For Advocacy Awareness Week, we share Eden’s story and how self-advocacy has made a huge difference to her life.
Eden, a young person living with a chronic health condition, joined a self-advocacy group to get support with navigating the health care system and managing the health professionals responsible for her care.
Eden said: “The self-advocacy group gave me support and reassurance. It was helpful to be with other people who had similar experiences to me and they were able to suggest tips and ideas. It makes me feel that my ideas and opinions are important and that they matter.
“My mum was also involved because she really helps me to chat through my feelings and emotions at appointments. She works in the healthcare system so knows a bit more about rules and regulations. She helps me communicate if I feel overwhelmed or don’t know how to explain how I’m feeling.
“I definitely feel more confident attending appointments on my own and speaking up when I don’t think that I’m getting the right care or if I’m not being taken seriously. I would highly recommend getting support from a self-advocacy group to help you get more control over your life and decisions. It’s also good to chat through options and feel like there’s someone there you can turn to.”
