
Self-Advocacy is one of the most powerful skills that helps autistic people express their needs, ask for support, and live with more confidence.
What is advocacy and autism? It’s speaking up for our needs, educating others about autism, and working toward a world where autistic people are accepted and accommodated rather than forced to conform.
Self-advocacy autism means understanding your own needs and communicating them effectively. It means saying “I need a break” when you’re heading toward shutdown. It means asking for accommodations at work or school. It means choosing not to make eye contact if it’s uncomfortable, and without apologizing for it. Self-advocacy became my lifeline. It taught me to stop apologizing for needing what I need and to start asking for it instead. It showed me that neurodiversity isn’t a buzzword or taboo to bring up. It’s a framework for understanding that different kinds of minds make the world richer, not more complicated.
In all four years at Newport Harbor High School, my special education class, Resource Specialist Program (RSP), had us students practice self-advocacy. That meant going up to our teachers to speak up for ourselves. For instance, if we were absent, we would go up to the teachers ourselves and ask, “What did I miss?”
The first “success story,” as I call it, occurred on June 25, 2012—the first day of my Emergency Medical Responder class. I told the instructor that I usually require test-taking accommodations. He was very happy that I told him to let him know, and he helped me accordingly. That moment really stood out to me. “May my RSP teacher be proud,” I said to myself.
Self-advocacy significantly helped me throughout the rest of high school and especially in my college years at OCC and VUSC. Nowadays, I’m able to go up to anyone and tell them what I need or how I can help.
Also in high school, I became an advocate for autism, speaking and juggling at an annual banquet for the school district all four years, and performing in a fundraiser in the latter two, explaining what it’s like being autistic. This propelled me further in life as I went out on social media and wrote books about it.
Self-Advocacy Goals for Autism
These goals can help autistic people understand their needs, communicate clearly, and build confidence in daily life.
- Learning to identify your sensory triggers and needs
- Practicing saying no to social obligations when you need rest (that was hard for me, because I didn’t want to admit to myself that I needed rest)
- Requesting workplace accommodations like noise-cancelling headphones or flexible schedules
- Educating friends and family about autism
- Setting boundaries around masking and social expectations
- Seeking diagnosis or support if you need it
Teaching self-advocacy to students with autism is one of the most important things educators and parents can do. When we teach autistic children to recognize and communicate their needs early, we set them up for a lifetime of advocating for themselves. I am very indebted to my mother who attended all the doctor meetings and school meetings, advocating for me when talking with my teachers, but when I got older, I began putting advocacy to practice myself.
Advocacy for children with autism means listening to what autistic children are communicating even if they’re not using words. It means presuming competence, respecting their autonomy, and fighting for inclusive education and accommodations.
Advocacy for students with autism extends beyond childhood. It means ensuring autistic students have access to the supports they need to learn in ways that work for their brains. It means training teachers to understand autism beyond stereotypes. It means creating environments where autistic students can thrive without forcing them to act neurotypical. It’s more than just integrating them into the school system, but including them by frameworks and strategies like differentiated instruction and Universal Design for Learning (UDL).
Autism awareness and advocacy go hand in hand, but they’re not the same thing. Awareness is knowing autism exists; advocacy is working to change systems, attitudes, and policies to better serve autistic people. Once that happens, there will be more acceptance, equity, and inclusion in society.
An advocacy toolkit autism includes:
- Understanding your rights under disability law
- Knowing how to request accommodations (for instance, I had to tell most of my professors at OCC and VUSC that I might need extra time to complete an exam)
- Having scripts or templates for disclosure conversations
- Connecting with advocacy organizations
- Building relationships with other advocates; finding support groups out there.
- Learning about ableism and how it affects autistic people
- Developing confidence in your own voice and experience, if you’re comfortable sharing your story and sentiments to the world like I do (and other advocates).
The autistic community has taught me that advocacy isn’t about being perfect or having all the answers. It’s about showing up authentically and working toward a better world for all of us. It’s important to note that there are disagreements among ideas and strategies that advocates propose, but I say, “Find what works for you (or your family member).” Agree to disagree and respect people’s opinions and constructive criticism. I believe that is what it should be about. Conversations in forums like social media platforms are there to share ideas and grow a community where everyone supports each other. After all, we’re humans trying to navigate life.
Moving Forward: A Message of Hope
Whether you’re an adult recently exploring an autism diagnosis, a parent supporting an autistic child, or an autistic person trying to understand where you fit in all of this—I want you to know something important.
If you’re a parent worried about your child’s future, I could understand that fear, not from personal experience, but from what I’ve witness. But please know that autism doesn’t mean a life of suffering. With the right support, self-advocacy skills, and connection to community, autistic people can build meaningful, fulfilling lives on our own terms.
The most important thing I’ve learned through my own journey is this: self-acceptance is revolutionary. We must come to terms with what we’re given in life and our own neurotype. In a world that constantly tells us we’re too much or not enough, choosing to embrace our autistic identity is an act of resistance and resilience.
You don’t need to be “high functioning” to be valuable.
You don’t need to hide your autistic traits to be worthy of love and respect.
You don’t need to achieve extraordinary things to matter.
You matter because you exist. Your neurodivergent brain, with all its unique patterns and perspectives, is exactly what this world needs.
I encourage everyone to advocate for yourself. Find your people. And remember that the goal isn’t to be less autistic; it’s to be more authentically, unapologetically you.
That’s where real empowerment begins.
In my blogs, my goal is to provide insights grounded in research and lived experience, helping families navigate autism with understanding, clarity, and hope. For more firsthand accounts, I post videos regularly on YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, X, LinkedIn, and Facebook.
If you would like to read about it in book form, check out my books, Juggling the Issues, Unstoppable, and The Tireless Advocate; the first two are nonfiction and the third is autofiction.
To support my work and help promote disability awareness, acceptance, and inclusion, please consider exploring the products in my shop.
“Disability or not, anybody can do whatever they set their heart and mind to do, as long as it’s practical. Behind the disability, we have a heart and a mind.”
Disclaimer
This blog is for informational and educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical, psychological, or psychiatric advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you have questions about autism, your mental health, or your child’s development, consult a qualified healthcare professional.
