Purpose

The unpredictable “flares” of lupus can severely affect many aspects of daily life. As a result, you may often turn to family, friends, the medical system, governments and other services for help. This can sometimes be a frustrating and unsettling experience. This kit was developed as a support resource to provide you with information, tips and techniques on how to self-advocate for yourself. The goal is to educate you about your rights and how to get what you need.

Although this kit focuses on self-advocacy, this is one facet of advocacy. This is explained further on in this kit. Broader coalitions, systemic awareness and education campaigns are also a very important part of advocacy. This kit is a starting point. While it is important for you to take action yourself, you are not alone. Lupus Canada is your partner in advocacy.

Empowerment is the basic attitude underlying advocacy. It is the conviction that every person has the right to be heard, the right to understand, the right to decide, the right to that “level playing field”. The more we act on this attitude, the more people will come to recognize the rights of persons living with lupus.