There is so much talk about self-advocacy and empowerment in the world of intellectual and developmental disabilities nowadays that can make individuals feel empowered to advocate for anything and everything, however there has to be a reality of what is really a priority versus what is not and that while it may be important to one perspective, it is important to understand what really matters in ensuring that individuals get what they need.

When a person with an intellectual or developmental challenge, including being autistic has been denied something that they feel that they should have or be able to do or keep the same, they are often persistent in being able to do such thing because it is all that they can think about at that moment by getting their pleasure senses met and feeling  comfortable.

However, there must be a sense of reality that if it is a request that is not common in a  realistic world then the power of using that self-advocacy will eventually seem invalid in that need being met. Oftentimes, there are greater needs in the systems and world than having needs met for one person met to help them find comfort and pleasure.

Self-advocacy is being able to speak up for what you need to have real needs met to make your life better. While there may be a desire to get what you want just for your sole purpose of getting what you want to be able to do is not what the true purpose of self-advocacy is.

There have been many times this past year that I have not agreed with decisions that have been made that affect my everyday life. There have been points where I have taken out my anger and frustration on those that loved me, and it has been part of my internal dialogue. However, there became the reality that what I wanted to have reversed back was not going to happen and I had to choose to accept what was to make myself satisfied. I had to learn to cope with the challenges that were faced in the process as I got what I need to thrive in the current world. While the situation that has been handed to me is not perfect, my needs are met, and I feel that I can properly self-advocate when things need to be met.

Change and being denied something can be some of the hardest things that autistic and intellectually/developmentally challenged people can face, but with proper education and understanding, it can also be a good thing to understand the reality of what is expected in the real world. While the real world cannot seem real to some individuals, there must be a greater understanding of what indeed is reality and is expected of them in any process.

The advocacy community has come leaps and bounds in interpreting things for autistics. Part of self-advocacy is being educated in things that are necessary in being able to navigate the world by what needs to be understood and expected of individuals in ways that are easier to understand for themselves. Part of that is understanding that there needs to be a reality in the world, even if they may not see it that way.