A socio-legal analysis of advocacy for people with disabilities – competing concepts of ‘best interests’ and empowerment in legislation and policy on statutory advocacy services

Abstract

The purpose of this article is to examine a number of sociological principles underlying various models of advocacy, in order to determine any guidelines which could be used to resolve the tension between concepts of ‘best interests’ and empowerment in legislative and policy frameworks for advocacy services. Ireland has recently enacted the Citizens Information Act, which recognises the right to a personal advocate for certain people with disabilities who are seeking to enforce their entitlements to access social services. This legislation will be used as a case study to assess the extent of a tension between ‘best interests’ and empowerment in the context of a legal entitlement to statutory advocacy.

Keywords:

• disability
• advocacy
• ‘best interests’
• empowerment
• socio-legal