How to find a disability advocate
When it comes to finding the right support for your autistic child or young adult, it can feel overwhelming especially when dealing with schools, healthcare, or benefits systems. A disability advocate works to help you feel more confident, informed, and supported when making important decisions.
What is a disability advocate?
A disability advocate is someone who helps ensure that a person’s rights, needs, and voice are heard and respected.
They can support with:
- School meetings (EHCPs, reviews, disputes)
- Accessing healthcare or social services
- Benefits applications or appeals
- Employment or education
- Making complaints or challenging decisions
Their role is not to speak on your behalf, or to make decisions for you, instead they serve to stand alongside you and help you navigate the social care system.
Types of disability advocates
Family / Self-Advocacy
- Parent, carer, or the individual speaks up themselves
- Often the starting point
(Many families already act as advocates without realising it)
Independent Advocate
- Trained professional (not linked to services making decisions)
- Focuses on the individual’s wishes and rights
This is best for:
- Disputes
- Complex decisions
- When you feel unheard
Education Advocate
- Supports with school-related issues
- Especially useful for SEN and EHCP processes
They can:
- Attend meetings
- Help write reports
- Challenge school decisions
Legal Advocate
- Solicitors or legal specialists
- Used for tribunals or serious disputes and usually needed if issues escalate
Peer Advocate
- Someone with lived experience of a disability
- Offers emotional and practical support
- Can feel more relatable and reassuring
For a comprehensive list on types of advocate, visit Our services | POhWER
How to Find a Disability Advocate
- Start Local - Your local council often provides or funds advocacy services.
You can search:
- “Advocacy services + your area”
- “SEND advocacy near me”
- Contact National Organisations
These can direct you to trusted services, such as:
- Ask Schools or Healthcare Providers
- SENCOs (Special Educational Needs Coordinators)
- Social workers
- GPs
(They often know local advocacy services)
- Use Online Directories
- Local authority websites
- Charity directories
When Should You Get an Advocate?
You might consider an advocate if:
- You feel overwhelmed by systems or paperwork
- Your child’s needs are not being me
- You have an impairment that affects your communication or ability to understand complex information
- You disagree with a decision (school, benefits, care)
- You need support in meetings
- Your child/young person wants help expressing their views
Is Advocacy Free?
Many advocacy services are:
- Free (funded by councils or charities)
- Available to families and young people
- Some specialists or legal advocacy may have costs, but free options should always be explored first.
What to Look For in a Good Advocate
A good advocate should always act in your best interest, they should:
- Listens to you and your child
- Explains things clearly
- Be independent and unbiased
- Respect your decisions
- Have experience with autism/SEND needs
Always remember, you should feel supported, not pressured and a good advocate should do just that! You don’t have to navigate everything alone. A good advocate can make a huge difference and can help you feel heard, confident, and supported every step of the way.
Resources
Advocacy Project: Provides independent advocacy across London, including Care Act, Mental Capacity Act and Mental Health Act advocacy, as well as community advocacy.
Advocacy for All: Provides one-to-one advocacy for people with learning disabilities, including specialist autism advocacy, helping people understand their rights and have their voices heard.
Mind | Advocacy and mental health Mind: Provides information about advocacy and helps people understand and access different types of advocacy, including IMHA, IMCA, Care Act and NHS complaints advocacy.
People First: Provides independent advocacy to help disabled people understand their rights and articulate their wishes.
People First (Self Advocacy): Provides user-led self-advocacy services, run by and for people with learning difficulties.
POhWER: Provides free, independent advocacy including Independent Mental Health Advocacy (IMHA), Mental Capacity Act, Care Act and NHS complaints advocacy in areas across England.
SpeakEasy: Provides advocacy for people with learning disabilities, autism and communication difficulties, helping people access appropriate services, request reasonable adjustments and have their views heard.
VoiceAbility: Provides local involvement services and support for people with learning disabilities and autism.
Need more help? Contact the us at Referrals@halowproject.org.uk
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