Your Voice
5 THINGS YOU CAN DO TO MAKE SURE YOUR VOICE IS HEARD
We all know how important it is for your voice to be heard so I have put together a list if 5 things that you can do to make sure your voice is heard.
1. GO TO ALL YOUR MEETINGS
This one is plain and simple the meetings are about YOU and everyone there is going to be talking about you. If you are there you have a chance to speak and be heard by the people who can make this happen. Also remember that if you feel uncomfortable going to meetings, there are services that provide advocates. Advocates are people who go to meetings in your behalf and say the things that you want to say.
2. SPEAK TO YOUR CARERS
Your carers are the closest people to you. You should speak to them because they can carry your voice forward to the appropriate people. This coupled with point 3 will make sure you have covered all the bases.
3. KEEP FOLLOWING UP
This may feel like you are nagging at your social worker, but this is your life! This is not just unwashed dishes - it is your future! Don’t feel like its nagging. Following up on emails, texts and calls untill you get somewhere is totally the way forward. The person on the other side, be it you social worker, key worker or PA they will understand. If the don’t see point 4.
4. REACH OUT HIGHER
If you are having communication or other issues don’t be afraid to reach out to the manager for the person you have been trying to communicate with. You gotta do what you gotta do!
5. SPEAK!
This is by far the most important! All of the other points can only work if you use your voice to say what you needs to be said. People are not mind readers so you need to communicate in whatever way works for you. If you don’t, you can’t expect anyone to know what you want.
So there you have it! 5 things you can do to make sure your voice is heard.