One of my favorite advocacy related quotes comes from famed activist Judy Heumann. In her book Becoming Heumann: An Unrepentant Memoir of a Disability Rights Activist, she states that “when other people see you as a third-class citizen, the first thing you need is a belief in yourself and the knowledge that you have rights. The next thing you need is a group of friends to fight back with.” Since my own spinal cord injury almost a decade ago, I have made exactly these sorts of friends.
First, a bit about me: I am a C4 quadriplegic, an Army veteran, and a professional graphic designer who found a path through grief by writing and creating art. What began as a journal hosted on Google Blogger during my inpatient recovery at the VA has evolved into a full creative brand, encompassing my art portfolio, Limp Wrist Art, and my blog, Life Keeps Rolling, which has recently grown to include advocacy. I am a firm believer in the power of satire as a tool for resilience and advocacy. I truly believe that art makes the abstract concept of equity tangible.
Alright, back to advocacy. I have heard many great advocates state something similar, but my spinal cord injury thrust me into a marginalized community before I even realized what had happened. The disability community is a minority group that is often overlooked. It is also one of the only minorities that anyone can join at any point in their life. To put it simply, disability doesn’t discriminate, and it eventually impacts everyone.
I will be honest: I am a bit ashamed of my perspective immediately following my injury, where I was largely blind to the systemic challenges faced by the disability community. Once those struggles became my own reality, I committed myself to learning from those who came before me, all so I could focus my art and writing on bettering my new community. I truly hope that I’ve been able to achieve that and help make advocacy a bit more tangible.
Having entered the realm of activism, here’s a bit of personal advice:
- Start slow: For as long as there have been issues in any society, there has been advocacy. At its core, advocacy is simply speaking up and looking for solutions to a problem. It is important to remember that there have been issues before us, and there will be issues long after us. Thinking we can dive right in and try to solve them all is unrealistic. Burnout can happen surprisingly quickly, especially when you feel like you’re screaming into a void. Consistency is key, as is recognizing that advocacy is often a marathon, not a sprint. Trust me, you’re making a difference, no matter the pace.
- Stay focused: The world is saturated with topics that we can get angry about. We, however, can only process so much information. Having a narrowed focus on specific issues is ultimately how we can mount an effective attack. As an example, consider the world of political advocacy and how multifaceted these topics are. I took one step into this world and realized that I would need to pick specific issues and follow them. It was impossible for me to track all challenges to disability civil rights, but I could follow key legal cases like Texas v. Kennedy. It is shockingly easy to get spread thin, so I made the conscientious decision to follow five broad categories that I could realistically manage. That has helped me avoid losing my head in this fast-moving environment.
- Stay open: In a world full of agendas and misinformation, it is more important than ever to find and use credible sources. Credibility also helps bolster any personal claims. Advocacy in and of itself is inherently biased. When I write, it is often from a place of anger, and it takes a lot of deliberate practice to set that anger aside for the sake of a factually accurate write up. I won’t lie, sometimes I fall short—and sometimes you’re supposed to lean on your emotions. This is especially seen in my political cartoons where I am appealing directly to a targeted audience to evoke an emotional response. The key here is balancing opinion with fact. This involves staying open to multiple perspectives and ensuring that you’re remaining credible. A call-to-action involves great passion. Use this passion ethically.
- Lean on your friends: Networking is huge. Finding others who share similar beliefs and can help you in your rallying cry is pivotal. Embracing others can also create a more diverse group, ensuring that biases are further managed and that other perspectives are involved in the process. Additionally, burnout is a very real part of this. Advocacy involves very charged emotions. Having others join your efforts can help divvy-up the workload, and can also help you manage these big feelings. If you are passionate about something, chances are others are as well. Embrace them and I think you’ll be surprised.
From the minute we experience a disability, we are taught that one of the most important skills we will develop is the ability to advocate. The loss of physical autonomy often means that we must become masters at directing others. This is also seen in our loved ones, who learn to care and support us by becoming some of our fiercest advocates. We in this community have enhanced skills in leadership and guidance, whether we want to capitalize on it or not: it is literally how we survive. Historically, we make very strong activists, and for good reason—we are battle-tested and we are resilient, especially together.
Go fight for something.