Good companions: our experiences of advocacy

Mabel Cooper and Gloria Ferris

There was nothing when we came out of hospital; no support, no help. There's more help now, as more and more people have come out of long-stay hospitals and some of them have started to speak up for themselves.

We have been involved in advocacy for a lot of years, and know some of the history from our own experience.

• We will talk about the history of advocacy. Gloria will talk about her experience of speaking up for her friend Muriel over the last 45 years. She will also talk about the history of Advocacy Partners where she is now an advocate and a member of the committee.
• We will talk about the history of self-advocacy. Mabel will talk from personal experience about joining a self-advocacy group and learning to speak up for herself and others (this will be based on her chapter in the book, Forgotten Lives). She will also talk about the history of People First, London, from her days as Chair and Vice Chair.