Defining and organizing self-advocate centered groups: Implications of survey research on self-advocacy groups in Japan

Abstract

Ideally group members who have intellectual disabilities should have power in their self-advocacy groups, leading to groups that can be considered 'self-advocate centered.' Currently, not all self-advocacy groups can be considered self-advocate centered because group advisors have an overwhelming influence on group decisions. This article assumes that establishing self-advocacy groups in which members truly control the agenda and make key decisions is one of the most effective methods to empower people with intellectual disabilities. This study identifies factors useful in identifying 'self-advocate centered' groups, and especially focuses on the relationship between self-advocates and advisors. It is based on a quantitative research project conducted in Japan. According to the results of the research, though relational transformation between self-advocates and advisors was commonly seen in many self-advocacy groups, conflicts between them were scarcely observed. The meaning of relational transformation without conflicts is considered, along with the concepts of independence and interdependence.