Supporting Peers in Self-Advocacy
Lesson: Advocacy & Peer Leadership
Time Estimate: ~10 minutes
- Reading Time: ~6 minutes (1,050 words / 175 wpm)
- Activity: Guided roleplay simulation (5-7 minutes)
📖 Learning Objectives
By the end of this topic, you will be able to:
✅ Define self-advocacy and why it is important in recovery
✅ Support peers in navigating services, speaking up, and accessing resources
✅ Use empowerment-based strategies to help peers advocate for themselves
🔍 What is Self-Advocacy?
Self-advocacy is the ability to speak up for oneself, express needs, and make informed choices about recovery and life circumstances. Many peers may feel disempowered due to past experiences with stigma, discrimination, or systemic barriers, making self-advocacy a critical skill for long-term recovery success.
✔ Self-advocacy builds confidence—peers learn to take control of their recovery
✔ It improves access to services—knowing how to navigate systems leads to better support
✔ It reduces dependency—peers gain skills to solve challenges on their own
🗣️ “Empowering someone to advocate for themselves is more effective than speaking for them.”
🛠️ How to Support Peers in Self-Advocacy
Peer specialists play a key role in helping individuals develop the skills and confidence to advocate for themselves. The goal is not to advocate on their behalf but to guide and support their ability to self-advocate.
✅ 1. Teaching Peers About Their Rights
✔ Many individuals in recovery are unaware of their rights in housing, healthcare, and employment
✔ Educate peers on protections under laws like the ADA, FMLA, and Fair Housing Act
✔ Provide information on how to request accommodations and file grievances when needed
🔹 Example: Helping a peer draft a letter requesting workplace accommodations for their recovery needs.
✅ 2. Encouraging Self-Expression
✔ Help peers find their voice and express their needs effectively
✔ Use roleplaying exercises to practice self-advocacy in real situations
✔ Reinforce that their experiences and needs are valid
🔹 Example: Coaching a peer on how to talk to a case manager about adjusting their treatment plan.
✅ 3. Navigating Systems Together
✔ Many recovery services involve complicated processes that can feel overwhelming
✔ Support peers in breaking down big tasks into manageable steps
✔ Walk through filling out applications, making calls, or attending appointments together
🔹 Example: Assisting a peer in preparing for a meeting with a probation officer to discuss recovery progress.
✅ Key Takeaway: Supporting self-advocacy means helping peers gain confidence, knowledge, and skills to advocate for themselves—not speaking for them.
🚫 Avoiding Over-Advocacy: Staying Within Your Role
While advocacy is an essential part of peer support, there are boundaries to be mindful of. Over-advocacy can disempower peers by making them reliant on others rather than building their own skills.
🚫 What NOT to Do:
❌ Speak on behalf of a peer without their permission
❌ Take control of the advocacy process instead of guiding the peer
❌ Push a peer into advocacy they are not comfortable with
✅ Better Approach: Instead of saying, “Let me talk to them for you,” say, “Would you like to practice what you want to say together?”
🗣️ “The goal is not to remove challenges for peers—it’s to help them build the skills to navigate challenges on their own.”
📌 Key Takeaways
✔ Self-advocacy empowers peers to navigate recovery on their terms.
✔ Providing information on rights and services helps peers make informed decisions.
✔ Encouraging self-expression and problem-solving builds long-term confidence.
✔ The peer specialist’s role is to support, not to take over the advocacy process.
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📚 References & Research
📖 SAMHSA’s Guide to Self-Advocacy in Recovery (SAMHSA.gov)
📖 National Association of Peer Supporters (NAPS) Best Practices for Empowering Self-Advocacy (NAPS.org)
📖 The Role of Self-Advocacy in Long-Term Recovery Success – Journal of Behavioral Health & Recovery