Citizen Advocacy
The Framework
The Citizen Advocacy program model was conceptualized by Dr. Wolf Wolfensberger and John O’Brien in the late 1960’s consistent with Social Role Valorization theory (SRV). SRV examines how social devaluation leads to people being profoundly rejected, separated and distanced from valued community life, and denied opportunities and access. The process of Social Devaluation leads to people having a heightened risk of social and physical abuse, discrimination, violence, and death-making.
Citizen Advocacy programs work at the local community level to foster freely-given one-to-one relationships between ordinary citizens—called citizen advocates—and individuals—called protégés—who have needs that can be effectively addressed by advocacy.
Citizen Advocacy of Atlanta & DeKalb is a diverse community-based 501(c) (3) organization that initiates and supports advocacy relationships between an ordinary citizen and a person with a developmental disability who is vulnerable to discrimination and harm. We have continued to initiate and support these relationships in Atlanta and DeKalb County since 1977.
Two people get introduced in a park
How it works
A valued citizen, who is unpaid and independent of the human services system, is invited by citizen advocacy coordinators into a relationship with a person living with a developmental disability who is vulnerable to abuse, neglect, or social isolation (called a protégé). With the coordinators’ support, the citizen advocate learns to understand, respond to, and represent that person’s interests as if they were the advocate’s own, thus bringing the person’s gifts and concerns into the circles of ordinary community life.
Key Principles in Citizen Advocacy Matches:
Each citizen advocacy relationship is freely given.
Each citizen advocate is independent of the human services system, the citizen advocacy office, and, if necessary, the protégé’s family.
Connie-Lyle and John O'Brien
Celebrating good times together
Loyalty to the protégé allows the advocate to speak out and act with freedom and clarity.
Most citizen advocacy matches are established with the intention of developing a long-lasting relationship, which may be life-long.
Each citizen advocate looks for ways to bring his or her protégé’s interests, gifts and needs to the larger community in ways that are dignified and enhancing to the person.