Margaux Wosk, BC People First President. Margaux was recently recognized with a BC Achievement Foundation Community Award. Read more about Margaux, their work, and this award here.
Self-advocate groups around the province are now talking to community leaders about their needs. But many communities still do not know about what self-advocacy is all about. How would you explain to our community leaders what self-advocacy is?
Self-advocacy is about effectively communicating your needs in a way that can be life-changing. Finding your voice isn’t always easy, and that’s completely valid. However, for those who self-advocate, it can play a powerful role in shaping their path and ensuring their needs are recognized.
What are some examples of what self advocacy is, or looks like, in British Columbia?
Self-advocacy in British Columbia can take many forms, such as:
- Participating in provincial budget discussions to highlight disability-related concerns.
- Representing self-advocates at events like the Inclusion BC Conference or local accessibility forums.
- Attending meetings with policymakers, such as those held by BC People First or the BC Disability Caucus.
- Using social media to raise awareness about disability rights, provincial policies, and accessibility challenges in BC.
What are some of the challenges or barriers that people with disabilities have in their communities to being respected and listened to by their communities?
One of the biggest barriers is how internalized ableism becomes externalized, harming our communities. Gaining access to decision-makers who have the power to create real change can be extremely difficult. Our voices are often ignored or deliberately excluded.
Organizations that claim to serve us sometimes pick and choose who they support based on their own ideas of disability, excluding those who don’t fit their narrative. Some even refuse to support people in their own communities or countries, which can be incredibly harmful.
Many disabled people also face challenges in how they communicate their advocacy. Personally, I know my passion for justice is sometimes misinterpreted as being combative, and that can cause our mission to be dismissed. Beyond that, systemic ableism within leadership and decision-making spaces continues to create barriers to respect, inclusion, and real change.
Why will communities be better if self-advocates are respected and included in conversations about things like accessibility, housing, jobs, health care, and more?
Communities will be stronger and more inclusive when self-advocates are respected and included in conversations about accessibility, housing, employment, health care, and more. The principle of “Nothing about us without us” is essential—yet too often, decisions are made by people without lived experience, shaping policies and initiatives without consulting those directly affected.
Lived experience is invaluable and deserves greater respect. Many barriers exist due to discrimination, but if people in power set aside their biases and truly listen, self-advocates could play a leading role in driving meaningful change.
Tell me about your annual Self Advocacy Award. What is the purpose of the award and how does it encourage people with diverse abilities to speak up?
Our Self-Advocacy Award is an important way to recognize the dedication, resilience, and impact of self-advocates. Too often, recognition is given to able-bodied, allistic individuals for simply meeting legal obligations, while the efforts of those actively working to create change are overlooked. This award shifts the focus back to the people with lived experience who are pushing for accessibility, inclusion, and disability rights.
By honoring self-advocates, we acknowledge the value of their work and the challenges they overcome. It reinforces that their voices matter, their contributions are meaningful, and their advocacy is making a real difference. This kind of recognition strengthens our movement, encourages others to keep speaking up, and reminds our community that we deserve to be heard and respected.
How can BC People First help? Why should someone who wants to make a difference in their community become a member?
BCPF isn’t just focused on the individual; it’s about passionate members of our community coming together to create meaningful change that benefits everyone, both within and outside of our community. When we advocate for things like accessibility, the impact extends far beyond us. It shows that power lies in numbers, and it helps challenge the stigma some people face around disability. Being part of BCPF is rewarding and uplifting, and it plays a crucial role in strengthening the movement for equality and inclusion. Joining BCPF is a powerful way to make a difference and contribute to lasting change in the community.
Learn more about joining BC People First here.