Young deafblind adults in action: becoming self-determined change agents through advocacy.
Six young deafblind adults took a 1-week course on civic engagement and advocacy, which provided the focus for a participatory action research study with a collective case study design. They selected advocacy topics, were briefed on these policy issues, and were paired with experienced mentors for meetings with legislators in Washington, DC. Eight themes were identified from constant comparative and in vivo analysis of classroom discussion notes, interviews, and journals: (a) defining advocacy and advocate, (b) rights and equality, (c) expectations, (d) role of education in change, (e) deafblind expertise, (f) characteristics of effective change agents, (g) advocacy is teamwork, (h) future advocacy. In the classroom, the participants learned about policy issues, communication considerations, and leadership, then applied this knowledge in the legislative arena. Through the advocacy process, they learned to apply their personal strengths as advocates and experienced the importance of teamwork in advocacy.
Lynch School of Education, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, MA, USA.
Susan M
SM
Bruce
Amy T
AT
Parker
D000293:Adolescent; D012048:Correction of Hearing Impairment / Q000193:education / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000523:psychology*; D054062:Deaf-Blind Disorders / Q000523:psychology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D060345:Education of Persons with Hearing Disabilities; D060329:Education of Persons with Visual Disabilities; D005260:Female; D006126:Group Processes; D006302:Health Services Research; D006806:Human Rights / Q000193:education / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008611:Mentors; D026684:Personal Autonomy; D019986:Persons with Hearing Disabilities / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000523:psychology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D011640:Public Policy / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D012922:Social Change; D009626:Terminology as Topic; D019987:Persons with Visual Disabilities / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000523:psychology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D055815:Young Adult