Self Advocacy
All people, regardless of their disability, have the right to make decisions and choices. This right is linked to the self-advocacy movement which promotes the ability of people with disability to represent themselves in order to externalize their thoughts, desires, needs, and concerns.
This right is described in Article 12 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UN CRPD) through the implementation of Supported Decision-Making practices (SDM). SDM is a methodology that allows people with disabilities to retain their decision-making ability no matter the status of their legal capacity. The SDM methodology relates to the proper representation of people with disabilities either through a supporter/guardian or through self-representation.
The Greek “NET” of Service Providers for People with Disabilities consists of organizations with extensive experience in the field of self-advocacy and legal capacity. One of the main goals of the NET is to develop and highlight methods through which professional supporters can empower the self-advocacy and decision-making skills of people with disabilities to be active members of society and to participate as citizens and consumers with equal rights.
The NET through its actions will support the judicial assistants and the people, who due to the gravity or the multiplicity of their disabilities, cannot defend their rights. The practices of the NET on this area will focus on the safe transition of legal capacity for the benefit of the person with a disability and will focus on their active participation in the decision-making process.
