Self-advocacy is speaking up for yourself and telling people about the things that are important to you. It helps to know the things you are good and the things you are not good at. In other words, you know what you can do alone, and you know what you need help with. And, you know when to ask for help and when to tell people you can do it alone.

There are a few things you can do to become a good self-advocate.

Learn More

Learn about your mental health concerns or other disability. Learn about treatments and the good and bad parts of each one. Learn about services that may help you. Learn about topics like power of attorney, guardianship, mental health treatment preference declaration, and how these things can affect your life. You should also try to learn about your rights under disability laws, like the ADA.

Keep Notes

Keep notes, letters, emails, phone logs, forms, progress reports, consent forms, and records related to your disability and self-advocacy activities. Keep these things in one place like a binder or drawer so you always know where they are. And keep them in order with the newest notes at the top.

Review Your Notes

It is not enough to just keep these notes. Look at them often so you don’t forget anything important and so you can learn from things you did in the past.

Read Everything

Make sure to read every letter from a therapist, doctor, mental health facility, attorney or the court. Often, there is limited time to act after you get news of something. If you have trouble reading or understanding something, find someone you trust to help you.

Get Trained

Many disability-rights and legal aid groups give free trainings to people with disabilities. Go to these trainings and webinars about your legal rights and your disability. Learning more about your disability, services that you may use, and the laws that can affect you, will make you a better self-advocate.

Ask for Help

Being a self-advocate does not mean you are alone. Find a friend or family member you trust and ask them to help you when you need it. Do this before you have a problem. That way, if you do have a problem, your trusted friends and family will know how to help you.

If you are sent to a mental health facility that you do not want to be in, you have the right to contact at least two people to tell them where you are. This is why it is important to choose people you trust, like a close friend, spouse, partner or other family member, who can offer support and keep an eye out for your well-being.

Have your trusted friends and family help keep an eye out for reactions to new drugs, behaviors and the treatments you get. Sometimes it is easier for them to notice when something is going wrong.

Talk to Important People in Your Life

Talk, call, and email your close friends and family, doctors, mental health facility staff members, and others directly involved in your mental health treatment often. The more you talk with these people, the more they will understand what you want in life. That way, they can help you live the life you want.

Illinois Guardianship & Advocacy Commission

Investigates alleged rights violations against people with disabilities. Information, referral and legal representation in mental health court hearings.

1-866-274-8023
1-866-333-3362 (TTY)
www.state.il.us/igac/cominfo.html

Chicago Bar Association Lawyer Referral Service

Refers callers to attorneys in Chicago and surrounding suburbs. $30 referral fee. Referrals also made via website.

1-312-554-2001
1-312-554-2054 (Fax)
1-312-554-2055 (TTY)
www.chicagobar.org – Look under CBA Services, Lawyer Referral Service

Mandel Legal Aid Clinic

Provides legal counseling and representation to people with mental health concerns, advocacy for the rights of people with mental health concerns and selected criminal/juvenile defense representation.

University of Chicago

1-773-702-9611
1-773-702-2063 (Fax)
www.law.uchicago.edu/clinics/mandel

Legal Assistance Foundation of Metropolitan Chicago

Free legal counseling and advocacy on behalf of low-income Chicago residents, including people with disabilities.

1-312-341-1070
1-312-341-1041 (Fax)
1-866-801-0505 (TTY)
www.lafchicago.org

Coordinated Advice and Referral Program for Legal Services (CARPLS)

CARPLS is a legal assistance hotline that provides advice and referrals to low-income residents of Cook County. Staffed directly by attorneys. Provides legal referrals.

1-312-738-9200
Fax: 1-312-223-1522 (Fax)
info@carpls.org
www.carpls.org

Center For Disability & Elder Law

Free legal services for low-income seniors and people with disabilities in Cook County.

1-312-376-1880
1-312-376-1885 (Fax)
1-312-908-8705 (TTY)
info@cdelaw.org
www.cdelaw.org

Prairie State Legal Services

Assistance for low-income people and those over the age of 60 with civil matters such as debt collection, disability, family law, health insurance, housing discrimination, living wills, powers of attorney, SSI and unemployment. Nine field offices in northern Illinois. Information about field offices is available. Services are free but income eligibility will apply.

1-815-965-2134
1-815-965-1081 (Fax)
1-815-965-5114 (TTY)
www.pslegal.org

Land of Lincoln Legal Assistance Foundation

Provides free legal assistance to low-income residents living in southern and central Illinois (serving 65 counties). Offices are located in Alton, Carbondale, Champaign, East St. Louis and Springfield. Handles the following types of legal issues: Medicaid/Medicare, wills/estates, consumer, landlord/tenant, real estate/foreclosure, special education, orders of protection, divorce and child custody. Financial eligibility applies but no fee required.

Administrative Office
(East St. Louis, IL)
1-618-398-0574
1-618-398-0681 (Fax)
www.lollaf.org

Illinois State Bar Association Lawyerfinder

Provides a lawyer referral service to speak with qualified attorneys in various fields.

1-800-922-8757
www.illinoislawyerfinder.com

Illinois Department of Human Rights

The Illinois Department of Human Rights investigates charges of discrimination on the basis of race, sex, national origin, ancestry, age, marital status, unfavorable military discharge, physical and mental disabilities, and family status. Offices are located in Chicago, Marion and Springfield. The department’s mediation program is available to mediate employment charges filed in the Chicago office.

Chicago Office
1-312-814-6200
1-312-814-1436 (Fax)
1-866-740-3953 (TTY)

Marion Office
1-618-993-7463
1-618-993-7464 (Fax)
1-866-740-3953 (TTY)

Springfield Office
1-217-785-5100
1-217-785-5106 (Fax)
1-866-740-3953 (TTY)
www.state.il.us/dhr 

Illinois Department on Aging
One Natural Resources Way
Suite 100
Springfield, IL 62702-1271

Senior HelpLine:
1-800-252-8966
1-888-206-1327 (TTY)
www.illinois.gov/aging

The Illinois Department on Aging does not discriminate in admission to programs or treatment of employment in programs or activities in compliance with appropriate State and Federal statutes. If you feel like you have been discriminated against, call the Senior HelpLine at 1-800-252-8966, 1-888-206-1327 (TTY).