Balancing Advocacy With Physical & Mental Wellness – I-ASC The Experts

August 2022 – What’s your advice on balancing advocacy with physical and mental wellness?

Another installment of our monthly blog feature, “I-ASC(I Ask) the Experts.” Our goal is to turn over some of the most frequently asked questions or issues to the true subject matter experts – the spellers!

For many of us, advocacy will be a lifelong pursuit. If we don’t nurture our own well-being, we will be empty with no capacity to give of ourselves to effect change for others.  Prioritize yourself and, just as importantly, eschew the notion that if you don’t say “yes”  to everything right now, the opportunities will dry up. The need for advocacy is, unfortunately, going nowhere, so fortify yourself for the journey.  ~ Noah Seback, Georgia

Advocacy is my passion.  It takes determination and perseverance.  My desire to advocate gives me the physical and mental strength to inspire others.        ~ Sarah Ackerman, Pennsylvania

When advocating for your rights, it’s important to speak from your soul. Our might comes in the form of simplicity and ease. Let your passion flow through you, and take breaks when you need them.  ~ Anshil, Florida 

Advocating for yourself and others requires courage, determination, resilience, and creativity. Having emotional and physical well-being is critical for this work.  To stay at my best, being with my friends and family, and keeping my body active helps me stay strong.  ~ Ben Crimm, Pennsylvania

Choose your cause- Choose an organization that has personal meaning so you stay interested. Try to find the one that gives you joy when advocating for it. Once you select an area of interest, narrow it down.  I joined the I-ASC Spellers & Allies Advocacy Network because it impacts me personally.                                     ~Sofi Ghassaei, Washington 

It is important to have balance in all you do in life. Your mental and physical wellness can directly affect your impact and performance as an advocate. Everyone understands dysregulation, but it’s best to keep it at a minimum if it’s within your control to be well rested and mentally good. It allows for clear articulation of your advocacy ideas and stances.                         ~ Jack Haynes, Virginia 

It is very easy to be anxious when you are advocating for a cause close to your heart. It takes an emotional toll to hear stories about abuse and restraint. An advocate needs support from the CRP and peers to deal with the anxiety. I am grateful for all my speller friends who listen to me in the Forging Friendships meetup every Tuesday. It is also important to have fun with your friends.             ~ Divyesh Jain, Florida

It is important to be aware of your own needs to be in a good space emotionally and physically. If you don’t advocate for yourself, you won’t be able to advocate for others! ~ Gregory Tino, Pennsylvania

The mission of I-ASC is to advance communication access for nonspeaking individuals globally through training, education, advocacy, and research.  I-ASC supports all forms of augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) with a focus on methods of spelling and typing. I-ASC currently offers Practitioner training in Spelling to Communicate (S2C)with the hope that other methods of AAC using spelling or typing will join our association