Posted: January 22, 2025Category:

I Want an Advocate – Can I Refer Myself?

If you’re reading this and thinking,
“I wish someone could be on my side…”
you’ve already taken a brave and important step.

At Citizen Advocacy Auckland, we match people with intellectual disabilities with a person from the community — someone who gets to know you, walks beside you, and helps you speak up when it matters.

This person is called an advocate — and yes, you can refer yourself.

👋 What Is an Advocate?

An advocate is someone who:

  • Listens to you
  • Gets to know you over time
  • Supports you to make decisions
  • Stands beside you if something isn’t right
  • Cares about what matters to you

They’re not paid. They’re not from a service.
They’re someone who chooses to be in your corner — as a friend and supporter.

🧠 Who Can Get an Advocate?

You can refer yourself if:

  • You have an intellectual disability
  • You want support
  • You feel alone, confused, or left out
  • You want someone to help you speak up
  • You are not happy with how you’re being treated
  • Or you just need someone who truly listens

📞 How to Refer Yourself (It’s Easy!)

You can:

📄 Click here to fill out the Referral Form

Don’t worry — you don’t need to explain everything right away. Just let us know you’re interested, and we’ll talk with you about what you need.

🤝 What Happens Next?

  1. We’ll talk with you. You can bring someone with you if you want.
  2. We’ll listen. We want to understand what life is like for you.
  3. We’ll try to match you with an advocate — someone we think will be a good fit.
  4. If we can’t help right away, we’ll still try to find another service that can.

🧡 You Deserve to Be Heard

You don’t have to face things alone.
You deserve someone who stands with you — not over you.
You deserve someone who sees your strengths and believes in your future.

That’s what Citizen Advocacy is all about.

📞 Call or text us today if you’re ready. We’re here for you.

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(09) 625 7994