Self Advocacy

bemix began with the rising up of people with learning disabilities and Autistic people, as ‘self-advocates’ - speaking up for themselves and taking control of their lives. Self-advocacy is people speaking up confidently for themselves instead of needing someone else to speak for their interests.

We encourage self-advocacy in all of our work in bemix. We have a Self Advocacy Leadership team which works on supporting people in Kent to speak up and make their voices heard in the decisions that affect them and others with learning disabilities and Autistic people. It is also working with Learning Disability England and other self-advocacy organisations in England to rebuild a united national voice from self-advocates.  

The Team

Steve Chapman 

bemix Co-Chair, Jobs Champion and Co-Chair of the Supported Employment Governance Team, Senior Expert by Experience (Care and Treatment Reviews) & Lead Self-Advocate and Peer Advocate

Steve says “We need more speaking up, and training so people learn to ask the right questions about what is being done to support them. I’m excited about joining up with other groups to do this.”

Sammy Lamb

Expert by Experience (Care and Treatment Reviews) & Self-Advocate

Sammy is a member of the Be Seen Be Heard group in Dover which campaigns in schools. She took part in an important protest in London against the over-use of long stay secure hospitals. She also works as a panel member in Care and Treatment Reviews. Initially, Sammy needed support in this work but she now works independently.

Michael Lillis

Expert by Experience (Care and Treatment Reviews), Lead Supporter (Sportsnet) & Self-Advocate

Michael is a a sports leader with a learning difficulty who works independently without needing support. "At the end of each session I always give the group of what they would like to do the week after. That way the leader is not taking control - it is about people's choices - what they want to do"

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