Action Planning
Step 1: Introduction
Have the group identify topics that need changing. For example, the topic should be related to a human right for a person with a disability, for example, education, healthcare, sport or recreation. The group can identify barriers such as getting an accessible ramp into a store or allowing children with disabilities to go to school.
Step 2: Steps to action
Remind groups that advocacy starts with an awareness of equal human rights for all and awareness of self. Advocacy also includes taking action at different levels (home, school, community, government).
Action plans:
1. What do you want to change?
- Identify an issue or barrier you or your group wants to change.
- Analyze the area where change is needed. Are you changing: Attitudes? Physical barriers? Informational barriers?
Where will change happen? At the level of:
- Government (e.g, laws, policies)
- Society
- Healthcare
- Educational systems
- Individuals or families
2. Speak out!
- Describe the problem or barrier
- How does it affect your human rights?
- Who does it affect?
- What are the possible causes?
- Relate this problem or barrier to the rights of persons with disabilities using the human rights mentioned in the Convention.
- What rights are being violated?
- How does this problem affect the lives of people with disabilities?
- How does addressing the problem improve the lives of people with disabilities?
- What specific actions can be taken to address the problem?
- Who needs to be involved to take those actions?
3. Gather information
- What laws protect you and support the right denied?
- What statistics or information do you have on this right being denied?
- Identify potential allies (people who will help and support you in resolving this problem).
- How can you work together to achieve your goals?
- What are the steps needed to take action?
- Who will complete those steps?
- When will the steps be completed?
4. Plan for action
- Come up with a template for an action plan (include: action, timeline, by whom, by when, resources needed, follow-up, etc.)
5. Taking action
- Now is the time to follow the action plan and take action. Implement the steps you identified and create social change!
6. Follow up
All advocacy action needs follow-up. If we do not follow through then our goal will not be accomplished. Review the following questions to follow up on action:
- Did you complete the action plan? What was successful? What was challenging?
- If you met your goal:
- What helped you be successful?
- Can you use the same strategies for other goals?
- If you did not meet your goal:
- What changes need to be made to the action plan to achieve your goal?
- Do you need more resources? Group members? Allies? Do you need to gather some more information?
- What are your next steps for action? Does anything else need to be done? How do you maintain your goal?