Your Guide to NDIS Self-Advocacy

Empowering you to navigate the NDIS with confidence

Self-advocacy is about speaking up for yourself, knowing your rights, and getting the support you need. This guide will help you become a confident self-advocate in your NDIS journey.

🛡️

Know Your Rights & Feel Safe

👤
You are the expert on your own life. Your voice matters and your experiences are valid.

Understanding your rights under the NDIS helps you feel confident and safe when advocating for yourself. You deserve respect, choice, and supports that work for you.

🌟 Your Safety Rights:

  • Right to feel safe and respected in all meetings
  • Right to take breaks when you need them
  • Right to have someone you trust with you
  • Right to ask for information in a way you understand
  • Right to say "no" or "I need time to think"
💬 Communication Rights
🗣️
Speak Your Way
📱
Use Your Device
✍️
Write It Down
👥
Bring Support
📝

Prepare at Your Own Pace

🧘
Take your time. There's no rush. Preparing well helps you feel more confident and in control.

Preparation helps reduce anxiety and ensures your voice is heard. You can prepare in whatever way works best for you - writing, drawing, using symbols, or talking with someone you trust.

🤗 Gentle Preparation Tips:

  • Start preparing when you feel ready - no pressure
  • Take breaks if you feel overwhelmed
  • Ask someone you trust to help you prepare
  • Remember: you don't have to share everything at once
Think about what you want
What would make your life better? What do you need help with?
Gather your information
Reports, letters, photos - anything that shows your needs
Plan your communication
How will you share your thoughts? Speech, device, writing, or support person?
🎯 Ways to Prepare
📋
Make Lists
🎨
Draw Pictures
📸
Take Photos
🎙️
Record Voice
💬

Communicate Your Way

🌈
Every person communicates differently. Your way of communicating is valid and important.

Communication isn't just about speaking. You can use pictures, symbols, devices, writing, gestures, or have someone speak for you. What matters is that your message gets across.

🗨️ Communication Options
📱
AAC Device
📋
Picture Board
✍️
Written Notes
👋
Gestures
👥
Support Person
🎥
Video Message

🌟 Gentle Communication:

  • It's okay to take time to think before responding
  • You can ask them to repeat or explain things differently
  • If you feel overwhelmed, you can ask for a break
  • You don't have to answer everything in one meeting

💪 Your Communication Rights:

  • Right to use your preferred communication method
  • Right to have communication supports provided
  • Right to have information explained clearly
  • Right to ask questions until you understand
📊

Keep Your Records Safe

🗂️
Keeping records helps protect you and shows what happened. You're building your own story.

Documentation doesn't have to be perfect or formal. Keep records in whatever way works for you - photos, voice recordings, simple notes, or ask someone to help you.

🛡️ Why Documentation Helps:

  • Protects you if someone doesn't remember correctly
  • Helps you remember important details later
  • Shows patterns if problems keep happening
  • Gives you confidence when speaking up
📝 Easy Ways to Keep Records
📸
Take Photos
🎙️
Voice Notes
📅
Calendar Notes
📧
Save Emails
After each meeting or call
Write down or record what happened - even just a few words
Keep important papers together
In a folder, box, or take photos and save them
Ask for help if you need it
Someone you trust can help you organize your records
🎯

Dream About Your Future

✨
Your dreams and goals matter. Think about what would make you happy and help you live the life you want.

Goals don't have to be complicated. They can be simple things that matter to you - like making friends, learning something new, or being more independent.

🌟 Types of Goals
🏠
Daily Living
👥
Social Life
🎓
Learning
💼
Work
🏃
Health
🎨
Hobbies

🌱 Growing Your Goals:

  • Start with small goals that feel good to achieve
  • It's okay to change your goals as you grow
  • Your goals don't have to be the same as other people's
  • Celebrate every step forward, no matter how small
Think about what you want
What would make your day better? What do you want to try?
Break it into small steps
What's one small thing you could do first?
Ask for the right support
What help do you need to reach your goal?
🤝

Find Your People

💕
You don't have to do this alone. There are people who care about you and want to help.

Your support network includes anyone who makes you feel safe, understood, and valued. It can be family, friends, professionals, or people who have similar experiences to you.

🌟 Safe Support People:

  • Listen to you without judging
  • Respect your choices and decisions
  • Help you feel calm and confident
  • Stand up for you when needed
  • Believe in your abilities
👥 Types of Support
❤️
Family & Friends
🏢
Advocacy Groups
👩‍⚕️
Professionals
🫂
Peer Support
📞
Helplines
💻
Online Groups

🛡️ Building Trust Slowly:

  • It's okay to start with just one trusted person
  • You can test how safe someone feels in small ways first
  • Trust your feelings - if someone doesn't feel right, that's okay
  • Good support people will be patient and understanding
Think about who you trust
Who makes you feel safe and heard?
Start small
Share a little bit and see how they respond
Get on advocacy waiting lists early
Apply for professional advocacy services now - they often have long waits
Ask for specific help
"Can you come to my meeting?" or "Can you help me write this down?"

People and Places That Can Help

🌐
There are many people and organizations who understand what you're going through and want to help you succeed.

🏛️ NDIS Website & Phone

Official information, forms, and support. Call 1800 800 110 if you need help understanding something or want to make a complaint.

🤝 Disability Advocacy Groups

Free advocates who can come to meetings with you, help you understand your rights, and speak up for you when needed. ⏰ Important: Get on waiting lists early - advocacy services often have long waiting times (sometimes months), so apply as soon as you can even if you don't need help right away.

⚖️ Appeals & Reviews

If you disagree with an NDIS decision, you can ask for it to be looked at again. Advocates can help you with this process.

👥 Peer Support & Groups

Meet others who use the NDIS. Share experiences, tips, and support each other. Many groups meet online or in person.

🛡️ NDIS Quality & Safeguards

If a service provider isn't treating you well or doing their job properly, you can make a complaint here. They will investigate and help fix problems.

⚖️ Legal Help

Free or cheap legal advice if you need help with NDIS legal issues. Community Legal Centres often have disability lawyers.

💬 Communication Support

Speech pathologists, AAC specialists, and communication support workers can help you communicate more effectively in NDIS meetings.

🧠 Mental Health Support

Counsellors, psychologists, and mental health services that understand disability and trauma. Many offer telehealth appointments.

📞 Crisis Support

Lifeline (13 11 14), Beyond Blue (1300 22 4636), or your local crisis team if you're feeling overwhelmed or unsafe.

⏰ Plan Ahead - Don't Wait!

  • Join waiting lists now - Even if you feel okay today, advocacy services can take 3-6 months to become available
  • Apply to multiple services - You can always say no later if you don't need them
  • Keep your contact details updated - Let them know if your phone number or address changes
  • Ask about priority criteria - Some services prioritize urgent situations or specific needs

🌟 Remember:

  • It's okay to ask for help - that's what these services are for
  • You can try different services until you find ones that feel right
  • Many services are free and confidential
  • You don't have to use your real name when calling for information

Remember: You are the expert on your own life and needs. Trust yourself, ask questions, and don't be afraid to speak up for what you need to live your best life.

Author: Sarah Ailish McLoughlin - Strategy Self-Advocacy