This is for the children and young people who communicate in different ways. We try to take our instructions as best we can by being sensitive to the communication methods of each child or young person. Where a child or young person cannot speak and the advocate cannot explain the issues in a way they can understand, we practice Non-Instructed Advocacy. This can be described as:

“A process for offering advocacy to people who do not have a system of communication that is recognised by the advocate” (Asist, 1994)

This definition:

1. Recognises the central role of communication in advocacy in all partnerships

2. Highlights that it is our inability to recognise the communication system of our partner: not our partner’s inability to communicate

3. Looks to define the partnership in the terms of the partner – it emphasises the retention of person-centred relationships which is core to all advocacy

4. It is practical – it accepts the reality that some advocacy partnerships do not involve a useful communication process.

“Tell Us How We’re Doing” Click here to take survey