Begin Your Advocacy Journey with LaCAN

What Does Advocacy Mean?

Advocacy is when you take action to support or oppose something. Advocacy means speaking up for something you believe in to help make a change. This can be done by educating people, sharing information, and organizing people to get involved.

Individual vs. System Change Advocacy

LaCAN participates in systems change advocacy. Systems change advocacy is different than individual advocacy. 

  • Individual advocacy focuses on changing things for one person.
  • Systems change advocacy focuses on changing laws and policies that affect large groups of people.

Why you should care about systems change advocacy

Being a part of systems change advocacy will help you because it can improve the system that provides you support and services. You can also use what you learn as a member of LaCAN to help with your own personal advocacy.

Common Barriers to Advocacy

It is normal to have fears when starting out in advocacy. Many people do. Your Advocacy Leader and other experienced advocates are there to support you every step of the way. Below are some thoughts that stop people from becoming involved in advocacy and the truth about each one.

  • It’s scary – legislators and other policymakers are important people. I can’t do this!
    • Advocacy Leaders are there to support you.
    • LaCAN Members advocate together.
    • Policymakers are regular people like everyone else.
  • I shouldn’t speak up. I may make someone mad.
    • Your legislators want and need to hear how things are working or not working for you.
  • No one will listen to me.
    • Your policymakers are elected/chosen to represent you!  It is their responsibility to listen.  Most want to hear from their voters.
  • I don’t know enough to advocate.
    • Knowing your personal story is enough.
    • LaCAN Leaders give members information that helps them understand how to relate their story to the issues they are advocating for.
  • I’m busy. I don’t have time to advocate.
    • A little time can make a big difference. Can you write a short email? Make a quick call?
    • LaCAN members participate as much or as little as they want.
  • My speaking up won’t make a difference. What’s the point?
    • It does make a difference! We have home and community services in Louisiana because people just like you advocated for them. People with disabilities and their family members wanted change and they made it happen!
    • Services for people with developmental disabilities have improved a lot over the past 30 years. People who need services now and in the future are counting on you to speak up!
A man wearing glasses and a paint-splattered smock smiles while painting, supported by the Louisiana Developmental Disabilities Council.

Grassroots Advocacy

Grassroots advocacy is when a group of everyday people come together to push for change or support something they care about.

LaCAN is a grassroots advocacy network. It uses coordinated advocacy campaigns to get results. Advocacy campaigns make sure everyone is working together. Every action alert you receive is the result of a decision that is made by a group of people.

Coordinated advocacy campaigns make sure everyone has the same:

  • Message
  • Time
  • Target

Grassroots advocacy works because policymakers hear the same message from a large number of people. When we work together, we can accomplish great things.